Author: Boris Karebin

Latvian basketball player Ralfs Iesalnieks successfully completed his rookie season at South Georgia Tech Junior College and has earned an invitation to return for a second year. Notably, out of the entire roster, the coaching staff decided to retain only two players — and Iesalnieks was one of them.

Originally from Livani, Latvia, Iesalnieks came onto the radar of Coach Boris Karebin and his partner Nathan Altenhofen, representing the BK-Centre scouting program last year. Shortly after, he received an opportunity to join one of the top junior college programs in the United States.

During his freshman season, Ralfs proved himself as a reliable contributor and earned his place in the rotation. One of the highlights of the season was South Georgia Tech’s victory over Chipola College — widely regarded as a powerhouse and perennial contender in the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association).

Competing at a high level, Iesalnieks adapted quickly to the American style of play and demonstrated strong work ethic and consistency. As a result, Head Coach Chris Ballauer personally invited him to return for the upcoming season. Coach Ballauer worked closely with Ralfs throughout the year and ultimately selected him as one of only two players from the roster to remain with the team — a clear sign of trust and belief in his potential.

Ralfs’ basketball foundation was built in Latvia, where he developed under the guidance of his father, Juris Iesalnieks, a basketball coach who played a key role in his early growth and development. His mother is the director of a basketball school, providing a strong professional environment that supported his path from a young age.

It was also through his father’s initiative and connection with Coach Boris Karibin that Ralfs received the opportunity to enter the U.S. college basketball system — a pivotal moment in his career.

The upcoming season will be crucial for Iesalnieks. He is currently fully focused on offseason preparation, working hard to elevate his game. A strong performance next season could open the door to NCAA Division I programs and bring him one step closer to the professional level.

All eyes will now be on Ralfs Iesalnieks as he enters a defining stage of his basketball journey.

🏀 Title:

Top Three-Point Shooter of the Latvian Junior Basketball League Zane Straudovska Joined Our BK-CentR Team

📝 Article:

One of the best three-point shooters of the Latvian Junior Basketball League, Zana Straudovska, has joined our BK Centre team.

Zane is a player developed under coach Anita Mikāke. She plays for Rīdzene in Riga. Zane also represents the famous Riga club TTT Riga and Latvian junior national team.

Zane would like to continue her education at a strong university or college. She is currently looking for a team in the United States that fully matches her style of play as a three-point shooter.

We wish her the best of luck in finding the right college and are keeping our fingers crossed for her.

It appears that Nate Altenhofen of AbbA LLC has expedited communications on Seda’s behalf and the talented Armenian guard has quickly found a new basketball home.

The 5’11 R-FR guard averaged 22.0 ppg, 15.0 rpg and 5.3 apg last summer for her Armenia U18 team. Seda will be joining Memphis new head coach Hana Haden, who recently won the Sunbelt Conference with Georgia Southern in only her second season at the University.

A new name is rapidly gaining attention in German youth basketball — Justus Reintjes.

Born in 2010, Reintjes is already one of the key players for Germany’s U16 national team and a leader within the ratiopharm Ulm system (Radiopharm Academy Ulm).

Competing in the Jr. Basketball League — Germany’s premier youth basketball competition — Reintjes has established himself as one of the standout players in his age group and a central figure on his U16 team.

His scoring ability is particularly impressive. In one game in Germany, Justus recorded an outstanding 68-point performance, underlining his reputation as one of the most dangerous offensive players of his generation.

Throughout the season, he has consistently delivered:

• 30+ and 40+ point games
• strong overall impact on the game
• leadership on the court

Thanks to these performances, Justus Reintjes is currently considered the leading candidate for the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award in the Jr. Basketball League.

Many coaches and observers are already beginning to draw comparisons between his playing style and Dirk Nowitzki — pointing to similarities in scoring versatility, confidence, and offensive mindset.

Adding to the story, Reintjes comes from the same basketball environment that produced Nowitzki, and continues to develop within a system where the influence of the German legend is still present. According to sources around the program, Justus has also had opportunities to connect with Nowitzki, gaining valuable exposure within that elite basketball ecosystem.

At the national level, he plays an important role for Germany’s U16 team, further solidifying his status as one of the top prospects in his class.

His game is defined by:

• aggressive scoring ability
• confidence with the ball
• advanced basketball IQ

Today, Reintjes is not just a promising prospect — he is already one of the leading young talents in German basketball.

Vote for Justus Reintjes in the MVP race:

https://forms.gle/dBQgB8L8rhP2dWF28

BREAKING: New Mexico State’s Seda Gabrielyan has officially entered the transfer portal. Her representative at AbbA LLC told Boris Karebin.

The 5’11 R-FR guard and former FIBA Class C Most Valuable Player from Armenia is expected to draw interest from the American, Missouri Valley, A10 and BIG10 conferences.