Team 2010-11: Valencia (Spain-ACB) Career: Pulsar Rovno (Ukraine-Superleague, 1998-03), Khimik Yuzhiny (Ukraine-Superleague, 2003-05), Azovmash Mariupol (Ukraine-Superleague 2005-09), Valencia (Spain-ACB, 2009-11)
Serhiy Lishchuk remains the marquee player for Ukraine after several years of outstanding performances in a National Team vest - an entire decade in fact. He first played at EuroBasket in 2001 while in his teen years and during EuroBasket 2005 was the standout player for Ukraine with 14.7 points and 8 rebounds per game. He has never looked back since and continues to be the dominant figure, as underlined by his performances last summer during the Qualifying Round when he was the top scorer and rebounder despite averaging only 22 minutes per game. He has certainly come a long way since playing for his hometown club Pulsar Rovno and enjoying an excellent career at youth level which led to him to be drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies. He then exploded to further prominence during 2004 with a terrific performance in Europe with Khimik. He played in Euroleague last season and before that, he was the first Ukrainian player to win a Eurocup title. For the past couple of seasons, Lishchuk has played his basketball in the ACB in Spain. An excellent shot blocker Lishchuk is also a tireless worker and that makes him a kingpin defensively for Ukraine. A lot of what you get with Lishchuk you don't always see on the stat line. |