Panagiotis Vasilopoulos

Infobox Euroleague Player


caption =
name = Panagiotis Vasilopoulos
nickname = Vasilo
position = Small forward
Power forward
height_ft = 6
height_in = 8
weight_lbs = 225
league = Greek League
Euroleague
team = Olympiacos
jersey =| number = 13
nationality = Greek
birth_date = birth date and age|1984|2|8
birth_place =
career_start = 2001
career_end =
former_teams = PAOK Thessaloníki (2001–2005)
awards =

Panagiotis Vasilopoulos also spelled sometimes Panayiotis Vassilopoulos (born February 8th, 1984, in Maroussi, Athens) is a Greek professional basketball player. He measures 203 cm (6'8") tall. He is a small forward, but he can also play as a power forward.

Player profile

The franchise player of Olympiacos, Vasilopoulos is often referred to as a more athletic version of the long-time great Olympiacos player Giorgos Sigalas. He is a player that can play either the small forward or power forward positions in both offense and defense. He can play in the post on offense and can also handle the ball well, pass well, and has 3 point range on his jump shot. He is an excellent athlete and is considered to be one of the best and most tenacious defensive players in the Euroleague.

Pro career

Vasilopoulos began his pro career in 2001 with PAOK of the Greek League. He played with PAOK for five seasons from 2001-2005. In the 2005 off season he left PAOK and joined Olympiacos.

Olympiacos

Vasilopoulos was brought to Olympiacos in 2005 by George Garbolas on a 2 year contract. Garbolas believed in his abilities and that he could help the team to win championships. On May 20, 2008, he extended his contract for another 4 years with Olympiacos, at a gross salary of US$14.2 million. Sportdog.gr, [http://www.sportdog.gr/new/article.aspx?article_id=65355 Sportdog: Vassilopoulos red for ever!] , accessed May 20, 2008.]

Greek national team

Vasilopoluos played with Greek junior team at the 2004 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship and also at the 2005 FIBA Under-21 World Championship. With the junior team he also won the bronze medal at both the 2002 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and at the 2003 FIBA Under-19 World Championship.

Vasilopoulos was a member of the senior Greek National Basketball Team that won the gold medal at the 2005 European Championship and the silver medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship. He also competed with Greece at the 2007 European Championship.

Awards and accomplishments

Pro career

*4-time Greek League All Star (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

Greek national team

*Won the bronze medal at the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship (2002)
*Won the bronze medal the FIBA Under-19 World Championship (2003)
*Won the gold medal at the 2005 European Championship
*Won the silver medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship

References

External links

* [http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid_BqypGFJPHy-Nw4lwIAq,v3.playerID_40020.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2007.roundID_5169.teamID_291.html Eurobasket2007.org player profile]
* [http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?clubcode=oly&pcode=JRF Euroleague.net player profile]
* [http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Panagiotis-Vasilopoulos-389/ Draftexpress.com player profile]