Ivan Radenović

Ivan Radenović (born June 10th, 1984) is a Serbian professional basketball player. He is currently playing for the Greek pro club Panellinios. He was formerly a member of the Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team, wearing the #55 jersey.

Radenović is former player of Akasvayu Girona [http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=43431 Akasvayu ficha a Ivan Radenovic] ] from Spain, with whom he signed 2 year contract in the year 2007. In 2008 he signed with the Greek team Panellinios Athens for a one-year deal [ [http://www.azstarnet.com/sports/199065 Radenovic opts to play in Greece] ] .

Early life

Radenović was born in Belgrade, Serbia, in the former Yugoslavia, and began playing basketball in the junior teams for Partizan Belgrade. His talent came to prominence during the 2002 Albert Schweitzer Games in Germany where he played for a Serbian youth team, averaging 7.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 59.3 percent (16-of-27) from the floor.

College career

Mid-way through the 2003-04 season, Ivan joined the Arizona Wildcats team and their legendary head coach Lute Olson, where he had one of the most successful debuts in Wildcats' history, scoring 17 points against Liberty University on December 28th, 2003 [ [http://www.arizonaathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=8174&SPID=518&DB_OEM_ID=1600&ATCLID=40944] ] . That very same season, Radenović earned Honorable Mention Pac 10 All Freshman honors. He was a great addition to the Wildcats' team that needed help at the big man position. However, during that season his lack of weight and his adaptation to the new American culture were the main causes of his inconsistent game performances. That season Radenović averaged 5.8 points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game, and shoot 25.7% from the 3 point line, 39.7% in field goals, and 76.7% from the free throw line [ [http://www.arizonaathletics.com/downloads1/10616.pdf?ATCLID=39534&SPSID=8158&SPID=518&DB_OEM_ID=1600] ] .

During the 2004-05 season, Radenović's game improved a lot. He was a key man on an Arizona Wildcats' basketball team that unhappily lost to the Illinois Fighting Illini in the 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Elite Eight game. During the season Radenović averaged 8.6 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, and posted four double doubles and six double figure rebounding games [ [http://www.arizonaathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=8158&SPID=518&DB_OEM_ID=1600&ATCLID=39534&Q_SEASON=2006] ] . A notable performance was his Pac 10 game at UCLA where he scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds [ [http://wc.arizona.edu/papers/98/97/02_1.html] ] . The same season Radenović was voted the most improved player of them by his teammates [ [http://www.arizonaathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=8158&SPID=518&DB_OEM_ID=1600&ATCLID=39534&Q_SEASON=2006] ] .

In the 2005-06 season, Radenović was a key player on an Arizona Wildcats' college team plagued by off-court problems. He was named the team's co-MVP by his teammates. That same season he averaged 12.5 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, and managed a team-leading four double-doubles during the season.

His senior season of 2006-07 was his year as a leader on a team filled with talent. The absence of Kirk Walter's rebounding throughout the season damaged the Wildcats' game plan. The Wildcats were forced to rely on the younger members on the roster like Chase Budinger and Marcus Williams (formerly of the San Antonio Spurs, currently on the Los Angeles Clippers) and eventually lost to Purdue in the first round of the 2007 March Madness Tournament. For the 2006-07 season Radenović averaged 15.1 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game, 2.1 assist per game, and shoot 50.7% from the field.

Professional career

NBA

Radenović went undrafted into the NBA after entering his name in the 2007 NBA Draft, which was followed by a failed attempt to make it onto the Los Angeles Clippers roster during their Las Vegas Summer League. Ivan only played in three out of the five Clippers' Summer League games.

Europe

Radenovic moved to Europe and signed a two year contract with the Spanish club Akasvayu Girona in 2007 .After one season with his Spanish team, Radenović moved to Greece and signed with the Athens club Panellinios on a one year contract. [ [http://www.panellinios-bc.gr/articleDetailEN/0,5854,183749,00.html Panellinios signs Ivan Radenovic] ] [ [http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/ulebcup/home/news/i/34354/448/panellinios-tabs-ivan-radenovic Panellinios tabs Ivan Radenovic] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.arizonaathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=8155&SPID=518&DB_OEM_ID=1600&ATCLID=39534 Ivan Radenovic biography] – Arizona Wildcats Official Site