PAOK is proud to welcome two of the most promising representatives of the new generation of Greek basketball.
Sixteen-year-old Giannis Spanos and fifteen-year-old Giorgos Charalampidis, both members of the Greece U16 National Team, officially become part of the PAOK family today. Two of the country's brightest young talents are joining PAOK's player development program, and their arrival is a clear indication of the club's comprehensive restructuring of its youth academy. The objective is to establish a clear pathway that will enable talented players to progress from the academy to the senior team.
Both young PAOK players will represent Greece at the FIBA U16 European Championship, which tips off on Friday, August 7, in Oradea, Romania.
Giannis Spanos was born on January 26, 2010, in Serres. Standing 2.02m tall, he plays as a forward. He is another outstanding prospect developed by the DEKA Academy, with which PAOK has already established a collaboration.
His most recent achievement came at the inaugural GEN A Stars U16 Final Four in Mykonos, where he delivered outstanding performances, averaging 26.9 points, 16.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. In the championship game against Olympiacos, despite DEKA's defeat, he recorded an impressive 41 points and 19 rebounds. He was also selected to the All-Tournament Team at the recent Greek U16 National Championship. Spanos has already earned five caps with the Greece U16 National Team.
Giorgos Charalampidis was born on January 14, 2011, in Thessaloniki. Standing 1.87m tall, he is a guard and most recently played for the Greek Basketball Academy (GBA), where he even made appearances with the senior team despite being only 15 years old.
He was named to the All-Tournament Team at the recent EKASTH U16 Championship and is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Greek basketball. Charalampidis has already made six appearances for the Greece U16 National Team.