🇬🇷SPORTS NEWS🇺🇸

Neoklis Avdalas is one of the most intriguing international freshmen in college basketball this hoop season. Neoklis helpedlead the Virginia Tech Hokies to a 19-11 record. Neoklis is a big talented 6-foot 9-inch guard who can handle and pass the ball. Neoklis averaged 12.3 points a game this season and a very respectable 4.6 assists. He had some big games and had fans dancing Kalamatiano in the stands, including 33 points at Providence, 30 points against Western Carolina, and a 19-point effort at North Carolina. Neoklis has a very high basketball IQ, can shoot the three pointer, and has good passing ability. Greek American Sports predicts he will be a 1st-round draft pick and has been compared to NBA Lakers star Luka Doncic.

Cleo Kaloyanides is a sophomore forward for the American Heritage School Girls Basketball team. Cleo made her mark early in the season helping American Heritage beat Westminster Academy 55-33. Cleo played strong, consistent basketball all season, leading the Stallions with  9 points and 13 dominant rebounds in a crucial 56-48 victory over Olympic Heights. She would finish as the team’s second leading rebounder in a 16-6 season. Cleo enjoyed helping her team go to the regional basketball playoffs. Cleo is a member of The National Junior Honor Society with a 4.5 GPA. She is now also playing for The Duval Elite AAU Basketball Team.

Cleo also enjoys playing soccer as a defender. Last summer her travel soccer team Boca SABR won the Florida South  and played Florida North in an exciting match decided by penalty kicks. She loves competition in all sports. Cleo is very proud of her Greek heritage and her roots are in Thrace and Saranta Eklisies.

Chloe Annette “Bennos” Lentine is a sophomore at Winchester High School and a second-year varsity basketball player for the Winchester Red and Black, previously known as the Sachems. She’s a versatile player switching positions seamlessly from guard to power forward depending on the needs of her team.  She also plays for the Mass Huskies and is a leading performer with a strong 3 point shot as well as defensively.  She continues to work on her skills during the off season with both Winchester and Huskies. She had the honor of being  invited this past fall to be a participant in A Shot For Life charity event spending 24 hours at the Westford Mills playing basketball crushing her fundraising goal and raising $2000 towards the research of glioblastoma.  “The A Shot For Life Gauntlet started in 2017 with 30 players setting out to play basketball for 24 hours as a nod to the 24-hour emotional and physical struggle that cancer patients face when they are diagnosed.”

Chloe is also an active member of Model UN and DECA all while playing lacrosse in the spring and excelling  in all honors classes.  She enjoyed her first trip to Greece this past summer, visiting Athens and the island of Naxos with her family - grandparents, aunt uncle and cousins. A coach told her recently her now is just as bright as her future which couldn’t be closer to the truth as she continues to work towards bettering herself in all of her activities.

Every Kuriakee ON AIR WNTN at “12PM-1PM” Grecian Echoes WNTN1550AM from Boston “The Athens of America”The one and only Greek-America Sports show “THE BENCHWARMERS” Hosted by Greek radio legend Ted Demetriades, Bill Galatis, Nick Ypsilantis, and Nick Markopoulos.

Greek Hoop Scoop- Check out Greek Hoop Scoop an amazing Facebook site about all things about Greek Basketball. They cover Greek and Orthodox basketball tournaments, high school, college players, teams, and much more. Terry Poulos, was a long-time Sports Editor for The Greek Star and WindyCityGreek as well as a Greek American media journalist.Terry Poulos will be inducted into the NHIBT Hall of Fame on March 28, 2026. Well-deserved Honor.

Congratulations! Sinharitiria!

The 2026 National Hellenic Invitational Basketball Tournament will be taking place in Chicago on March 27-29th. The NHIBT is celebrating nearly 100 years of Hellenic Basketball Excellence! You can find the NHIBT on the web for registration information, contact NHIBT.INC@GMAIL.COM or call 630-277-7641. NHIBT President Alex Kountoures is welcoming teams throughout the USA and Canada. 

The 70th Harry Agganis Basketball Tournament will be taking place on April 17-19th at The Saint George Community Center in Lynn, Massachusetts. For more information contact John Meklis at 781-526-9200 JMEKLIS@GMAIL.COM also Facebook AGGANIS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.

The 14th Teddy K Classic in memory of Teddy Kariotis will be the last of the Greek Hoop Tournaments Tour. The tournament attracts over 30 teams  to Hellenic College in Brookline, Massachusetts. Director Tony Kariotis can be reached at 617-590-8051. The tournament will be held on April 30-May 3 2026 in the “Athens of America” Boston.

Greek American Sports is looking for volunteer sports correspondents in high school or college to cover Greek American Sporting events in your community such as basketball tournaments, softball, volleyball, soccer, and more. In addition, we will review video highlights or profiles on outstanding high school talent in your area and state. 

Key Qualities

• Strong interest in sports and your Greek American community.• Clear communication and writing skills for reports and captions.• Comfortable speaking on camera and presenting in a confident way.• Basic video or mobile phone skills include: Some basic knowledge of Framing clear shots, Editing clips and music, Lighting Awareness, Audio Capture minimize background noise to capture clear commentary, Story Telling orally, as well as capturing highlights of key moments of sporting event. Possible volunteer community credits!• You must have Kefi, Greek creativity, passion, and love your community 

• We will review all submissions.

Send your submission to:  greekamericansports@gmail.com Greek American Sports (GAS)