Riccardo Cervi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Riccardo Cervi
Free agent
PositionCenter
Personal information
Born (1991-06-19) 19 June 1991 (age 32)
Reggio Emilia, Italy
NationalityItalian
Listed height2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)
Listed weight115 kg (254 lb)
Career information
NBA draft2011: undrafted
Playing career2010–present
Career history
2010–2015Pallacanestro Reggiana
2015–2016Sidigas Avellino
2016–2019Pallacanestro Reggiana
2019-2020Pallacanestro Varese
2020Pallacanestro Trieste
2020Virtus Roma
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing Italy Italy
FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
Silver medal – second place 2011 Bilbao

Riccardo Cervi (born 19 June 1991) is an Italian professional basketball player who last played for Virtus Roma of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).

Youth career[edit]

The Reggio Emilia native joined local side Pallacanestro Reggiana from Basket 2000 Scandiano in the summer of 2006, he was permanently transferred the next year.[1]

Cervi was loaned to Stella Azzurra Roma in order to participate in the Nike International Junior Tournament, finishing with 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds on average.[2][3]

Professional career[edit]

Cervi made his professional debut in the Legadue in 2010, playing two minutes without statistics in his only game that season. He signed his first professional contract, a five-year deal, with Reggio in November 2010, also being incorporated into the first squad that season.[4]

In 2011-12 he contributed 4.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and a league best 2.2 blocks in 16.6 minutes per game, helping his side earn a promotion to the first division Serie A. For his prowess he was selected as the Legadue's best Italian player.[5][6] His contract with the side was renegotiated, while the length stayed the same, his salary was increased and an annual NBA escape clause inserted.[7]

After having major knee surgery over the summer,[6] Cervi had a difficult start in his first Serie A season whilst also struggling to change his shooting technique. He improved in the last months of the 2012-13 season and was one of the best Reggio players in the playoff series against Acea Roma. After a slow start in 2013-14, he finished the season as a starter, contributing 9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in the closely fought playoff series against holders Montepaschi Siena.[8] The same season he posted 3.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks (a tournament 4th best) in around 14 minutes per game in the European third tier 2013–14 EuroChallenge, including 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in the final, to help Reggio Emilia win the title.[9]

The EuroChallenge title gave Reggio Emilia the chance to play in the second tier 2014-15 Eurocup where Cervi posted 5.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks as the side exited at the group stage.[10] He finished as the second best shot blocker of the 2014-15 Serie A with 1.8 per game.

In July 2015 he joined EA7 Emporio Armani Milano, signing a two-year deal with the EuroLeague-playing side.[11][12] However, only a few days after the announcement Milan decided to exercise a clause in his contract to release the player.[13] He then signed with another Serie A side, Sidigas Avellino on 29 July.[14]

On 8 August 2020 Cervi signed for Virtus Roma.[15]

After Virtus Roma's withdrawal from the Serie A due to financial problems,[16] Cervi, like all the Roma players, was made free agent.

International career[edit]

Cervi played with the Italy Under-20 squad in the 2011 European Championship, posting 4.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks as the side came home with a silver medal.[17]

He was part of the Italy B squad that finished 5th at the 2013 Mediterranean Games.

Cervi would make his full international debut for Italy against Germany in July 2014.[18]

At 2.16 m, Cervi is an intimidating presence in the paint, a rare characteristic for an Italian,[6] as such he has regularly been called up to Italy squads.[18]

He took part in the successful qualification for EuroBasket 2015, with 3.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 13 minutes per game.[19] The center was called to the preliminary squad for the competition in June 2015,[20] but he did not make the final cut.

Honours[edit]

Individual[edit]

  • Best Italian in Legadue: 2012
  • Serie A All Star Game: participant (2013, 2014)

Team[edit]

Europe[edit]

  • EuroChallenge: winner (2014)

Youth[edit]

  • FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: Spain 2011  Silver

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Acquistato a titolo definitivo Cervi, Kudlacek in presisto al Basket 2000" [Cervi definitively acquired, Kudlacek loaned to Basket 2000]. Pallacanestro Reggiana (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  2. ^ "I giovani del vivaio biancorosso in luce al torneo Roma Euroleague" [The youngsters of the white and red school in the spotlight at the Euroleague ROma tournament]. Gazzetta di Reggio (in Italian). 2 January 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Cervi, Riccardo (2008-2009 statistics)". Euroleague. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Riccardo Cervi firma il primo contratto professionistico" [Riccardo Cervi signs a first professional contract]. Pallacanestro Reggiana (in Italian). 26 November 2010. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Premio in ricordo di Martin Colussi al giovane Cervi del Reggio Emilia" [The prize in honor of Martin Colussi for the young Cervi of Reggio Emilia]. Messaggero Veneto – Giornale del Friuli (in Italian). 12 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  6. ^ a b c "Last 16 Week 3 review". FIBA Europe. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Rinegoziato il contratto di Riccardo Cervi" [Riccardo Cervi's contract is renegociated]. Pallacanestro Reggiana (in Italian). 15 June 2012. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  8. ^ Arati, Adriano (22 September 2014). "Riccardo Cervi, un "intimidatore" da area" [Riccardo Cervi, an "intimidator" in the paint]. Gazzetta di Reggio (in Italian). Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Riccardo Cervi - Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia". FIBA Europe. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Cervi, Riccardo (2014-15 statistics)". Eurocup Basketball. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  11. ^ "Milan adds size with center Cervi". Euroleague. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Olimpia, here he comes: Riccardo Cervi". Olimpia Milano. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2015.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ Gallo, Gabriele (23 July 2015). "Basket: dietrofront di Milano, salta il biennale con Cervi" [Backpedaling from Milan, it overlooks the biennal [contract] with Cervi]. ilRestodelCarlino.it (in Italian). Reggio Emilia. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  14. ^ "Colpo Sidigas, arriva Cervi" [Achievement from Sidigas, Cervi is coming]. ScadoneBasket.it (in Italian). 29 July 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  15. ^ "La Virtus Roma ingaggia Riccardo Cervi" (in Italian). virtusroma.it. 7 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Rinuncia Virtus Roma. Una nota della FIP" (in Italian). fip.it. 9 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Riccardo Cervi". FIBA Europe. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Riccardo Cervi". Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro (in Italian). Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  19. ^ "Riccardo Cervi (Italy)". EuroBasket 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  20. ^ "NBA quartet to lead Italy at EuroBasket". 29 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Riccardo_Cervi&oldid=1138407414"