Ajdin Penava

Ajdin Penava
Penava with Marshall in 2015
No. 11 – Śląsk Wrocław
PositionPower forward
LeaguePLK
Personal information
Born (1997-03-11) 11 March 1997 (age 27)
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
CollegeMarshall (2015–2018)
NBA draft2018: undrafted
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2020Baskonia
2019–2020→ Baskonia B
2020–2022Belfius Mons-Hainaut
2022–2023Spójnia Stargard
2023–2024Juventus Utena
2024–presentŚląsk Wrocław
Career highlights and awards
  • NCAA blocks leader (2018)
  • Third-team All-C-USA (2018)
  • C-USA Defensive Player of the Year (2018)
  • First-team All-C-USA Defensive Team (2018)

Ajdin Penava (born 11 March 1997) is a Bosnian professional basketball player for Śląsk Wrocław of the Polish Basketball League (PLK). He played college basketball for Marshall University in the Conference USA (C-USA). He led NCAA Division I in blocks per game (3.94) in 2017–18.

Early life

Penava attended Peta Gimnazija in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

College career

Penava was a reserve player during his first two seasons with the Herd. He had his breakout season as a junior when he became a full-time starter. One of his best games came against the Ohio Bobcats where he had 33 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 blocks in a 99–96 win.[1] He would later help lead Marshall to an upset win against Wichita State in the 2018 NCAA tournament scoring 16 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and blocking 3 shots.[2] Penava led the nation in blocks during 2017–18 season and decided to declare for the 2018 NBA draft at season's end. He initially did not sign with an agent, but decided to do so on April 19. He did not return to Marshall for his senior season.[3]

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2015–16 Marshall 18 1 6.1 .387 .143 .692 1.0 0.2 0.1 0.4 1.9
2016–17 Marshall 35 14 15.5 .517 .225 .781 3.9 0.5 0.4 1.0 6.1
2017–18 Marshall 34 34 29.4 .562 .340 .753 8.5 1.9 0.9 3.9 15.6
Career 87 49 19.0 .538 .291 .758 5.1 1.0 0.6 2.1 9.0

[4]

Professional career

On 2 September 2018, Penava signed a four-year deal with Kirolbet Baskonia of the Liga ACB and the EuroLeague.[5] On 26 February 2019, Penava joined to the Baskonia reserve team.[6] On 6 July 2020, Penava signed with Belfius Mons-Hainaut of the Pro Basketball League.[7] In July 2021, Penava extended his contract with two more years until 2023.[8]

On 27 December 2022, he signed with Spójnia Stargard of the Polish Basketball League (PLK).[9]

On 27 September 2023, Penava signed a one-year deal with Juventus Utena of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL).[10]

On July 18, 2024, he signed with Śląsk Wrocław of the Polish Basketball League.[11]

National team career

Penava played for the Bosnian national team during the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. Penava averaged 5.6 ppg and 4.8 rpg during the tournament.

References

  1. ^ Final/OT (16 December 2017). "Marshall vs. Ohio box score". espn.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  2. ^ Final (16 March 2018). "Marshall vs. Wichita State box score". espn.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  3. ^ Landon, Chuck (19 April 2018). "Penava Not Returning to Marshall". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Ajdin Penava stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  5. ^ "ACB.COM - Ajdin Penava completa la plantilla azulgrana". www.acb.com (in European Spanish). 2 September 2018. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  6. ^ "ACB.COM - Ajdin Penava ayudará a Grupo Eleyco Baskonia en la fase de permanencia". www.acb.com (in European Spanish). 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 4 March 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  7. ^ Skerletic, Dario (6 July 2020). "Ajdin Penava joins Belfius Mons-Hainaut on two-year deal". Sportando. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Equipe 2021-22: Ajdin PENAVA prolongé pour deux saisons - Belfius Mons-Hainaut" (in French). Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Nowy podkoszowy w PGE Spójni". plk.pl (in Polish). 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Komplektacija baigta: "Uniclub Casino – Juventus" papildė Bosnijos ir Hercegovinos rinktinės aukštaūgis". utenosjuventus.lt (in Lithuanian). 27 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Penava z dwuletnią umową w WKS Śląsku". plk.pl (in Polish). 18 July 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.