Hong Kong Eastern Men's Basketball Signs American Center Carlton Linguard Jr.
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong Eastern Basketball Team, the defending champions of the Hong Kong Premier Basketball League, officially announced on Tuesday the signing of 25-year-old American center Carlton Linguard Jr. (連加特). The move marks a significant reinforcement for their frontline after completing local registration procedures. Linguard, who stands at 213cm and graduated from NCAA Division I University of San Francisco, brings international experience from the Netherlands BNXT League. The American big man is expected to make his debut as early as this Thursday in the season opener against Happy Valley, while also being prepared for the EASL East Asia Super League commencing in October.
Key Points
- Carlton Linguard Jr., 25, a 213cm American center, joins Hong Kong Eastern as the team's new local foreign import, replacing Kyler
- Linguard graduated from NCAA Division I University of San Francisco, playing 35 games in the 2024-25 season with a 44.6% field goal percentage and averaging 8 points per game
- After college, Linguard pursued professional basketball in Europe, competing in the Netherlands BNXT League, gaining valuable overseas experience
- His earliest possible debut comes this Thursday, September 10, when Hong Kong Eastern faces Happy Valley in their season-opening match
- Beyond league competition, Linguard will team up with Yang Bowen, Xu Xinyang, Owen Evans, and Su Baixuan to compete in the EASL East Asia Super League starting October
- Hong Kong Eastern has registered 13 players for the new season, including Linguard and existing players such as Owen Evans, Yang Bowen, and Su Baixuan
Why It Matters
Linguard's arrival directly addresses Hong Kong Eastern's need for interior presence and defensive protection around the basket. His modern skillset as a stretch big who can space the floor with three-point shooting adds tactical versatility to the team's offensive schemes. The signing demonstrates the team's ambition to maintain domestic dominance while competing internationally in the EASL, where they will face stronger regional competition.
Linguard's arrival directly addresses Hong Kong Eastern's need for interior presence and defensive protection around the basket. His modern skillset as a stretch big who can space the floor with three-point shooting adds tactical versatility to the team's offensive schemes. The signing demonstrates the team's ambition to maintain domestic dominance while competing internationally in the EASL, where they will face stronger regional competition.