The Roca Team officially announced yesterday the arrival of center Kevarrius Hayes to the Principality. A smart choice to strengthen the interior sector.
After their defeat in the Betclic Elite final against Paris Basketball, the Roca Team did not wait long before recruiting. And it’s Kevarrius Hayes, champion with Paris this year, who is joining the Principality. The American has signed a two-year contract (until June 2027) with the club from the Rock. At twenty-eight, the center takes on a new challenge in a team looking to strengthen its interior sector. A promising partnership?
A player with experience
At twenty-eight, Kevarrius Hayes is in the prime of his career. And notably, younger than two of the other centers of the Roca Team, namely Mam Jaiteh (three years older) and Donatas Motiejunas (six years older). Georgios Papagiannis was born the same year.
Monaco’s goal is to inject more athletic freshness into an aging area of play. The American is especially praised for his physical qualities. He ranked among the top rebounders in the Lega (Italian championship) when he started his career in Europe in 2019-2020. Since then, he remains an important asset for teams aiming to strengthen their inside game, particularly in rebounding.
The question of playing time
The most significant issue is certainly the playing time: Kevarrius Hayes has never asserted himself as an undisputed starter in a team. When he first came to France with ASVEL in 2020-2021, he had an average playing time of only eleven minutes. He then revived himself in Turkey and with Zalgiris Kaunas where he was able to return to the Euroleague. This notably allowed him to regain more substantial playing time. Arriving at Paris Basketball last year, he established himself as a reliable player with decent performance. In terms of playing time, he averaged twenty minutes in the Euroleague.
What stands out from his minutes played in Paris is his remarkable efficiency. The American formed a thunderous duo with TJ Shorts. In pick & roll situations, they challenged their opponents, notably the Roca Team in the Betclic Elite final. Thanks to this complementarity, Hayes demonstrated lethal efficiency in the paint this season: eighty percent success rate.
In Monaco’s interior sector, the new Monegasque center can challenge the hierarchy and assert himself. Especially since Papagiannis and Motiejunas were used very little during the Euroleague season. In other words, there’s a spot up for grabs.
Here to win
After winning the French championship with Paris Basketball as a major contributor in the final, Kevarrius Hayes wants to continue his beautiful journey in France. By joining Monaco, the American hopes to grow in a very ambitious project, with eyes fixed on the Euroleague.
“I am delighted to join Monaco and this team. I know they are building to win the Euroleague and I want to be part of this project. I know the coach, the players, and the staff want nothing less. The season in Paris has been a real achievement for me and the memories I’ve created there will stay with me all my life. I can’t wait to bring the same energy to my new teammates and give all my contribution on the court. I want to use my skills to help this group reach the finals of the competitions they participate in again,” the American center stated.
