Eric Buckner is a new player at Zenit BC

American center Eric Buckner, 31, has signed a contract with our club for remainder of this season.

Eric Rahard Buckner was born on April 26, 1990 in Erhardt, South Carolina.

He took his first basketball steps at Gulf Coast State College. From 2010 to 2012, he performed for Georgia State University. In just two seasons of playing in the NCAA, he became the all-time champion in the history of his team in blockshots (167).

He took part in the NBA Draft in 2012.

He started his professional career in Turkey, where he spent 4 seasons as a member of Usak Sportif, Istanbul BB and Turk Telecom clubs. In the club from Ankara, he averaged 10 points and made 6.3 rebounds per game.

He took part in the NBA Summer League for two years in a row (2015, 2016). Before returning to Turkish basketball, he played in the Chinese Henan and the Greek Aris.

He got acquainted with French basketball moving to ASVEL of Lyon, after which there were a season and a half in Monaco and a confident game in the Eurocup. After Chalon-sur-Saone in March 2021, Eric moved to the Kazakh Astana. In the VTB United League played 7 games (10.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 blocks).

The 21/22 season began in the Turkish Super League with Afyo Belediye. Coming out in the starting five, Eric scored 13 points and made 5 rebounds per game. In December 2021, he moved to Ulsan Moby Phobis, which plays in the Korean Basketball Super League. There he managed to play 34 games, gaining 7.1 points, 5 rebounds, 1.1 assists in an average of 18 minutes on the floor.

At Zenit, Eric Buckner will wear jersey with number 23.

The center is expected to make his debut in the first game of the VTB United League quarterfinals.