Michele Ruzzier

Michele Ruzzier (born February 9, 1993) is an Italian professional basketball player for Pallacanestro Trieste of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[1] He has also represented the Italian national team. Ruzzier plays at the point guard position.

Michele Ruzzier
No. 10 – Pallacanestro Trieste
PositionPoint guard
LeagueLBA
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1993-02-09) February 9, 1993
Trieste, Italy
NationalityItalian
Listed height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Listed weight80 kg (176 lb)
Career information
Playing career2011–present
Career history
2011–2014Pallacanestro Trieste
2014–2017Reyer Venezia
2016–2017→ Fortitudo Bologna
2017–2020Vanoli Cremona
2020–2021Varese
2021–2022Virtus Bologna
2022–presentPallacanestro Trieste
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men’s Basketball
Representing  Italy
FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
Gold medal – first place 2013 Tallinn National Team

Professional career

Ruzzier started playing for Azzurra Trieste in his native town, moving in 2010 to Pallacanestro Trieste, playing in the third division, to play for their Under 19 squad.[2]

Following injuries for the regular starters, Ruzzier was called to the first squad in early 2011, he alternated between the first and the U19 squad for the rest of the season. The next season, he would cement his place in the first squad, playing an average of 20 minutes per game as Trieste was promoted to Legadue.[2]

In 2013-14 the team finished above the relegation spots, Ruzzier was instrumental in the feat, one of the few starting Italian point guards, he improved all his personal stats on his way to a selection for the Legadue All-Star game in the squad coached by his club coach Eugenio Dalmasson.[3]

The higher exposure and level of play helped him achieve his lifelong goal, join a Serie A club, signing for the 2014-15 season with Dalmasson's former side Umana Reyer Venezia in neighbouring Veneto, the move was facilitated by a partnership between the two clubs.[4][5]

In July 2015, his contract with Reyer was extended for another season.[6]

Unfortunately, at the end of the 2019-20 season, after three seasons played with Cremona, he was released due to the club's financial problems.[7] He, then, signed a one year contract with Pallacanestro Varese with an option for the season 2021-22.[8]

He resigned from Varese at the end of the 2020–21 season,[9] to sign a two-year deal with Virtus Bologna on 5 July 2021.[10] On 21 September 2021, the team won its second Supercup, defeating Olimpia Milano 90–84.[11] Moreover, after having ousted Lietkabelis, Ulm and Valencia in the first three rounds of the playoffs, on 11 May 2022, Virtus defeated Frutti Extra Bursaspor by 80–67 at the Segafredo Arena, winning its first EuroCup and qualifying for the EuroLeague after 14 years.[12] However, despite having ended the regular season at the first place and having ousted 3–0 both Pesaro and Tortona in the first two rounds of playoffs, Virtus was defeated 4–2 in the national finals by Olimpia Milan.[13] On 29 September 2022, after having ousted Milano in the semifinals, Virtus won its third Supercup, defeating 72–69 Banco di Sardegna Sassari and achieving a back-to-back, following the 2021 trophy.[14]

International career

Ruzzier started playing for the Italian Under-20 side in 2013, he was a starter at the 2013 European Championship as Italy won the title.[15]

Player profile

A point guard who displays good maturity for his age, he tries to set the pace of the game, finding his teammates with passes. A good Pick and roll player, he prefers shooting from distance but can on occasion attack the rim. Archived 2015-05-18 at the Wayback Machine, Sigma Sports. Retrieved on 9 May 2015.</ref>[16]

Personal

As his father played basketball, in the amateur 4th division, Ruzzier was drawn to the sport, another basketball connection in his family is his uncle, coach Matteo Boniciolli.[17]

References
  1. "Michele Ruzzier nuovo acquisto di Virtus Segafredo Bologna". virtus.it (in Italian). 5 July 2021.
  2. "Ruzzier: "A dream come true. Now I'll have to learn so much".", La Nuova Venezia, Mestre, 7 July 2014. Retrieved on 9 May 2015.(in Italian)
  3. "All Star Game Legadue: the other call-ups.", Corriere dello Sport – Stadio, 21 January 2013. Retrieved on 9 May 2015.(in Italian)
  4. "Umana Reyer officially announces the recruiting of Michele Ruzzier.", Umana Reyer, 14 June 2014. Retrieved on 9 May 2015.(in Italian)
  5. "Ruzzier leaves Triest for the A1 in Venice.", Il Piccolo, Trieste, 18 June 2014. Retrieved on 9 May 2015.(in Italian)
  6. "Umana Reyer Venice keeps point guard Ruzzier". EurocupBasketball.com. 21 July 2015. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  7. @VanoliCremona (23 June 2020). "Per sempre uno di noi!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. "MICHELE RUZZIER È IL NUOVO PLAYMAKER DELLA PALLACANESTRO VARESE" (in Italian). pallacanestrovarese.it. 25 June 2020.
  9. "MICHELE RUZZIER ESCE DAL CONTRATTO CON IL CLUB BIANCOROSSO" (in Italian). pallacanestrovarese.it. 30 June 2020.
  10. "Virtus, Ruzzier come sesto italiano e cambio degli esterni". bolognabasket.org (in Italian). 5 July 2021.
  11. Basket, la Virtus Bologna vince la Supercoppa: Milano ancora ko, la Repubblica
  12. "Game Night: Virtus is the 7DAYS EuroCup champion and headed back to the EuroLeague!". euroleaguebasketball.net. 11 May 2022.
  13. "Olimpia Milano campione d'Italia, Virtus Bologna ko 81-64 in gara-6". Sky Sport. 18 June 2022.
  14. "Supercoppa, trionfa la Virtus Bologna! Canestro decisivo di Mickey, Sassari cede 72-69". Gazzetta dello Sport. 29 September 2022.
  15. "2013 U20 European Championship – Michele Ruzzier.", FIBA Europe. Retrieved on 9 May 2015.
  16. Bortoluzzi, Davide. "Italy: Who is coming?.", Eurohopes, 30 December 2012. Retrieved on 9 May 2015.
  17. "Ruzzier, in the footsteps of uncle Boniciolli.", Il Piccolo, Trieste, 8 January 2007. Retrieved on 9 May 2015.(in Italian)
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