Nikos Chougkaz
Nikolaos "Nikos" Chougkaz (alternate spellings: Chougaz, Hougkaz, Hougaz) (Greek: Νικόλαος "Νίκος" Χουγκάζ; born October 4, 2000 in Athens, Greece) is a Greek professional basketball player for Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League and the EuroLeague. At a height of tall, he is primarily a power forward, but he can also play at the small forward position. Youth career. Chougkaz played three seasons of youth system basketball with the Greek club Peristeri Athens. College career. Chougkaz played at a fully professional level of competition in the 2018–19 season. However, he was still able to retain his personal amateur status  for the NCAA DI. That was because his contract with Panionios Athens was structured so that his salary would be below the maximum limit that the NCAA allows in order for players to keep their NCAA eligibility. Chougkaz moved to the USA, in order to play college basketball at Northwestern State University. He played with the Northwestern State Demons, during the 2019–20 season. During his Freshman season, he averaged 9.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game, while shooting 40.7% overall from the field, 28.0% from three-point range, and 70.1% from the free-throw  line. Ultimately, Chougkaz only played with the Demons for that one season, and he then returned to Greece, to play professionally. Professional career. Chougaz started his career with Panionios Athens of the Greek Basket League in 2018. In his first season playing at a pro club level (2018–19), he averaged 3.4 points, 1.1 rebounds, 0.1 assists, 0.2 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game, while shooting 42.9% overall from the field, 41.2% from 2-point range, 50.0% from 3-point range, and 87.5% from the free-throw line. While playing with Panionios Athens, his contract allowed him to retain his amateur  status for the NCAA. After spending the 2019–20 season with the college basketball team Northwestern State, he joined the Greek League club Ionikos Nikaias. On November 22, 2020, Chougaz recorded career-highs in both points and rebounds, after he scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, in his team΄s win over Lavrio. On March 21, 2021, he tied the best three-point shooting record of the Greek League, after he shot 7 for 7 from three-point distance, in a win against Larisa. He finished that game with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists, and he was later named  league's MVP of the Week. He averaged 10.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game, while shooting 42.9% overall from the field, 45.2% from 2-point range, 39.2% from 3-point range, and 74.7% from the free-throw line. during the Greek League's 2020–21 season. On July 20, 2021, Chougkaz officially signed a four-year contract with Greek Basket League champions and EuroLeague mainstays Panathinaikos. He would remain on loan to Ionikos for the 2021-2022 season. Chougkaz averaged 10.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He returned to Panathinaikos on February 7 , 2022. He made his EuroLeague debut on February 25, 2022, aged 21, on a game against KK Crvena zvezda, playing for 14 minutes and scoring two points with free throws. National team career. Greek junior national team. Chougkaz was a member of the junior national teams of Greece. With Greece's under-18 junior national team, he played at the 2018 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. He averaged 2.8 points, 1.0 rebounds, 0.2 assists, and 0.6 steals per game at the tournament. With Greece's under-19 junior national team, he played at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. He averaged 5.7 points , 2.9 rebounds, 0.1 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game at the tournament. Greek senior national team. Chougkaz first played with the senior Greek national team on 20 February 2021, when he played at the 2022 EuroBasket qualifiers. In his first game with the men's national team, he had 3 points and 1 rebound in Greece's 84–69 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Overall, in two games played, he averaged 4.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game during the qualifiers. Personal life. Chougaz΄s mother Sonia Dafkou, was a long-time professional basketball player, having also played  for Panathinaikos. His father Chris, who was born in Alexandria, Egypt, is a former professional basketball player and a coach. He has been the head coach of numerous clubs in Europe. His twin brother Robert, plays college basketball at Northwestern State University.