Riccardo Cervi

Riccardo Cervi (born June 19, 1991) is an Italian professional basketball player who last played for Virtus Roma of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).

Riccardo Cervi
Free agent
PositionCenter
Personal information
Born (1991-06-19) June 19, 1991
Reggio Emilia, Italy
NationalityItalian
Listed height2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)
Listed weight115 kg (254 lb)
Career information
NBA draft2011 / Undrafted
Playing career2010–present
Career history
2010–2015Pallacanestro Reggiana
2015–2016Sidigas Avellino
2016–2019Pallacanestro Reggiana
2019-2020Pallacanestro Varese
2020Pallacanestro Trieste
2020Virtus Roma
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing Italy
FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
2011 Bilbao

Youth career

The Reggio Emilia native joined local side Pallacanestro Reggiana from Basket 2000 Scandiano in the summer of 2006, he was permanently transferred the next year.[1]

Cervi was loaned to Stella Azzurra Roma in order to participate in the Nike International Junior Tournament, finishing with 8.3 points and 6.3 rebounds on average.[2][3]

Professional career

Cervi made his professional debut in the Legadue in 2010, playing two minutes without statistics in his only game that season. He signed his first professional contract, a five-year deal, with Reggio in November 2010, also being incorporated into the first squad that season.[4]

In 2011-12 he contributed 4.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and a league best 2.2 blocks in 16.6 minutes per game, helping his side earn a promotion to the first division Serie A. For his prowess he was selected as the Legadue's best Italian player.[5][6] His contract with the side was renegotiated, while the length stayed the same, his salary was increased and an annual NBA escape clause inserted.[7]

After having major knee surgery over the summer,[6] Cervi had a difficult start in his first Serie A season whilst also struggling to change his shooting technique. He improved in the last months of the 2012-13 season and was one of the best Reggio players in the playoff series against Acea Roma. After a slow start in 2013-14, he finished the season as a starter, contributing 9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in the closely fought playoff series against holders Montepaschi Siena.[8] The same season he posted 3.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks (a tournament 4th best) in around 14 minutes per game in the European third tier 2013–14 EuroChallenge, including 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in the final, to help Reggio Emilia win the title.[9]

The EuroChallenge title gave Reggio Emilia the chance to play in the second tier 2014-15 Eurocup where Cervi posted 5.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks as the side exited at the group stage.[10] He finished as the second best shot blocker of the 2014-15 Serie A with 1.8 per game.

In July 2015 he joined EA7 Emporio Armani Milano, signing a two-year deal with the EuroLeague-playing side.[11][12] However, only a few days after the announcement Milan decided to exercise a clause in his contract to release the player.[13] He then signed with another Serie A side, Sidigas Avellino on 29 July.[14]

On August 8, 2020, Cervi signed for Virtus Roma.[15]

After Virtus Roma's withdrawal from the Serie A due to financial problems,[16] Cervi, like all the Roma players, was made free agent.

International career

Cervi played with the Italy Under-20 squad in the 2011 European Championship, posting 4.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks as the side came home with a silver medal.[17]

He was part of the Italy B squad that finished 5th at the 2013 Mediterranean Games.

Cervi would make his full international debut for Italy against Germany in July 2014.[18]

At 2.16 m, Cervi is an intimidating presence in the paint, a rare characteristic for an Italian,[6] as such he has regularly been called up to Italy squads.[18]

He took part in the successful qualification for EuroBasket 2015, with 3.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 13 minutes per game.[19] The center was called to the preliminary squad for the competition in June 2015,[20] but he did not make the final cut.

Honours

Individual
  • Best Italian in Legadue: 2012
  • Serie A All Star Game: participant (2013, 2014)

Europe
  • EuroChallenge: winner (2014)

Youth
  • FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: Spain 2011  Silver

References
  1. "Acquistato a titolo definitivo Cervi, Kudlacek in presisto al Basket 2000" [Cervi definitively acquired, Kudlacek loaned to Basket 2000]. Pallacanestro Reggiana (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  2. "I giovani del vivaio biancorosso in luce al torneo Roma Euroleague" [The youngsters of the white and red school in the spotlight at the Euroleague ROma tournament]. Gazzetta di Reggio (in Italian). 2 January 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  3. "Cervi, Riccardo (2008-2009 statistics)". Euroleague. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  4. "Riccardo Cervi firma il primo contratto professionistico" [Riccardo Cervi signs a first professional contract]. Pallacanestro Reggiana (in Italian). 26 November 2010. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  5. "Premio in ricordo di Martin Colussi al giovane Cervi del Reggio Emilia" [The prize in honor of Martin Colussi for the young Cervi of Reggio Emilia]. Messaggero Veneto – Giornale del Friuli (in Italian). 12 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  6. "Last 16 Week 3 review". FIBA Europe. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  7. "Rinegoziato il contratto di Riccardo Cervi" [Riccardo Cervi's contract is renegociated]. Pallacanestro Reggiana (in Italian). 15 June 2012. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  8. Arati, Adriano (22 September 2014). "Riccardo Cervi, un "intimidatore" da area" [Riccardo Cervi, an "intimidator" in the paint]. Gazzetta di Reggio (in Italian). Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  9. "Riccardo Cervi - Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia". FIBA Europe. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  10. "Cervi, Riccardo (2014-15 statistics)". Eurocup Basketball. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  11. "Milan adds size with center Cervi". Euroleague. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  12. "Olimpia, here he comes: Riccardo Cervi". Olimpia Milano. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  13. Gallo, Gabriele (23 July 2015). "Basket: dietrofront di Milano, salta il biennale con Cervi" [Backpedaling from Milan, it overlooks the biennal [contract] with Cervi]. ilRestodelCarlino.it (in Italian). Reggio Emilia. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  14. "Colpo Sidigas, arriva Cervi" [Achievement from Sidigas, Cervi is coming]. ScadoneBasket.it (in Italian). 29 July 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  15. "La Virtus Roma ingaggia Riccardo Cervi" (in Italian). virtusroma.it. 7 August 2020.
  16. "Rinuncia Virtus Roma. Una nota della FIP" (in Italian). fip.it. 9 December 2020.
  17. "Riccardo Cervi". FIBA Europe. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  18. "Riccardo Cervi". Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro (in Italian). Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  19. "Riccardo Cervi (Italy)". EuroBasket 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  20. "NBA quartet to lead Italy at EuroBasket". 29 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
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