Latvian champion Valmiera signs American basketball player with Latvian roots, who aims to obtain citizenship
24-year-old Jake Heidbreder, who previously played in NCAA Division I, has joined Valmiera on a one-season contract and started the process of acquiring Latvian citizenship.
Latvian basketball champions Valmiera have announced the signing of American player Jake Heidbreder. The 24-year-old, who has Latvian heritage, signed a contract for one season with an option to extend for another year. Club manager Valters Vēveris confirmed that Heidbreder is currently in the process of obtaining Latvian citizenship.
Heidbreder spent the last four seasons in NCAA Division I. In his final season, playing for California State University, Fresno, he averaged 17 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game over 30 games, while averaging 37 minutes on the court.
Valmiera head coach Dāvis Čoders highlighted Heidbreder's ability to space the floor, score, make quality decisions on both ends, and play team basketball. "We believe he will make a significant contribution not only on the court but also in the locker room. He is goal-oriented, professional, and has the right work attitude, and these are exactly the personalities we want in our team," the club quoted Čoders.
Last season, Valmiera won three titles: the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League (LIBL), the Latvian Basketball League (LBL), and the Latvian Cup.
