UCLA basketball lands 6-7 Abramo Canka of Italy

Updated Aug. 3, 2022 6:34 p.m. ET

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — UCLA has added 6-foot-7 Abramo Canka of Italy to its basketball roster for the upcoming season.

Canka (ZAHN-kuh) signed a grant-in-aid and will enroll as a freshman this fall, the school said Wednesday.

The NCAA cleared Canka to join UCLA after he recently played with Lokomotiv Kuban, a professional team in Russia. He averaged 10.9 points and 3.7 rebounds in the Russian Superleague. The guard-forward has also played on Italy's national team at various age levels.

Canka averaged 9.4 points and 2.1 rebounds for Italy at the FIBA Under-20 European Championship last month.

“We are really excited to add Abramo to our program this season,” Bruins coach Mick Cronin said. ”Playing in Europe, Abramo is a versatile player who can shoot the ball, rebound and pass. At 6-foot-7, we like his size and his defensive ability, especially with his length and athleticism."

Canka joins an incoming freshman class of guards Dylan Andrews, Amari Bailey and Jack Seidler and forwards Adem Bona and Evan Manjikian.

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