Giorgi Shermadini

Giorgi Shermadini is a Georgian professional basketball player. He was born in the village of Natakhtari, in the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. He started playing basketball when he was 16 years old on the Georgian basketball team Maccabi Tbilisi. In January 2005, he had his first practice with Maccabi Tbilisi’s Junior Team. In the 2004-05 Season, Giorgi was the top scorer of the Georgian youth league. His highest point total in one game was 89 points against Sokhumi State University team. In June 2005, despite his brief playing experience, Giorgi was picked on the U16 National Team of Georgia and played in the Youth Olympic Games in Moscow. Later in 2005, he played in the U16 European Championships in [Bulgaria] and participated in the Adidas Superstar Camp. His performance at the Superstar Camp earned him a selection to the All-Star team.

Following the 2005-06 season, Giorgi was invited to the “Basketball without Borders” (BWB) Europe camp conducted in Vilnius, Lithuania from June 30th to July 3rd. Later in August 2006, he was the youngest player picked to the Georgian National Team alongside teammates, Zaza Pachulia (Atlanta Hawks), Nikoloz Tskitishvili (Phoenix Suns), Shammond Williams (LA Lakers), Viktor Sanikidze (San Antonio Spurs), Manuchar Markoishvili (Olimpija Ljubljana) and Vladimir Boisa (Montepaschi Siena). At 17 years old, he averaged the highest points per game ever in the Georgian championship. He averaged 35.8 PPG, 16.4 RPG, 4.7 apg, 3.3 Blocks per game, and 2.5 Steals per game.

In April 2007, Giorgi Shermadini was invited to the “Nike Hoop Summit” World select team. Unfortunately, Giorgi did not participate with the World select team due to an injury to his meniscus. Surgery was needed and following rehabilitation; he was invited to the U20 National Team of Georgia. At 18 years old, he played in the U20 European Championships in Nova Gorica, Slovenia. In spite of his recent surgery and rehabilitation, he was the top scorer on the Georgian U20 National Team (23.8 Minutes - 12.5ppg, 7.4rpg 1.5apg) and best shot blocker in the European Championships (2.1 bpg). Currently, Giorgi is playing on the Georgian basketball team, Maccabi Tbilisi and went undrafted in the 2008 NBA Draft.