Bulgarian talent takes over the American college championship
BC "Nesebar" alumnus Yaroslav Nikonov will continue his basketball career in the USA. The young player is joining Portland State University, where he will compete in NCAA Division I for the "Portland State Vikings".
"The coaches see him as a key addition for qualifying for the college national finals in March."
The path to success
- 2013: Beginning of his career at BC "Nesebar" under the guidance of Stoycho Kukuchev.
- 2020-2021: Two consecutive junior titles with the "Tundzha"-Yambol team.
- The Russian period: Five seasons at CSKA (Moscow) and captain of CSKA-2.
MVP 2025/26 season
The past season was a memorable one for the 21-year-old basketball player. Nikonov was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Superleague. He finished with an impressive 17.7 points per game over 24 appearances, establishing himself as one of the best scorers in the league.
In addition to his basketball pursuits, Nikonov will continue his education in "Sports Management" in Portland.