Former Illinois Basketball Star Hits Buzzer Beater in CEBL

Former Illinois Basketball Star Hits Buzzer Beater in CEBL

Giorgi Bezhanishvili was arguably the most beloved personalities in Illinois basketball history. His infectious joy and wholesome personality was much needed during a very difficult transition in Illinois Basketball. Bezhanishvili was beloved on and off the court for a multitude of reasons. Though Giorgi would have certainly benefitted if he was on campus during an NIL era, he spent three very valuable years in the orange and blue. His freshman year was an incredible year in which he showed a unique skillset and versatility.

When Kofi Cockburn joined the Illini, Giorgi accepted a backseat role that he mostly struggled with. The Georgia native was never able to hit jump shots with any kind of consistency and liked to occupy the same space that Cockburn wanted to occupy. Giorgi decided to leave Illinois Basketball after his junior year given his age and opportunity to start supporting his family.

Never going to forget Giorgi B. going nuclear and being a huge reason we got this moment https://t.co/cYpG5kJ1kB pic.twitter.com/fOUHPVx75R

— Armchair Illinois (@ArmchairIllini) February 24, 2022

Grinding in the G-League

Giorgi has spent the better part of the last few years in the G-league. During the 2021-2022 season, he played for the Grand Rapids Gold, a team under the Denver Nuggets. He then spent the offseason summer playing for a Canadian basketball team. Giorgi repeated the same schedule this past year, as he played for another G-league team and has spent the last few months with a Canadian basketball team.

Bezhanishvili has averaged 14.5 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Vancouver Bandits, per proballers.com. Most recently, Giorgi B. hit an insane 3 point shot as a buzzer beater. Pretty cool for the beloved Giorgi B.

GIORGI B SAID LET'S GO HOME #LikeABandit pic.twitter.com/wmPeuYryRg

— Vancouver Bandits (@vancitybandits) July 31, 2023

An Illinois Legacy

Giorgi will always be remembered for his personality and wholesome antics. Looking back, he honestly was a strong glue that held the team together. Every team needs the joyful guy everyone loves. I am sure as heck that Giorgi could have been beneficial for the tumultuous 2022-2023 Illinois Basketball team.

Giorgi B taking it all the way. pic.twitter.com/sV48dDNd0k

— Vancouver Bandits (@vancitybandits) July 28, 2023