Michele Ruzzier


Michele Ruzzier is an Italian basketball professional player who plays for Pallacanestro Varese of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A as a point guard. He has also played for the Italian national team.

Professional career

Ruzzier started playing for Azzurra Trieste in his native town, moving in 2010 to Pallacanestro Trieste, playing in the third division, to play for their Under 19 squad.
Following injuries for the regular starters, Ruzzier was called to the first squad in early 2011, he alternated between the first and the U19 squad for the rest of the season.
The next season, he would cement his place in the first squad, playing an average of 20 minutes per game as Trieste was promoted to Legadue.
In 2013-14 the team finished above the relegation spots, Ruzzier was instrumental in the feat, one of the few starting Italian point guards, he improved all his personal stats on his way to a selection for the Legadue All-Star game in the squad coached by his club coach Eugenio Dalmasson.
The higher exposure and level of play helped him achieve his lifelong goal, join a Serie A club, signing for the 2014-15 season with Dalmasson's former side Umana Reyer Venezia in neighbouring Veneto, the move was facilitated by a partnership between the two clubs.
In July 2015, his contract with Reyer was extended for another season.
Unfortunately, at the end of the 2019-20 season, after three seasons played with Cremona, he was released due to the club's financial problems. He, then, signed a one year contract with Pallacanestro Varese with an option for the season 2021-22.

International career

Ruzzier started playing for the Italian Under-20 side in 2013, he was a starter at the 2013 European Championship as Italy won the title.
He has not yet participated in an official game for the senior national team.

Player profile

A point guard who displays good maturity for his age, he tries to set the pace of the game, finding his teammates with passes.
A good Pick and roll player, he prefers shooting from distance but can on occasion attack the rim, on a negative side his three point shot is too inconsistent.
On defense, he is always very focused but can struggle against quicker players due to poor lateral speed.

Personal

As his father played basketball, in the amateur 4th division, Ruzzier was drawn to the sport, another basketball connection in his family is his uncle, coach Matteo Boniciolli.