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Vrenz Bleijenbergh

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Vrenz Bleijenbergh
Bleijenbergh with Yukatel Merkezefendi in 2024
South East Melbourne Phoenix
PositionSmall forward / power forward
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (2000-10-14) 14 October 2000 (age 24)
Brasschaat, Belgium
Listed height2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
Listed weight95 kg (209 lb)
Career information
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2021Antwerp Giants
2021–2022Real Betis
2022Windy City Bulls
2022–2023Oostende
2023–2025Yukatel Merkezefendi
2025–presentSouth East Melbourne Phoenix
Career highlights
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Belgium
FIBA U20 European Championship Division B
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Portugal Team
FIBA U18 European Championship Division B
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Macedonia Team

Vrenz Paul M. Bleijenbergh (born 14 October 2000) is a Belgian professional basketball player for the South East Melbourne Phoenix of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL).

Early life and youth career

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Bleijenbergh was born in Brasschaat, Belgium.[1][2] He started playing basketball by the age of four with his local club Ticino Merksem.[3][4] He played the point guard position in the youth divisions even though he was tall enough to be a power forward.[5]

Professional career

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Antwerp Giants (2018–2021)

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In October 2018, Bleijenbergh signed a long-term professional contract with the Antwerp Giants. He turned down college offers from Arizona, Texas Tech and UCLA, among others.[6] Bleijenbergh left secondary school to focus on basketball.[7] He declared for the 2019 NBA draft before withdrawing.[8] In the 2020–21 season, Bleijenbergh became a regular starter with the Antwerp Giants.[9] He was named Pro Basketball League Rising Star at the end of the season.[10]

On 1 June 2021, Bleijenbergh declared for the 2021 NBA draft[11] but went undrafted.[12]

Real Betis (2021–2022)

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On 10 August 2021, Bleijenbergh signed with Real Betis of the Spanish Liga ACB.[13] On 7 February 2022, he terminated his contract with the team.[14]

Windy City Bulls (2022)

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On 26 February 2022, Bleijenbergh was acquired by the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League.[15] He appeared in three games to finish the 2021–22 NBA G League season.[16]

Bleijenbergh joined the Phoenix Suns for the 2022 NBA Summer League.[16]

Oostende (2022–2023)

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On 1 August 2022, Bleijenbergh signed with Filou Oostende of the BNXT League.[17] On 17 September, he scored 12 points in his Oostende debut during the 2022 BNXT Supercup, which the team won over Heroes Den Bosch.[18] He was the 2023 Belgian League Finals MVP.[19]

Yukatel Merkezefendi (2023–2025)

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On 26 July 2023, Bleijenbergh signed with Yukatel Merkezefendi of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).[20] He averaged 8.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game in 2023–24.[21] He re-signed with the team on 18 July 2024.[21]

South East Melbourne Phoenix (2025–present)

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On 9 July 2025, Bleijenbergh signed with the South East Melbourne Phoenix of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) for the 2025–26 season.[22]

National team career

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Bleijenbergh has represented Belgium at several youth international tournaments. He averaged 13.5 points, eight rebounds, a tournament-high six assists and two blocks per game at the 2018 FIBA U18 European Championship Division B in Macedonia, leading his team to a bronze medal. He was named to the All-Tournament Team.[6] At the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championship Division B in Portugal, Bleijenbergh averaged 9.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.6 steals per game. He led Belgium to another bronze medal and earned All-Tournament Team honors.[23]

On 24 February 2019, Bleijenbergh made his Belgian senior national team debut, scoring three points against Iceland during EuroBasket 2022 Pre-Qualifiers.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "NBA 2021 Draft Prospects | Vrenz Bleijenbergh | NBA.com". NBA. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Vrenz Bleijenbergh | ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  3. ^ Brys, Jérôme (30 April 2021). "Vrenz Bleijenbergh, la pépite d'Anvers: "Une déception si je ne suis pas drafté en NBA"". La Dernière Heure (in French). Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  4. ^ "18-jarige Vrenz Bleijenbergh geniet van elke minuut in eerste ploeg van Antwerp Giants: "Het gaat plots allemaal wel heel snel voor mij"". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 26 October 2018. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  5. ^ Madrid, Alex (5 January 2021). "Vrenz Bleijenbergh: "I'm working to be a first-round pick"". EuroHoops. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Hein, David (6 January 2020). "Antwerp's Bleijenbergh goes all-in for basketball". Basketball Champions League. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  7. ^ Van Genechten, Vincent (20 December 2018). "Belgisch supertalent wordt gevolgd door NBA-teams: "Ze vergelijken mij wel eens met Kevin Durant"". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  8. ^ Pfeifer, Ben (10 June 2019). "Vrenz Bleijenbergh withdraws from the 2019 NBA Draft". The Rookie Wire. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  9. ^ Ceulemans, Patrick; Jacobs, Hans (11 March 2021). "Een jaar later dan gepland jaagt Giants-speler Vrenz Bleijenbergh zijn NBA-droom na: "Ik ben intussen een echte vent"". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Results". EuroMillions Basketball League. 9 May 2021. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  11. ^ Bleijenbergh, Vrenz [@Vrenzzz] (1 June 2021). "Declared. 17 years spent with this incredible team @antwerpgiants .. started here when I was 4.. From the youth all the way up to the first team was a unbelievable achievement. Im really thankful to everyone who helped me grow as a player but also as a person. (1/2)" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 June 2021 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ "Vrenz Bleijenbergh tweets congratulations to Thunder guard Vit Krejci". okcthunderwire.usatoday.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021. Instead, Bleijenbergh went undrafted and joined Real Betis of the Spanish Liga ACB, the same league Krejci played in before being drafted in 2020.
  13. ^ "Real Betis signs Vrenz Bleijenbergh". Sportando. 10 August 2021. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Vrenz Bleijenbergh rescinde con el Betis". mundodeportivo.com. 7 February 2022. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  15. ^ "2021-22 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. 26 February 2022. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Vrenz Bleijenbergh Player Profile, Windy City Bulls - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Landskampioen Oostende haalt Vrenz Bleijenbergh weer naar België". sporza.be (in Dutch). 1 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  18. ^ "Filou Oostende conquers second BNXT Supercup". BNXT League. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  19. ^ "Oostende blijft dominant met 12e titel: "Niemand geloofde in ons"". sporza.be (in Dutch). 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  20. ^ Skerletic, Dario (26 July 2023). "Merkezefendi signs Jalen Hudson, Vrenz Bleijenbergh and Daniel Oturu - Sportando". Sportando. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  21. ^ a b Skerletic, Dario (18 July 2024). "Yukatel Merkezefendi re-signs Vrenz Bleijenbergh - Sportando". Sportando. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  22. ^ "Heartland's new playmaker: Phoenix land Belgian talent". nbl.com.au. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Antwerp-speler Vrenz Bleijenbergh in All-Tournament Team op EK U20". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 22 July 2019. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
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