Partizan announced its first signing for next season in the second half of July, bringing in Kevarrius Hayes. The club is expected to unveil the rest of its completed deals in the coming days, but the arrival of the American center already gives some indication of how Joan Peñarroya wants to build the new team.
A Center Who Keeps the Game Simple
What has Partizan added in a player the Spanish coach had been tracking for some time? First, a center whose value is not measured by how many plays are called for him. Hayes will not get the ball on the low post and be asked to create with his back to the basket, nor will he pull opposing centers out of the paint with his 3-point shot. His work begins with the screen that gives a guard an advantage in the pick-and-roll. From there, he rolls at the right moment, fights for offensive rebounds and makes the defensive rotations that can take away an easy finish.
Hayes needs an organized system, but he can also make that system more stable. He keeps his offense simple, sets good screens, rolls quickly and uses the space behind the defense. When a guard draws the opposing center a step away from the paint, Hayes goes to the rim. If the help shifts toward him, the pass to an open shooter becomes available. He rarely holds the ball and does not spend possessions trying to play outside his role.
The Pick-and-Roll Shows His Value
Much of his efficiency will depend on the quality of Partizan’s guards. Hayes knows how to use the space created for him and turn it into points around the basket. Paris’ win over Real Madrid in the 2025 play-in offered a good example. All six of his first-quarter points came off assists from T.J. Shorts, twice on rolls out of the pick-and-roll and once on an alley-oop. During the same quarter, he blocked Serge Ibaka and stripped Džanan Musa. In only a few minutes, he showed most of what he can bring, from vertical threat around the rim, mobility, active hands, to the ability to affect a game without using many possessions.
Offensive rebounding is another meaningful part of his game. In his final Euroleague season with Monaco, he averaged 1.7 offensive rebounds in a little more than 17 minutes per game. That could be important for Partizan on nights when the shots are not falling and an extra possession becomes more valuable than a well-designed set. Hayes may not be part of the original action, but he can still finish the possession with a putback or a dunk after a miss.
Defense Is Where the Difference Should Be Felt
His influence should be more noticeable on defense. Hayes is not a heavy center who is most comfortable staying close to the rim. He can step out toward the ballhandler, close a passing lane, slow down a drive and recover to his own man. His length and timing also allow him to rotate from the weak side and cover for some of the mistakes made at the point of attack.
During his final season with Žalgiris, the Lithuanian team allowed 12.5 fewer points per 100 possessions with Hayes on the floor than when he was on the bench. Lineup combinations, opponents and roles have a considerable effect on numbers like that, so the statistic should not stand on its own. Still, the size of the difference, together with the best defensive rating on the team and one of its strongest plus-minus marks, suggests that his defensive contribution went well beyond highlight blocks.
The Limitations Partizan Must Protect
There are limitations Partizan will have to account for. At 206 centimeters and a little over 100 kilograms, Hayes does not have the size to overpower every stronger Euroleague center or defend all of them without help. He does not space the floor, has no developed post game and is not a reliable playmaker on the short roll.
The rest of the center rotation will matter because of that. Hayes can be a starting center, but his best stretches may come in roughly 20 high-intensity minutes, surrounded by enough shooting and players who can create an advantage off the dribble.
Peñarroya Knows the Profile He Is Getting
Peñarroya knows the profile he has signed. He had been following Hayes since his time with Baskonia, a relevant detail in another summer in which Partizan is changing a large part of its roster.
Serbian basketball fans also remember Hayes from Dušan Alimpijević’s Bursaspor team, which eliminated Partizan in Belgrade in 2022 before reaching the Eurocup final. Bursa built that run on energy, aggression and the mentality of an underdog that refused to accept the limits others had set for it. Hayes fit into that team because he did not need a major offensive role to make himself useful.
He finished the semifinal win over Andorra with 11 points and 16 rebounds. Afterward, he spoke about defense, covering for teammates and making the correct rotations as the foundation of Bursa’s success. His belief was that the points would follow from the energy the team generated at the other end. The way he described that group also says plenty about his own game.
Discipline Before Recognition
Hayes traces his approach to work back to his mother, Veris, a former captain in the U.S. Army who completed several deployments to the Middle East while raising him as a single mother. He has said that she taught him discipline, professionalism and the importance of finishing what he starts. When Hayes signed his scholarship agreement with Florida, she followed the ceremony from Kuwait by video call.
He later received a college award given to the player who best represented commitment, responsibility and strong work habits. Hayes ended his Florida career with 214 blocks, the second-highest total in program history. His coaches described him as someone who set the standard through his daily behavior rather than through speeches.
Partizan has signed a center who will not ask for the game to be built around him. Hayes can help make the roles within the team more functional, but his value will ultimately depend on how well Partizan uses his strengths and protects him from situations that expose his limitations.