Lithuanian talents.

[Straight forward]

When expectations are gold or at least medals and eventually it's not even qualified to WC, then it's fail how it is. Half of this team next summer will play in U20 EC instead of U19 WC which is meh (2005 gen. is weak).

Again, I will make my self clear - it is a failure. I didn't deny that.

What I'm saying that we overlook few things, like:

- Other players aside 2 stars are not as good as it potentially looked in U16. Guys like Laurencikas, Smirnov looked dynamic at this stage. Now they just disappear almost.
- The team lacked Buika. He could help a lot with additional creativity.

My point is, that it's funny to drop the weight on Jakucionis when he drops 37pts (efficient) and say that, look, he couldn't even bring this team to U19 WC while Grigonises and such could, LOL. Yeah, like Jakucionis had to drop 50pts that he would prove he's as good as Grigonis The guy who probably scored 24pts as his career high in Youth level and averaged 12,3ppg as his career high.

My point is very simple, Jakucionis and Indrusaitis played well, but supporting cast was really bad this time. Also the team wasn't well coached. And potentially we are talking about one of the most competitive U18 ever. These things overlooked by primitive redneck posters here as SS, who would make ridiculous even idiotic reductions Like, of no U19, so Jakucionis and Indrusaitis aren't even as good as Grigonis and Dimsa, LOL. I have no time for idiots like that.

There's really tons of potential lottery picks in this tournament. Not sure if Safar is one of them, but even he could be. As well as Traore and Gonzalez are nearly locks, and Jakucionis is very often mentioned as lottery as well. There's no way there's so many guards as potential lottery in the draft. This gen is stacked. I also exclude tons of other great guards as Drezgic, who looked amazing, but lacking X factor, German guards and so on. To overlook that this U18 was one of the most stacked ever is also big mistake.

It's a failure team wise, but I personally not disappointed cause to me the most important thing - the development of Jakucionis and Indrusaitis. I want senior NT to be legit again and those 2 are super important.

https://x.com/draftpoint2024/status/1820208268091781472

[Dreamcatcher]

My point is, that it's funny to drop the weight on Jakucionis when he drops 37pts (efficient) and say that, look, he couldn't even bring this team to U19 WC while Grigonises and such could, LOL. Yeah, like Jakucionis had to drop 50pts that he would prove he's as good as Grigonis The guy who probably scored 24pts as his career high in Youth level and averaged 12,3ppg as his career high.
My point is very simple, Jakucionis and Indrusaitis played well, but supporting cast was really bad this time.

Well, in the lost 1/4 game Jakucionis didn't play well and made 2 crucial mistakes at the end. So, it can be said that he as a main guy didn't bring the team to medals. Of course, he's alone not responsible for the loss, but let's say Saraf in the same 1/4 against Spain scored 40 pts. Leaders should provide in crucial games, but he didn't and even individually wasn't so good as it was expected (except the last game). Let's say his 3pt % is far from impressive and Indrusaitis averaged even more pts.

Regarding Laurencikas, yes, that's why i was writing about, but you couldn't understand or what. With him as one of the best players this team had 3 legit pieces, but without him only 2. It weakened this team.

What is also crucial is weak bigs. I knew Raupelis wasn't a good player.

[Hepcat]

U-19 world champ is main youth tournament where all scouts are and all main youth players play of that age group

I have no interest in either the scouts or what they watch. I only care about the medals.

[Hepcat]

Most importantly Jakucionis and Indrusaitis are LEGIT.

Jakucionis is legit world class prospect....

You keep gushing over Kasparas Jakucionis but a reality check is in order here. His +/- was a dreadful -4.1 per game in a tournament where the Lithuanian team outscored the opposition by an average of 0.57 points per game. Whatever Jakucionis was doing on offence therefore was more than offset by what he wasn't doing on defence. Hopefully he learns something about playing team basketball at the University of Illinois. And I hope he stays at Illinois for a full four years because being relegated to playing in Summer League and G-League by an NBA team would do nothing to turn him into a two way player.

[zalias]

not a big fan of u16 tournaments but lithuania seems to be doing great so far

[Hepcat]

Are Ignas Štombergas and Kimas Ulanovas any relation to Saulius and Edgaras?

[zalias]

stombergas yes ulanovas no

[Toruko]

It seems we will be facing each other again. The Lithuanian guards make too many and unnecessary TOs again.

[zalias]

not a big fan of u16 tournaments but lithuania seems to be doing great so far

nevermind, these guys are bad too

[zalias]

i watched the most recent o dangau video with purlys, he had some interesting things to say:

this generation doesn't have enough high level centers, they tried to get butajevas but barcelona said no

the pre-eurobasket exhibition tournament lithuanian u18 team was playing in was too much for them to handle physically and players looked visibly tired after

he was very cryptic about it but said that some players were "maybe unmotivated"

jakucionis lacks better late game decision making but should get better with more playing experience

nba scouts are worried about indrusaitis poor defense and according to purys he simply doesn't put enough effort on that side of the court, he also mentioned that indrusatis was sometimes too selfish

raupelis is lazy/unmotivated but if fixes his attitude issues his future is very bright

juzenas has potential to be a euroleague level player

[Shawshank]

U-19 fiba world champ LTU results:


1995 5th place 6-2 best players: Jasikevicius,Sestokas,Kaukenas

1999 failed to qualife

2003 Silver medal 5-3 best players: Kleiza,Jankunas,Maciulis

2007 9th place 4-4 best players: Gecevicius,Janavicius

2009 9th place best players: Motiejunas,Orelik,Cizauskas

2011 Gold medal best players: Valanciunas,Ulanovas,Redikas

2013 Bronze medal best players: Grigonis,Lekavicius,Dimsa

2015 failed to qualife

2017 6th place best players : Kulboka,Sedekerskis,Jokubaitis,Masiulis

2019 4th place best players: Jokubaitis,Giedraitis

2021 6th place best players : Tubelis,Stenionis,Marciulionis

2023 failed to qualife

2025 failed to qualife



Looking at this projection when first time in LTU NT youth history our back to back u-19 teams failed to qualife to world champ,such signs is red flags and there is more and more red flags in ltu basketball

Nothing wrong to have elite tallent and using them win games like previuos ltu youth teams used to do.

[Toruko]

Lithuanian basketball seems indeed to be in crisis. There is not a single guy in the U16 who could potentially reach the NT level. Especially the guards look very bad. When we take out Jakucionis and Indrusaitis who are foreign products there is really nothing left. Lithuanian basketball needs to change its philosophy

[Shawshank]

Lithuanian basketball seems indeed to be in crisis. There is not a single guy in the U16 who could potentially reach the NT level. Especially the guards look very bad. When we take out Jakucionis and Indrusaitis who are foreign products there is really nothing left. Lithuanian basketball needs to change its philosophy

More and more people in lithuanian openly says we are in trouble going further too. This summer was disaster for ltu basketball both men and youth teams.

Not just Jakucionis,Indrusaitis that lithuanian basketball school have little to do with their tallents.

Same goes to Buzelis and D.Sabonis and Brazdeikis thats not lithuanian basketballs school products.


Our basketball school doesnt create great players anymore. All of them are decent,smart but just role players.

And most of them cant play 1 vs 1 and when recent basketball went more to individual levels tallents , we simply loosing with our just teamwork type players.


LTU NT made only once top 8 in 2017-2024. Failed to qualife to last 2 olympics,youth teams failing to qualife to U-17 and u-19 world champs

Red flags all over ltu basketball right now

[Dreamcatcher]

Lithuanian basketball seems indeed to be in crisis.

You are right. And it brought us to the worst summer in Lith basketball history i think.

In 2011 when it was probably the most disappointing Lith NT performance ever (loosing at home to Macedonia in the last seconds), at least U19 team won WC and Valanciunas was the best player in his generation (if not in the world, then at least in Europe).
In 2009 when Lith NT didn't even get to play offs, at least the same sensational Valanciunas carried U18 team and dominated the tournament being younger. And at the same summer U16 team got to final and Lith talent Jogela was named MVP. The fact that eventually he didn't even become a good player was another story.

[Straight forward]

To me it's funny to read such comments Lithuanian crisis started since 2008 and reached new level since 2015 when medaling ceased completely. So LTU basketball crisis continues for 16 years essentially (when we ceased to be top 2-4 NT in the world and reach Olympic semis each Olympics) or at least 9 years heavily. And now bright folks come here and say it's a crisis. Strong take guys.

It's contrary. Recent years are extremely promising for the NT and soon our BB will be harvesting. We witnessed finally what NT lacking - individual standouts. Buzelis selected lottery. Jakucionis likely will be lottery too or close, he's a standout. LTU BB never lacked anything else than individual standouts, leaders. Now we witness that breed. Even Krivas most likely will be close to lottery. So like 3 lottery guys in 2 years. Crisis my ass We never had such stretch. FOA, we never had such prospect as Buzelis. His upside potentially is sensational. He's not even Kleiza who was just a role NBA player and not among the better ones. Buzelis can be much much more than that. And second, we never had true guard in the first round and Jakucionis is about to become such for the firs time.

I'm not even talking that Indrusaitis has more ISO game than any recent strong Lithuania guard (Kalneitis, Pocius, Seibutis, Grigonis) and pieces like Jokubaitis, Rubstavicius can and will reach higher level than early 10's studs as Kalnietis, Pocius.

Matching all Lithuanian future backcourt, there's only Serbia and Spain to match this most likely. Even Serbia and Spain will struggle to field such PG section as Jakucionis, Jokubaitis, Marciulionis.

Take some Turkey, as Toruko here messes around too much already They don't have anything even remotely close as Jokubaitis as PG spot and he only yet scratching the surface with 700k salary and after this season will be +1mill player. Most Euro NTs don't have nothing even close Jokubaitis from U25. Germany, France, Slovenia, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Croatia and so on.

Let alone fielding lottery candidate Jakucionis (should be ready in 2 years to wear NT jerseys), Jokubaitis, Marciulionis (latter 2 both will be strong EL players).

I would instantly take 12th spot at U18 2006 if Jakucionis dropping 30ppg. That's exactly what we need. Big time standouts, not team success at youth level. Even JV's generation turned out to be meh. Not a single game changer. JV didn't become game changer, let alone being special player. So sorry but not sorry I care little about 1992 gen dominating. Senior NT didn't get much from it. I need standouts. Buzelis never will play for any Youth NT, but he can completely change LTU basketball if he reaches at least 80% of his ceiling.

Once we'll have standouts - and Buzelis, Jakucionis, Indrusaitis are standouts - we will be back on track playing big time basketball and fighting for medals. Book it.

Regarding depth and talent Lithuania is top 4 team in Europe, we just lacked true standouts and now we have them.

Jakucionis, Buzelis, Indrusaitis, Jokubaitis, Rubstavicius (Sirvydis, Iggy, Marciulionis, D. Giedraitis, Lelevicius) will be too heavy backcourt to handle for absolute majority of NTs. To me recent years been big plot twist. We finally have pieces that can change the game for us.

I don't mention a single 2007 and younger prospects. That's truly a talk about 30s. That's another topic. Lithuania is getting the shit together in 20s (starting with 2027 essentially and potentially snatching second Euro title in 2029).