European Prospects General Thread

[slice me nice]

OK, it's pretty ironic that other European as a first pick is Italian (bust) Bargnani, but Banchero will be much better, IMO

Yes But, Bargnani remains as the one and only true European first pick ever, as Banchero has nothing to do with Italian basketball school.

[Toxicity]

Well, they might already have all they need, maybe except center? 1 Manion, 2 Spagnolo (dynamic duel BTW as guards), 3 Procida and position-less freak and potential FIBA superstar Banchero. That's the team if that will pan out. Potentially very good one.

Next NBA prospect (likely 2023 1st round pick) is Leonardo Okeke (6-11 PF - 2003 Born) that this year will play in the italian top division with Tortona... so let's see how Italy NT can evolve.

[Straight forward]

Next NBA prospect (likely 2023 1st round pick) is Leonardo Okeke (6-11 PF - 2003 Born) that this year will play in the italian top division with Tortona... so let's see how Italy NT can evolve.

Banchero looked good in The Summer League. Love his passing culture. And he can do a lot of things in the court. If he's dedicated to the NT that's huge news for Italy.

[Straight forward]

What to make of incredible Youth Summer of Spain? They are total No.1 in FIBA EURO BOYS ranking, no-one can move them, not even France will all their NBA upside prospects. France by far leading with NBA pedigree prospects, but Spain has better basketball school and wins those tournaments.

Spain absolutely dominated this summer. Lithuania probably was second best in Europe. Look this, it looks pretty crazy:

https://twitter.com/AurimasVerbukas/status/1561103959393271808

[Srle]

Serbia had the better year in 2007 , it held all four titles u16, u18,u20 and world u19 championship . Still Spain's success here doesn't guarantee that those young players will transfer their games successfully to the to pro's and become stars or superstars. Its a hard work to get there and their best pro clubs Real ,Barcelona,Valencia, Baskonia are rarely giving a young players the chance to succeed there , their u20 best player even decide to move to Germany this summer . French players are athletically and physically very gifted but it seems to me that they used to produce players with the higher basketball iq and the more technically sound players in the past, players such as Parker,Diaw ,Batum etc. than they do now.

[Straight forward]

Tubelis and Bona as leading European prospects in upcoming NCAA season:

https://basketballncaa-com.translate.goog/azuolas-tubelis-ncaa-preseason-top-10-europei-2022-23-arizona-pac-12/?_x_tr_sl=it&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

[Straight forward]

I found today very interesting fact that Pau Gasol (thus far the best EURO FIBA player ever) was not dominant in Youth basketball at all. His best tournament was 11.5ppg, 5.4rpg. His Youth career average is 7,5ppg. That's the best FIBA player ever! It only shows that is all about upside and ceiling. He exploded like a bomb from being meh in 2000 U- EC to 2001 Eurobasket where he was already dropping 17,3ppg and in 2003 he already was dropping 25.8ppg as 23yo.

http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp/q/Pau%20gasol/pid/_/players.html

[Straight forward]

Interesting stat line. EL is not young players league. Young players are not unleashed for big minutes...

https://twitter.com/loupaya/status/1539980746034651140

[Serbian_Layup]

Interesting stat line. EL is not young players league. Young players are not unleashed for big minutes...

https://twitter.com/loupaya/status/1539980746034651140

It's not that young players can't get a chance in Euroleague, but rather that all of those talented players with any kind of upside are already in NBA. And those unproven with lesser talent hardly get a chance because Euroleague teams are not playing in developmental league. Right now, Asvel is the only team in Euroleague willing to experiment with young players.

[Straight forward]

Do Basketball Without Borders crew have certain criteria to choose players, or some names are simply not available because of PRO careers?

I miss such names as Murauskas, Almansa, Buyuktuncel and so on. I guess there was no point for Wemby to show up at his point.

France as always with plenty of prospects. Maybe it's a bit bias already. Far from all these French players becoming good PROs. I

From Lithuanian part, happy to see Buzelis, Krivas in. I wonder if Murauskas was snubbed or just declined the possible invitation. I mean by all means a guy who was dropping 21ppg in U18 as top scorer had to be there. It was brilliant chance for Lithuania to have 3 guys out there in BWB, all three deserve it. Maybe they didn't want to take 3 Lithuanians from the same age group (2004).

https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1623706666385408001

[Straight forward]

Lithuanian Buzelis projected No.1 pick in 2024 by ESPN. France yet again has another big prospect that we know well from EL this season, Zaccharie Risacher. Not sure he's as good to be No.3 pick. We see Spanish Izan Almansa who had busy recent Youth BB summer at 16. French Alexandre Sarr 17. Serbian Nicola Durisic at 18. Spanish J. Nunez at 27. So basically usual suspects coming from France, Spain, Serbia. Valanciunas is highest picked Lithuanian previously with no.5.

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/35707557/2024-nba-mock-draft-why-bronny-james-projected-top-10-pick

[Straight forward]

Seems like 2023 draft, except the "BOMB!" Wembey, will be a bit more reserved when it comes to Europeans. If I didn't miss something, no other first rounders, French Sidy Cissoko comes only 34 next, then Serbian Vukcevic at 45, N. Djurisic 46 (for him it's better to go to 2024 obviously), Turkish Adem Bona at 48.

Off course, it's only ESPN. F.e. I believe A. Tubelis will be drafted in the second round.

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/35577448/2023-nba-mock-draft-duke-top-prospects-living-expectations

[Straight forward]

Lithuanian Buzelis projected No.1 pick in 2024 by ESPN. France yet again has another big prospect that we know well from EL this season, Zaccharie Risacher. Not sure he's as good to be No.3 pick. We see Spanish Izan Almansa who had busy recent Youth BB summer at 16. French Alexandre Sarr 17. Serbian Nicola Durisic at 18. Spanish J. Nunez at 27. So basically usual suspects coming from France, Spain, Serbia. Valanciunas is highest picked Lithuanian previously with no.5.

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/ins...ed-top-10-pick

There's whole picture from Euro point of view:

https://twitter.com/Dorukaraca/status/1628404190740418563

[Serbian_Layup]

https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1642620455654932480

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXnxw_bMtSw

Still early to tell, but this kid has everything needed to be a really good basketball player. His name is going to rise among top international prospects in 2005 generation really quickly.
Completely dominated at ANGT in Belgrade.

[Straight forward]

I have ambivalent opinion about Nikola Topic. At this level he's phenomenal. Too strong, too big, too skilled, too fast. But long term I'm not sure he can be great. I think he's 2-3 tweener and if he will remain as 2 he may lack a degree if lightening agility and super sharp skill. It may not be the case, but he seems like a guy who feeds from early physical maturity. Nevertheless, I think he put up historical numbers.