European Prospects General Thread

[Straight forward]

Interesting article on the best European prospects under 20 ATM. The author is legit, he's not a dummy at all. Nevertheless it's always a matter of choice, some players could be in, some players could be out. It's crazy that 7 of these players are French guys and all of them can be good. All deserves to here I think. So France has really choking amount of talent, NBA talent. But they don't have a single pure guard. Hayes busting out (and he was nearly a prodigy I would say as a young player, IDK what happened, he became slower, less crafty and hesitant, who's to blame?). Then Spain has 3 players.

From my personal point of view, I can say that Jakucionis is better than Sarr with whom he plays for U18 Barca. Flat out better, it's not even a competition. So he had to be there - no question. Jakucionis is absolute stand out, close to Topic. I even argue that Jakucionis is better than Nunez overall, who I really respect, his passing is more than elite, but Jakucionis has better motor, way more talented shooter and scorer and better defender. Nunez exceeds at passing and creation, but else where Jakucionis is better. OK, Nunez had to be in, but Italian Dame Sarr doesn't deserve it. But it's OK, cause it's obviously an attempt to include more nations in into the pallet. If he would name 7 French guys, 4 Spaniards, 4 Lithuanians, 4 Serbians it wouldn't be exactly fun. The same author today will release the article in which he claims that Jakucionis is the first round material of 2025 NBA draft.

Other guys who could be in - Krivas. ESPN projects him as top 15 of 2025 NBA draft.

Overall, the talent is going over the board. Wemby, Buzelis, Caulibaly, Sarr, Risacher, Salaun, Topic can be special and have NBA star's upsides. This could be one of the best under 20 lists ever.

https://www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2025/qualifiers/news/20-under-20-who-are-the-rising-stars-of-europe

[Straight forward]

I think it's safe to say that 2024 NBA draft will be one of the best for European players. Topic, Buzelis, Sarr, Risacher are all huge pieces, often ending up together in top 5 and always in top 10 projections.

Also Almansa, Tidjane Salaun, Aday Mara, Adem Bona, Baba Miller (legitimate chances) and Nunez, Rubstavicius, Durisic (solid chances) to be drafted and some others.

[Straight forward]

Hugo Gonzalez became MVP of ANGT Podgorica, and he's really good off course, No.1 2006 Euro prospect, but I expected more in terms of efficiency. 17.5eff pretty meh, shot the threes poorly. But nevertheless great 2 way prospect. Didn't play overly long 23.5mpg, but could unleash the hell more surely. Hugo was even better last year in ANGT with 20eff.

I expect from Jakucionis in terms of domination in Belgrade, starting with March 1.

[Straight forward]

Finland has another big prospect - Miikka Muurinen. 6'9 can shoot the lights out, flexible, can create a bit for himself. Markkanen is 10 years older, but they may have couple of strong tournaments together. They also have good PG prospect Miro Little. So these 3 one day can caree Finland at the very high level:

https://twitter.com/MaxFeldman6/status/1710437615957082360

[Straight forward]

Another huge draft year for France. Prodigy Wemby at 1 and super good (IMO) Coulibaly at 7. They got 2 more picks at Rayan Rupert (43) and Cissoko (44). Not too bad, not too bad. Those 2 lottery picks most likely will be huge for NT which is not happening often with France.

Serbia got Vukcevic pretty low 42, I think he's better than that. Turkey got Biberovic late in the drafts. Overall it seems this draft was all about France and off course best prospect since Lebron Wemby.

Now let's wait and see how this beast will be evolving.

[Straight forward]

Very very deep 2004 age group. Maybe the best in decades, or maybe ever:

Wemby, Buzelis (1 pick and 1 pick potentially)

Caulibaly, Nnaji, Cissoko, Miro Little, Nunez, Djurisic, Murauskas, Veesar, Stojakovic, Buyuktucel, Krivas and others

https://eurospects.com/2004-generation-ranking/

[LuDux]

They dont need a big, they need a guard.

Why, did you find Ottomans among his ancestors?

[Straight forward]

Damn, soon 19yo Nunez destroying EL clubs in Germany...

https://twitter.com/_sistemablanco/status/1662891963043938304

[Toruko]

Underrated Croatian prospect:

https://twitter.com/Eurohopes/status...65776861667328

They dont need a big, they need a guard.

[Straight forward]

Underrated Croatian prospect:

https://twitter.com/Eurohopes/status/1661265776861667328

[Serbian_Layup]

Slovenia has ''a new Doncic'' in Jan Vide? It looks like all the similar circumstances: nationality, position, team. He dominated EL youth F4. Taking his first game away where he played only 13 min, he averaged 32 pts in 4 remaining ones. 3pt shooting has been only 28% though.

I'm not thrilled with Vide. Not so good shot selection, seems to be kind of a chucker. I'm way more impressed with that kid Demin, so efortless, big time talent. Also, Gonzalez could be two way star player if he becomes consistent shooter. Bošnjaković on the way to be a very solid two way player too.

Lot of talented kids from other teams at ANGT too.

[Dreamcatcher]

Slovenia has ''a new Doncic'' in Jan Vide? It looks like all the similar circumstances: nationality, position, team. He dominated EL youth F4. Taking his first game away where he played only 13 min, he averaged 32 pts in 4 remaining ones. 3pt shooting has been only 28% though.

[Straight forward]

I'm surprised to see Zaccharie Risacher being projected among the top or even No1 pick of 2024 NBA drafts. Great prospect, but a little bit too straight line slasher too me when we speak about elite of elite. But if Wemby gets drafted No1 in 2023 and Risacher No1 in 2024 that would be pretty nasty. And I can vision those Wemby's and Risacher's threes already...France's next generation with Wemby, Risacher, Ousmane Dieng, Killian Hayes, Theo Maledon, Okobo will be a force. Maybe even bigger than Parker's generation or Fournier, De Colo generation.

https://theresourcenexus.com/2024-mock-draft/

[Serbian_Layup]

My general concern is that when he will fill out, he may be a bit too heavy. My impression is that he has more of a forwards frame or even general identity when it comes to PRO. Indeed he can get stronger and sustain his current traits that are impressive and be a heck of a guard, but even now I lack a degree of sharpness and absolutely precise guard skill. I think now he relies on unstoppable combination of size, strength, skill, but I'm not sure his skillset is transcendent.

All I'm saying I have doubts. Specially if talk in context of next big thing in guard section, a la next Micic or such.

I definitely see a total package of a skilled point guard, but we'll see if he can make a jump to senior level. So far very encouraging, and it also goes in his favor that he is the son of a very good basketball player Milenko Topić who won medals with NT back in the 90's.

[Straight forward]

Look at Topić's arms and his frame. That surely hasn't still matured. It's just that he is very tall for a point guard which is not to be confused with physical maturation. He's got a lot of frame to fill out.

My general concern is that when he will fill out, he may be a bit too heavy. My impression is that he has more of a forwards frame or even general identity when it comes to PRO. Indeed he can get stronger and sustain his current traits that are impressive and be a heck of a guard, but even now I lack a degree of sharpness and absolutely precise guard skill. I think now he relies on unstoppable combination of size, strength, skill, but I'm not sure his skillset is transcendent.

All I'm saying I have doubts. Specially if talk in context of next big thing in guard section, a la next Micic or such.