Nenad Miljenovic ('93) is one of th main rising stars in Europe. Serbian guard won the bronze medal at the U-16 European Championship last summer in Kaunas (Lithuania), while some months before he was invited by the Jordan Brand Classic at New York. Actually he is ranked number 1 of players borned in 1993 according to Eurohopes, over names like Aleks Cvetkovic, Sergey Karasev and Devon Van Oostrum. EH contacted him, and he explained us his sensations after last summer and his goal next months.
-Last summer you won the bronze medal in the U-16 European Championship. Some months later you already started the season. Tell to Eurohopes fans what are you doing and where are you playing?
Right now I am playing in FMP Zeleznik, for junior and for U-20 team, that play in second serbian league.
-It seems that you'll be busy next months: Nike International Junior Tournaments, U-17 World Championship at Hamburg, try to repeat the U-18 EC Gold medal,... What are your sensations?
Yes, there are a lot of tournaments, but I don't think too much about summer and 2010 because I have to focus on my trainings and try to improve myself as a player. In all those tournamets, well, we'll go step by step and I hope we will be the best when it counts the most. Of course we (I) always want to win everywhere we play and that's my goal.
-Actually you are one of the more important rising stars in Europe, with names like Kanter, Saric or Valanciunas. What is your idea for next two or three years? Stay at FMP, try to make some NCAA team,...?
I don't know that really, I am not thinking that far, not that serious, but I will see what is best for me. NCAA is one of the options but there is a lot of time before I have to make that decision, so I am concentrated on what is happening right now.
-Last season Eurohopes staff follow you on live at Kaunas and also saw you in the Eurocamp of Treviso, but only practicing with FMP. About the U-16 European Championship, what players impressed you much?
I didn't see some players who really impressed me...but I was impressed with Spain, with their teamwork, their team defense, their team chemistry. They looked for me phenomenal on the court. We saw where they were better than us last summer, we will try to fix that and to improve as a team to be a serious contender in Hamburg.
-Serbian factory keeps building good players: Radicevic, Cvetkovic, Bezbradica, Pavlovic, Mitrovic,... Do you think you can win next tournaments and follow what U-18 NT did in Metz?
Yes, we can..but like I said we have to work on a lot of things and when the next preparations of national team comes around, we have to be there with a new focus and good attitude. We have to believe that we can be first at any tournament we play. We have to train hard to make that winning character. Of course I followed U-18 in Metz, I have some great friends like Nikola Vukasovic and other guys from FMP in that squad, so I was with my whole heart with them. Of course I would like that I played in Metz but that would be too much for me in one summer.
-Some months ago you participated in the Jordan Brand Classic. What do you remember of that experience?
Experience was amazing. I had a chance to play in Madison Square Garden, to meet Michael Jordan... That is a lifetime experience that I will never forget. My dreams as a boy came real.
-And finally, can yoy define yourself as a player? In what position do you prefer to play?
I prefer to play at any position that wil get a win for my team. It's doesn't matter if I am a playmaker or a shooting guard or anything else, I just try to do some good things for my team. My position depends on players who am I playing with...I think that could be only advantage for me because I can play on all outside spots.
-Good luck from EH staff.
Photo: FIBA Europe / Alius Koroliovas
