France lost last summer the final of the U-20 Division "A" European Championship at Rhodes (Greece), but they took the silver medal. Of that team six prospects have declared early-entries for next NBA Draft (Seraphin -at the pic-, Camara, Heurtel, Diot, Raposo and Jackson). But also three french more have done the same: Albicy, Louves and Fofana. France is there. NBA announced today the official list of international early-entries. Let's take a look to them (their withdrawal deadline will be June 14th).
-Pablo Aguilar (Spain, '89): the 2.03 power-forward is playing currently in Granada (ACB) averaging 9.8 points and 5.0 rebounds with a 39% behind the arc. He grew up in Real Madrid youth teams, a club that has an option to recover him this summer. Last year shined in the Reebok Eurocamp of Treviso. Won the bronze medal on last U-20 European Championship at Rhodes (Greece): 12.5+5.3.
-Andrew Albicy (France, '90): the tiny 1.78 point-guard is playing in Paris, at french Pro-A. In almost 20 minutes he nails 4.4 points and distributes 3.2 assists. Made a great U-19 World Championship last summer in New Zealand, finishing with 14.4 points, 4.7 assists (the fifth best), 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 steals (the second best).
-Robin Benzing (Germany, 89): the next Dirk Nowitzki? Many germans think this. The 2.08 power-forward landed in Ratiopharm Ulm this summer after growing in TV Langen. He is averaging 12.6 points with a 37% on threes in 25 minutes per game. Last summer played the Eurobasket of Poland: 5.5 points and 1.7 rebounds.
-Stefan Bircevic (Serbia, '89): the 2.09 power-forward is playing currently at Metalac, one of the lowest teams of the serbian Super Liga. In 18.2 minutes he is scoring 6.5 points and pulling down 4.0 rebounds. Last summer he played with his NT the U-20 European Championship at Rhodes: 4.3 points and 3.5 rebounds.
-Bojan Bogdanovic (Croatia, '89): after finishing last year in the second team of Real Madrid at LEB Bronze (fourth division) the 2.02 bosnian-borned forward signed for an Euroleague team: Cibona. In Croatia he is recovering old sensations, averaging 8.1 points with a 39% behind the arc in Europe. He finished as the third best scorer in U-20 EC at Rhodes'09: 17.3 points.
-Sarra Camara (France, '89): not very known. The 2.04 power-forward is playing at Le Havre, nailing 2.6 points and grabbing 3.0 rebounds in 10'. The prospect, borned in Mont-Saint-Agnan has made good performances in the first french division, like against Dijon (10 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks) and Hyeres-Toulon (10 points, 10 rebounds and 1 block).
-Antoine Diot (France, '89): one of the best european players of his generation, the 1.91 guard played this season the Eurocup with Le Mans, finishing with 7.4 points, 3.4 assists and 3.3 rebounds. Last summer won the silver medal in the U-20 EC at Rhodes (11.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.4 steals) and also played the Eurobasket (5.1 points with a crazy 67% behind the arc).
-Bangaly Fofana (France, '89): the huge 2.12 center has sent good sensations to the scouts this season with ASVEL in Euroleague, even he hasn't played a lot: 1.8 points and 2.7 rebounds in 9 minutes. In domestic competition he plays less: 1.1+0.9 in 6'. Against Cibona in Europe he shined with 6 points, 10 rebounds and 1 block in only 16 minutes.
-Miralem Halilovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina, '91): one of the surprises of the list. Last summer he couldn't participate in the U-18 Division B European Championship in his home country because he was injured in a finger. Now, the 2.06 forward is playing in Sloboda Dita Tuzla, but he is close to sign with Fenerbahce. They haven't reached an agreement yet, but they are already talking and maybe we will see him there next months.
-Thomas Heurtel (France, '89): the 1.88 guard is playing this year in Strasbourg loaned from ASVEL and in a high level. He is pouring 9.5 points, 4.8 assists and 2.1 rebounds in only 23 minutes. Also an important piece of the silver medal last summer in the U-20 EC at Rhodes: 11.0 points, 3.4 assists and 37% on threes.
-Edwin Jackson (France, '89): last year the americans suffered him the Hoop Summit. The 1.91 guard is averaging 10.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in 26 minutes with Rouen at fench Pro-A. After growing in INSEP he went to ASVEL and after loaned to Nanterre (Pro-B). Also silver at Rhodes, of course: 16.0 points and 46% behind the arc.
-Dusan Korac (Montenegro, '91): more unknown than Camara, the montenegrin prospect is currently playing with KK Centar Bijelo Polje, in his home country.
-Mindaugas Kuzminskas (Lithuania, '89): some days ago a couple of scouts of NY Knicks travelled to Siauliai to watch him play. Last year he shined in the Reebok Eurocamp of Treviso, and this season is doing a great job. The 2.04 forward and his teammates lost last night in the semifinals of domestic league against Zalgiris, being eliminated. He has averaged 16.6 points and 5.9 rebounds.
-Luc Louves (France, '89): another french prospect. The 2.07 forward played last season with Orleans after growing with INSEP, but he has spent this full year practicing in USA. Let's see what's going on with him.
-Uros Lukovic (Serbia, '89): the 2.12 center played this season with Radnicki Beograd. He has finished averaging 8.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 63% on twos. He has played with youth serbian national teams, but usually not on big competitions. In the beginning of this season, but with Radnicki Novi Sad, he did crazy games, like against Tamis: 18 points and 14 rebounds in 21'.
-Donatas Motiejunas (Lithuania, '90): the best prospect in the list and maybe the only european in the first round if he finally decides to stay. After shining in his home country he signed with italians of Benetton Treviso, and actually is averaging 10.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in only 21 minutes in domestic competition. Last summer in the U-19 World Championship he had 17.3+8.0.
-Tomasz Nowakowski (Poland, '90): the 2.09 polish center is averaging 10.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in Slovenia with Luka Koper, loaned from Olimpija Ljubljana. Maybe he decided to declare early-entry after his great April in the league: 18+11, 14+12, 24+10,... Yesterday Poland announced his first list for the Division "B" U-20 EC. He was there, of course.
-Tibor Pleiss (Germany, '89): the 2.14 center is playing with Brose Baskets, at german Bundesliga, nailing 8.1 points, pulling down 5.6 rebounds and putting 1.4 blocks. He played also in the U-20 of Rhodes last summer (7.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks), but also the Eurobasket of Poland (1.3 points and 1.0 rebound in 3 games).
-Xavier Rabaseda (Spain, 89): the 1.99 small-forward has played this season at LEB Gold (second division) loaned from FC Barcelona. The prospect has averaged 14.4 points and 3.3 rebounds, but his team will start to play the play-out series tomorrow to avoid the relegation. Also shined in Rhodes, leading Spain to the bronze medal: 15.6 points and 2.8 steals (the best of the tournament).
-Fernando Raposo (France, '89): many years playing with Pau-Orthez, but this season in Pro-B. The 2.06 power-forward is scoring 4.1 points and grabbing 4.1 rebounds in 12.4 minutes. Also an important piece of the silver medal at Rhodes: 7.8 points and 8.3 rebounds. Also finished with 62% on twos.
-Ryan Richards (England, '91): the british 2.12 power-forward is actually injured in his shoulder again. This season he has played in Gran Canaria second team (fourth division), but he left to Switzerland (Monthey). Great talent, but worst mentality (of him or maybe his agents, we don't know). He still hasn't found a good stability. In Monthey he has nailed 13.3 points.
-Kevin Seraphin (France, '89): nice and interesting season in Cholet. The 2.05 power-forward is making 6.0 points and 4.1 rebounds. In Eurocup, a bit better: 6.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. Also shined in Rhodes -like all the french- with 11.8 points and 5.7 rebounds. Some days ago he made his season-high against Chalon: 20 (9/12 FG) in 29 minutes.
-Semen Shashkov (Russia, '89): the 2.00 forward is playing with Ural Ekaterinburg, at russian second division. He was in Rhodes with his national team, but he didn't make great stats: 2.1 points and 1.3 rebounds in 8 games. He also played the Reebok Eurocamp of Treviso, showing his skills to the scouts.
Photo: FIBA Europe / Harry Zampetoulas
