By Goran Srezovicki

 

Let's see the second part of the article "Serbian 1997 generation is coming". Some days ago we talked about paint players. Now we will check some names of outside positions, basiclly shooting-guards and small-forwards. Many intriguing prospects there. Read their characteristics, strenghts and weaknesses.

Slobodan Jovanovic (6'3''), 19.02.1997. Belgrade. Team: KK Zemun Belgrade. The most dominant player in this age. Last years ge had a dominant height and physical strength, plus highly developed motor skills. Represented an insoluble enigma for his opponents. Often he ended games over 40 points. Today, not so dominant, but certainly among the most mature. His game is very rational, strong on the ball, a neat shot. The advantage for his progress is that the team built the game around him. Good in defense tasks, safe in the long jump. Except when he plays without the ball, because the team makes the blocks for him to easily to reach the ball. There is not a great solution when is doubled. Very good in 1x1 game. 

Nikola Rakicevic (6'3'') -at the pic-, 14.01.1997. Smederevo. Team: KK Crvena Zvezda Belgrade. Nikola is extremely powerful, especially on 1x1. Very precise shot from distance, a major problem for any defense. Last season Nikola was the MVP of the U15 Serbian final tournament. He scored more than 30 points often. Weaknesses of his game is the jump, and defense with and without ball. Defensive tactics is OK, but with no great desire to use this knowledge. Only sometimes plays well defensively. A little slower than it should be a player at his position. Physically very well prepared to meet all the requirements of a strong game.

Vojislav Stojanovic (6'4''), 14.04.1997. Belgrade. Team: KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd. Grown very aggressive in game. Extremely dominant on 1x1, where usually plays facing the basket, getting into a man, bouncing back and finishing with a jump shot from the distance or half distance. In the rubble of a slight contact is very accurate. Strong going to the offense rebound, building positions, and often after his missed shot. Less oriented toward a team game, so I don't know about his view of the game and feel for help. Solid defensively, with a good jump and building positions. One drawback of him is that when plays with the ball he does it with the head down and looking his feet, so doesn't look other teammates. Needs to play better without ball.

Nemanja Kapetanovic (6'1''), 03.02.1997. Belgrade. Team: KK Partizan Belgrade. Nemanja is an exceptional defender. Great physical qualities enable him to be a great fighter against higher and slightly lower players. Good wingspan and excellent coordination and anticipation, his main characteristics. Needs to work on offense. Has a good and accurate shot from distance. Doesn't like to go to the paint. It has a good feel for the offensive and setting the jump. The weakness is his defensive jump. Also a disadvantage is his erratic shot. Despite the strong and aggressive defense, does not enter into the problem of fouls trouble, which indicates his experience on defense.

Stefan Nikolic (6'4''), 29.05.1997. Belgrade. Team: KK Crvena Zvezda Belgrade. Stefan's jumping ability, power and constantly are an advantage over his defenders. High enough to play at the paint, but very success at outside positions. When it is kept below the player also plays the basket facing it and jumping at the end creating an advantage. Great setup for the jump in defense and in offense. Athletic highly developed. Defensively weak, unwilling to show something more in defensive tasks. Poorly trained for tactical defensive. It has a good overview of the game but can often be erratic passing the ball. Another problem is his ups and downs in the game.

Vanja Marinkovic (6'2''), 09.01.1997. Belgrade. Team: KK Partizan Belgrade. Vanja has undisputed talent for basketball, which has not yet been proved completely. Well developed physically, has a simple solution in the attack. A good overview of the game that used to assist to teammates. Good playing without the ball, excellent movement and release without the help of teammates block. The position of the jump is solid, which is often used to grab a good number of rebounds in the game. Defensively is good, but with a poor position on outside help. A very accurate shot from the distance. Against a good defense, penetration to the paint. Also has a problem with the ups and downs in the game.

Luke Šljukic (6'3''), 07.04.1997. Belgrade. Team: KK Zemun Belgrade. Luke exploded last season in terms of gaming. Extremely accurate shot from distance and half distance. Defensively is trying, is good, but still not as prepared to be able to play both ways. Solid in transition from defense to offense. A great striker. Slightly weaker in situations when you need to make a breakthrough under the basket. It is well placed to defending jump. It is well prepared tactically in the game in defense, on help side. No good overview of the game and little used back pass.

Dusan Djordjevic (6'1''), 14.11.1997. Smederevo. Team: KK Partizan Belgrade. Dusan is a great defensive player, the game that he was characterized in the last season. Physically very well prepared to play both sides. Good mobility in transition in both directions, very devoted. Excellent setting up the defense, making many steals. Also creating a good position to jump, especially in the defensive phase. The offense is good moving without the ball, which means to use to achieve light points. Maybe dribbles to much. Do not use double-pass game. Excellent tactical tasks in defense. Inaccurate shot from half distance.

 

"Serbian 1997 generation is coming (Part I)"

 

Photo: N.R.