By Rafal Juc

 

Second day of Nike International Junior Tournament was really exciting, especially because all results influenced on final plays in group and indirectly on who will fight for ticket to Finals. What we saw yersterday? Opener was between Canarias Basketball Academy and VEF Riga. Spanish team runned by american coach Rob Orellana was expected to an easy win, but the youngest squad on this tournament upset them and won definitely (64-42). Worth to admit that CBA came to Lithuania straight after participating in demanding tournament in United States. It can be a reason why Petr Herman ('94) and Oskars Reinfelds ('94) saw only couple of minutes. During their absence leadership took over Shane Hammick ('94), who showed ability to play one-on-one on a contact, nice speeds directions and good mobility. He finished with 18 points and 4 rebounds in 29 minutes, but the best vibrators on us left one year younger Davis Geks ('95) from VEF. Being really efficient from distance, he went for 18 points on 4/5 threes and added 11 rebounds.

Then, in freezing this time Zalgiris Arena, BC Khimki Moscow Region beated Elan Chalon. France team showed once again great athleticism, but they were to weak and thin to find answer for Russian frontcourt duo Rotislav Karenin ('94) and Stanislav Ilnitskiy ('94). Impressed especially the second one. Illnitskiy scored 29 points and missed double-double with 9 rebounds. He showed as a dominator in painted area, who knows how to finish on contact in traffic. But this time was killing opponents with one-on-one actions on dribble, using his cunning to lost defenders with pump-fakes and fast drbbles. In addition presented really certain midrange shoot.

But attention of many NBA and international scouts was paid on Clint Capela ('94) -at the pic-, who had just 5 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Although he had some serious problems in defense with Ilnitskiy and was not too efficient (2/8 FG and 1/6 FT), showed terrific body and incredible talent. "Just remember my words, this kid will play in NBA. Great prospect. Maybe now is struggling, because is used as a center in this team, but in future will be small forward. Not a scorer, but role-player", told us reputable scout.

Another game and another explosion of high-ranked prospect. This time Rasmus Larsen ('94) was ready to play against VBL Topsportschool. Still unhealthy due to injury from last days, he was able to spent on court only 12 minutes in first half. But how did he play! Scored 9 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, dished out 2 assists, drew 5 fouls! It was definitely the best performance of this NIJT in so limited time. But what is more important, Larsen showed his versatility and was scoring on many ways: after isolation back to the basket, from distance and of course after his typical play after getting ball on perimeter: quick fake, one dribble and shoot really high lob. Remembering in which shape he was last year, scouts were shocked. "I remember him from Adidas Eurocamp in Treviso last summer. He was thin. And know? He improved his upper-body and seems still maturing", scouts were impressed. Worth to admit that Danish sensation has added new skills to his repertoire, what allow him now to play not only under the basket as a typical center, but also as a power or even small forward. All in all BBK Vaerlose won this game easy (78-56).

Later this day Zalgiris once again confirmed its dominance, crashing USK Future Stars (93-63). Honestly, the most attractive in this game were excellent performances by local cheerleaders. In addition it was another occasion to see flying Tomas Dimsa (’94) above rim. Lithuanian slasher scored 20 points in just 23 minutes, sparkling with delicious dunks in traffic. After that game it was sure that Zalgiris will play in today’s final. Next one was settling with how locals are going to compete for a ticket to Istanbul. Canarias Basketball Academy had to play without their leader and main option in offense, because Oskars Reinfeld was out due to back injury. During his absence coach Rob Orellana obligated his pupils to getting ball to Hammick and leaving him place to play one-on-one. In effect dynamic and mobile prospect finished with 19 points, but his team lost (55-65) to BC Khimki Moscow Region, mainly because of poor 3-point shoots efficient. How was sparkling on court too?

In Russian team as always really good things made Stanislav Ilniskiy, who scored 12 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and 2 steals. This time he was not too efficient, because CBA’s defense was holding him off passes on low-post and he was forced to play on dribble from perimeter. In turn against aggressive and mixed CBA’s defense really well played Serdar Annaev ('94). Russian playmaker undeniably presents the best ball-handling at this tournament, has got brilliant court vision, high IQ, is not forcing individual plays and knows how to draw fouls to find himself on free-throw line. Worth to admit that in opposite side the best game at this year’s NIJT had Khadeem Lattin (’95), who is originally from States, where he was in top25 of class 2014, but surprisingly moved this summer to CBA. Yesterday he showed mainly good character and aggressiveness, what effected 6 rebounds and 3 blocks for him. Thin, but really long Lattin is not able to play against stronger opponents back to the basket due to lack of bulk, but has got nice and rather quick midrange jumper, not only when is open.

Last game of day and of ours trip to Kaunas was battle between VEF Riga and Elan Chalon. Finally Capela started showing his best, finishing aggressive after drives on contact and dunking in fast-breaks. Once again perfect hand a really efficient shoot presented Axel Bouteille ('95). He is typical shooter, who knows how to play without ball and how to use screens to take open shoots. But Capela as well as Bouteille were in shadow of younger than them Davis Geks. Still maturing Latvian impresses with shoot selection and great shoot on all ways: fade-away, midrange jumper, shoot on contact, 3-point shoot with assistance of defender.

 

Results day 2:

CBA - VEF Riga (42-64)

Chalon - Khimki (62-57)

Vaerlose - Topsportschool (78-56)

Future Stars - Zalgiris (63-93)

Khimki - CBA (65-55)

VEF Riga - Chalon (75-66)

Standings:

Group A: Zalgiris (3-0), Vaerlose (2-1), Topsportschool (1-2) and USK Future Stars (0-3).

Group B: Khimki (3-0), VEF Riga (2-1), CBA (1-2) and Chalon (0-3).

 

The final will be this afternoon between Zalgiris Kaunas and Khimki.

 

Twitter of the author: @rafjuc

 

Photo: www.20min.ch