By Rafal Juc
Over last week (14-18 March) in Lublin was held Final 8 round of Polish U20 Championship. Eurohopes staff was here to update you about best polish prospects, including Piotr Niedzwiedzki ('93) and Daniel Szymkiewicz ('94) from our rankings. As it was expected WKK Wroclaw, coached by Tomasz Niedbalski -member of staff of "golden" polish 1993 generation- and led by 1993 25th ranked Niedzwiedzki, became new Polish U20 Champion. In big final WKK defeated Trefl Sopot (65-53), while earlier that day GTK Gdynia beated Zastal (78-68), earning the bronze medal. MVP was -of course- for Niedzwiedzki, who scored 18 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in the final. Best scorer was 19-years old Filip Matczak ('93), from Zastal, who was scoring 19.3 points per game. Who were selected in the All-Tournament? Jan Grzelinski ('94, WKK Wroclaw), Jakub Koelner ('93, WKK Wroclaw), Przemyslaw Zolnierewicz ('95, GTK Gdynia), Kacper Borowski ('94, Trefl Sopot) and Jakub Dybek ('93, Zastal Zielona Gora). Read below short reports on noticeable players:
Jan Grzelinski (’94): 5'10'', PG, WKK Wroclaw
Tiny, but extremely fast and really athletic point guard, who is just unstoppable in open-court. Possesses incredible motor and can play on high intensity. Showed amazing ball-handling, big court-vision and high basketball IQ. Undeniably better in fast-breaks, where is quite creative and self-possessed than in positional attack. Always with his head up, looking for an open teammate. Great passer with impressing timing, but really poor scorer - finished with just 39.6% from the floor. Possesses nice jumper and thanks to his excellent foot-work is capable of lost defender on dribble and shoot fade-away, but his release is too mechanically. Due to poor physical tools quite one-sided on offensive end. From time to time attacks the basketball aggressively on dribble, but not too competitive above the rim. Struggling beyond the arc, where finished with awful 5.9% efficient. Getting some serious minutes in senior team in third division and seems to be really experienced, what makes him cold-blooded on court. On defensive ends impresses with intensity, being able to defend with pressing all the time.
Grzegorz Grochowski (’93): 6'0'', PG, MKS Dabrowa Gornicza
Undeniably the best playmaker of tournament, who is first point guard of polish youth team, which was runner-up of World Championship U17 in 2010 year. 19-years old Grochowski plays this season in really serious role in second polish division and over Polish U20 Championship impresses with experience. Extremely well-built with filled out frame and really strong legs. Can handle ball well as well in open court as in half court. Versatile and all-around player, who feels the best with ball in his hands. Possesses rare ability to create space for his teammates passing ball amazingly, what makes that some of his assists were just incredible and even too fast for mates. Mainly uses pick&roll to attack the basket. Being really strong can finish with floater on contact even in match-up over higher opponent. Still needs to work on his shoot, but comparing him to previous years, improved his hands combination, has got faster release and uses legs more in going up.
Filip Matczak (’93): 6'2'', SG, Zastal Zielona Gora
Without no doubt the most dangerous offensively player of all tournament, what confirmed scoring almost 20 points per game. Impresses with musculature and mobility. Typical scorer, who maybe sometimes dribbles to much, but always is ready to finish. Being left-handed can finish above the rim with both hands, generally off the glass. Possesses amazing pull-up shoot and fade-away as well as step back jumpers. After receiving the ball, tries attack the basket with couple of fast dribbles and then suddenly stop, going immediately up, keeping great body balance with direction to the rim. Great in one-on-one situations, using well mismatches and ball movements of his team. Playing hard, looks always for a contact. Talented guard, who can win game alone thanks to his outstanding leadership. Ready to play senior basketball and in 2-3 years should turn out into solid scorer on the highest domestic level.
Kacper Borowski (’94): 6'6'', PF, Trefl Sopot
Standing around 6’6’’ and 6’7’’, Borowski is undersized a bit to play on power forward on higher level, but at this stage, makes unsuitable size up with great athleticism, mobility and incredible jumping abilities. Due to lack of bulk, it is really tough for him to post up well on low-post, what causes that Borowski avoids playing back to he basket. Being most of time face-up, uses screens, good ball movement and creativeness of his teammates, but scores mostly after offensive rebounds. Still raw and unpolished on offensive end, but with big room to improve. Right now, his shoot is inconsistent and inefficient, but 18-years old forward showed mechanically release. Undeniably better on defensive end, where is capable of covering pick&roll situation well, in addition crashing glass aggressively. In future should develop into versatile forward, but for this purpose musts improve ball-handling and midrange shoot.
Piotr Niedzwiedzki (’93): 6'10'', PF/C, WKK Wroclaw
One of the most talented forwards of 1993 european generation, just confirmed his domination, averaging 19.7 points and 10 rebounds in only 23 minutes per game, Fairly deserved to be selected MVP after finishing WKK’s actions in clutch moments of semifinal as well as final. Most of points scored after pick&rolls or offensive rebounds, but showed also ability to post up well on low-post, where can spin to the baseline and finish with fade-away jumper, when basket is closed for him. Even double-team system was not enough to stop him, because Niedzwiedzki showed high IG and nice inside-outside passes. The biggest weakness of 19-years old center is still his stamina. After putting some muscles, Niedzwiedzki did not loss his explosiveness and mobility, but now is capable of playing just 5-6 minutes on high intensity. Worth to admit that his shoot seems to be better and better, but still in not consistent, despite fact that Niedzwiedzki can hit even from NBA 3-point range.
Twitter of the author: @rafjuc
Photo: pzkosz.pl (Piotr Niedzwiedzki)
