By Rafal Juc
This year's edition of the Adidas Eurocamp in Treviso is over. We are going to publish detailed reports on the most interesting players, but after three days of competitions just let´s see, who used the camp to increase his stocks. There is no doubt that automatically-eligible power forward Olek Czyz ('90), who has already finished his college career at Nevada, was the biggest surprise of Adidas Eurocamp. Being completely anonymous for most of all scouts and coaches in Treviso, he showed versatile skills, being major impact of his team in all scrimmage games. – To be honest I did not expect so good game from Czyz. He suprised all spectators in Treviso. Being just 6-6 he is too short to be selected in draft, but I see him on top european level soon with chances to play even the Euroleage in couple of years – told to Eurohopes an experienced european scout. Athletic and really tough Czyz is face-up frontcourt player, who puts maximum effort in all of his attempts on both ends of the court. Nonetheless according to multiple sources he is not projected to be selected in this year´s draft.
The second hottest name in disscusion in Treviso was Oleksandr Lypovvy ('91), who despite succesfull international career in youth national teams of Ukraine, was a bit under the radar before Adidas Eurocamp. Smooth and really tall as for guard Ukrainian has already played at Eurobasket and was scoring almost 10 points in Eurochallange, but over last season he was bench-warmer in BC Donietsk. Thanks to his size and versatility Lypovvy is able to play on 1-3 positions. He displays ability to get low with his dribble and is terrific in transition, attacking the basket well, using well-polished "eurostep" move. Continuing hard work, still adapting to senior basketball, auto-eligible in 2013, Lypovvy could be selected somewhere in second round of next-year´s draft.
Experienced and really tough Tornike Schengelia ('91) only confirmed over Adidas Eurocamp that he belongs to top european prospects of youth generation. The only worrying thing fact about him is that Schengelia in Treviso was shooting really inconsistent, also in individual work-out´s and shooting drills. However, it does not change fact that he possesses great physical tools and is projected to be selected in the second round.
Undeniably the biggest star of measurements portion of Adidas Eurocamp was Rudy Gobert ('92), who possesses incredible 7-9 wingspan (check this highlight of last day). Preparing with his French U20 National Team to this summer's European Championships he played three games in Treviso, being one of the most dominant players of all event. Really big, but well-coordinated and mobile Goberts is really active on offensive end, fighting well for position on low-post and cutting very often for the lob or alley-opp pass, being almost perfect from the field. There is no doubt that Frenchman used well Adidas Eurocamp to showcase his skills and increase NBA stock, especially that has two more years to take a part in draft. Projected as top20 pick in 2013-14 years.
Second day of event belonged however only to Evan Fournier ('92), who after sitting out the first day of action, decided to work out on Monday, showing his skills in team´s drills and two games. Athletic swingman confirmed that he plays at completely different level than most of players in Treviso, what makes him the only European players with chances to be selected in first-round of this year´s draft. Fournier was really smooth, showed ability to creat his own shoot on dribble, being aggressive attacking the basket. He showed also good court-vision and improvement of 3-point shoot, what was his the biggest weaknesses in previous years.
We were told that 7-4 center Dusan Cantekin ('90) has got some chances to be selected in draft also. Comparing him to other big players, he impresses with shooting touch, soft hands and the way how he runs the court. Nonetheless his offensive package is not yet well-polished and Mega Vizura´s center avoids tough, physical fight in the paint. Over Adidas Eurocamp he was not dominant, but thanks to combination of physical tools, could be long-term investments for some teams with late second round picks.
Another player, who caught up the attention of several scouts over Adidas Eurocamp was Maxi Kleber ('92). German forward in recent years had some problems with health, but now is in great shape, what he showed in Treviso, where was able to knock down consistently deep threes in spot-up. He impresses with his athleticism and aggressiveness attacking the basket, but due to lack of bulk has got some problems inside the paint.
Coming off the successful year in Turkish League Ilkan Karaman ('90), confirmed that he should be considered as projected second round pick in upcoming draft thanks to combination of athleticism, size, toughness and strenghts. Having really soft hands and nice shooting touch Karaman is able to come out and knock down deep shoots, but he feels the best in the paint, where thanks to bulk displays ability to post up well.
This year´s Adidas Eurocamp was also successful for Maik Zirbes ('90). Tough and strong German is quite athletic and well-coordinated. However, he had some problems to finish consistently in the paint against higher opponents. With that said, it could be tough for him to play as center at higher level, especially that his offensive reperotire is limited, while he struggles with left hand.
One of the most consistent and solid player in Treviso was Darko Planinic ('90), auto-eligible in this year´s draft. He showed really versatile skills and well-polished offensive package as well as mental toughness, however most of scouts we talked with, do not give too big chances to be selected, even as second late round pick. It does not change fact that in couple of years he could develop into solid international player.
Twitter of the author: @rafjuc
Photo: Eurohopes
