By Davide Bortoluzzi
From July 12th to July 22nd Slovenia will host FIBA U20 European Championship, that could be considered a warm-up of the 2013 Eurobasket. Domzale and Kranjska Gora are the courts selected for the first phase, while the Stozice Arena in Lubjana will host elimination games and part of the second phase. France, Serbia, Lithuania, Spain and Slovenia are the most reliable candidates to win gold medal, but also Germany could surprise. Russia and Turkey should close the field of the best 8 teams, but Ukraine and Greece could exploit Russian struggles with injuries. Here it is an overview of the 4 first groups, with the most promising prospects involved:
Group A: France, Germany, Serbia, Montenegro
This could be considered the most competitive group of all the tournament, with a huge load of talent in basically all the teams. France and Serbia are probably the best teams, but Germany has shined during preparation tournaments and has his chance to reach elimination games. Montenegro is not a Cinderella, and even Marko Todorovic ('92) will miss it due to an injury they could be a serious threat for any other team in this group if they’ll underestimate them.
France is one of the favorite teams for the final victory, thanks to a combination of size and athleticism in every role that is highly unlikely to reach, even if they have struggled during last tournaments in Turkey and Domegge. The leader of the group is the PG Leo Westermann ('92, 6'6''), who could be considered the reincarnation of Antoine Rigaudeau of his generation. He’s tall, skilled and he has a huge basketball IQ, the main shortcoming is the lack of athleticism and lateral quickness, but he’s definitely a rising star. Rudy Gobert ('92, C, 6'11'') -at the pic-, has impressed at last Eurocamp, becoming a consensus first round pick in 2013 NBA draft. His creepy wingspan (7'10''), his mobility and intimidation abilities are the basis of an unexplored potential, that makes him probably the highly touted prospect of all the tournament. On forward position France can count on Louis Labeyrie ('92, SF/PF, 6'10'') and Livio Jean-Charles ('93, SF, 6'8'') two raw talents that give France athleticism and defense.
Germany has swept France during preparation tournaments, elevating his status as a potential contender for European title, with a solid team, loaded with good athletes and size. Patrick Heckmann ('92, SG, 6'6'') give to the German backcourt centimeters and offensive flexibility, with the possibility to exploit potential miss matches. Daniel Theis ('92, PF/C, 6'8'') and Phillip Neumann ('92, C, 6'11'') keep tall the German frontcourt, forming a couple of gifted big men.
Serbia has kept the group that won silver medal last year at U19 world championship, with a boost of some fresh talent from 1993 class in Nenad Miljenovic ('93, PG, 6'4''), a crafty floor general with limited athleticism and the couple of forwards Nemanja Bezdbradica ('93, SF, 6'9'') and Stefan Popovski ('93, SF, 6'8''), that add offensive potential from the perimeter. Aleksandar Cvetkovic ('93, PG, 6'0'') was already in last year’s U19 roster and will be probably the starting point guard, with his combination of quickness and superb offensive instincts. Bogdan Bogdanovic ('92, SG, 6'6'') will pefectly complete the backcourt, with his ability to attack the basket and to stand contacts. Nemanja Besovic ('92, C, 7'2'') is the tower that gives necessary intimidation and size to a really deep and talented team.
Group B: Russia, Estonia, Ukraine, Greece
This group is probably the weakest of the whole tournament, with two teams above the others from talent standpoint and some missing players that certainly would have been needed to respective teams.
Russia won’t have Dmitry Kulagin ('92, SG, 6'6''), who will miss European championships due to an injury so Vlad Trushkin ('93, PF, 6'7'') will have to charge his teammates on his shoulders as he did during preparation tournaments in Treviso and in Turkey. Russian team is solid and with a good physical basis, and will definitely reach elimination games. Artem Pustovyi ('92, C, 7'0'') is the tower around which is built Ukraine offense, that lacks and effective backcourt game. The talented big man, seen at 2012 Adidas Eurocamp could be a factor against small teams, but could be considered the only serious threat of this team, especially with the absence of Maryland big man Olexiy Len ('93, C, 7'0''). In this context Greece, with Sokratis Psaropoulos ('92, PG, 6'3'') and Spyros Motsenigos ('92, SG, 6'3'') could compete for the first position of the group with Russia. Estonia has just came in division A, but could be considered the Cinderella of this championship and will probably come back in division B next year.
Group C: Spain, Turkey, Latvia, Georgia
Spain is the legitimate favorite to win group C, with the amazing trio of 1993 talents that won 2011 U18 European championship: Alejandro Abrines ('93, SG, 6'6''), Jaime Fernandez ('93, PG, 6'1'') and Daniel Diez ('93, SF, 6'8'').The two veterans of 1992 Joan Tomas ('92, SF, 6'7'') and Jose Pozas ('92, PG, 6'0'') will lead a young and talented group, that probably lacks centimeters and intimidation below the rim, a shortcoming that could flaw golden dreams of Spanish guys.
This isn't probably the most talented version of a Turkish youth national team, nevertheless this group is solid and tough despite it is composed of 1993 boys. The backcourt is based on the couple of big guards Ugur Dokuyan ('93, SG, 6'5'') and Bugradan Tuncer ('93, SG, 6'4'') that shares most of the offensive burden, in cooperation with the big man Samet Geyik ('93, PF, 6'9''), a strong presence below the boards. Turkey will probably fight with Latvia for the second spot in this group.
Latvia will have to face the absence of Davis Bertans, but the trio of forwards Ojars Silins ('93, SF, 6'7''), Janis Timma ('92, SF/PF, 6'7'') and Janis Berzins ('93, SF, 6'7'') could give the needed offensive threats to compete for the second spot. The offense will be guided by Kaspars Vecvagars ('93, PG, 6'4''), a talented point guard who will probably play in Euroleague teams in the next future. Latvia is not an elite team but has enough to talent to reach elimination games.
Georgia is the Cinderella of this group, they have just reached Division A and the big backcourt based on Duda Sanadze ('92, SF, 6'5'') and Merab Bokolishvili ('92, SG, 6'6'') is still a poor weapon to compete against top teams.
Group D: Slovenia, Italy, Lithuania, Sweden
Slovenia and Lithuania will fight for the first position of group D with the hosts that have gained confidence after a remarkable preparation tournament in Murcia. Italy and Sweden seem condemned to struggle in avoiding relegation round for different reasons, but both teams could have a chance to surprise the two powerhouses.
Slovenia has in Alen Omic ('92, C, 7'0'') one of the best young big man in Europe and an offensive weapon difficuilt to stop. Ziga Dimec ('93, PF/C, 6'10'') and Gezim Morina ('92, PF, 6'8'') complete a frontcourt loaded with centimeters, size and talent. Luka Rupnik ('93, PG, 6'1'') will be the starting point guard, who despite the young age has already played with senior national team thanks to his maturity, the reliable jump shot and the great basketball IQ. His main task will be to feed Omic and the hand of the scorer Klemen Prepelic ('92, SG, 6'2'') beyond the three point line. Being the host country could give to coach Sagadin guys the boost to win gold medal after almost 10 years.
Lithuania will suffer the huge absence of Jonas Valanciunas, who will play with senior team at London Olympics. Anyhow basically the whole group that has won U19 world championship will be available on the court: Vytenis Cizauskas ('92, PG, 6'3''), Edgaras Ulanovas ('92, SG, 6'5''), Dovydas Redikas ('92, SF, 6'5'') and Arnas Butkevicius ('92, SF, 6'4'') are the backbone of a solid and expert group that wants to end with a victory his experience in youth competitions.
Italy is a team that terribly lacks centimeters in every role, starting from the guards Andrea Traini ('92, PG, 5'11'') and Marco Laganà ('93, SG, 6'6''), that probably will have the biggest offensive responsibilities. Giovanni Pini ('92, C, 6'9'') was the only reliable center of his class so coach Sacripanti was forced to call the young Amedeo Tessitori ('94, C, 6'8''), in order to deepen frontcourt rotation. Italy will fight to avoid relegation round with Sweden, a really growing movement that in this championship shows probably his best class. Viktor Gaddefors ('92, SF, 6'8'') and William Magarity ('93, PF, 6'11'') have centimeters and athleticism to fight properly against every kind of frontcourt and especially Gadderfors has the experience of one year in Italian serie A with Avellino. Jonathan Person ('93, SG, 6'4'') is a really gifted SG, that played an important role with Swedish youth national teams in previous years.
Twitter of the author: @theref140386
-Find attached a video from Rudy Gobert in last Adidas Eurocamp of Treviso playing for France U20.
Photo: Jonatan Gonzalez (Rudy Gobert)
