By Marti Artigas
Today starts in Sofia (Bulgaria) a new edition of the U20 Division "B" European Championship. Eighteen teams fighting for four spots with the promotion as a prize. Squads like Poland, Croatia or Czech Republic will try to make it. A good group of prospects will meet in the bulgarian city. Find attached ten names to follow:
-Przemek Karnowski ('93, Poland): One of the big names of this season in Europe after reaching an agreement with Gonzaga (NCAA). 7'0'' center has played for Siarka Jezioro (Poland), averaging 10.1 points (55% FG), 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Last summer he played the U18 European Championship, finishing with 11 points (43% FG), 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks (profile).
-Mateusz Ponitka ('93, Poland): 6'6'' guard landed at Prokom Trefl during the season after many years in Warszawa. One of the reasons of the change? He will play Euroleague. For Politechnika he has averaged 13.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals, while with his new team he had less minutes: 2.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in domestic competition. Last summer in the U18 European Championship he ended with 15.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists (profile).
-Michal Michalak ('93, Poland): Another example of this great 1993 polish generation. 6'5'' small-forward was tested some weeks ago for Angelico Biella, in Italy. This season he has made great performances for Lodz, ending the domestic competition with 17.2 points (40% threes), 6.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Last summer in the U18 European Championship, 11.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists (profile).
-Piotr Niedzwiedzki ('93, Poland): 6'11'' center has combined this year Slask Wroclaw, at top division, with WKK Obiekty, where he shined with 15.5 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.4 steals. In PLK, less minutes: 3.2 points and 2.4 rebounds. Last summer in U18 European Championship, 10.2 points, 5.4 boards and 1.2 blocks. He has been playing many years for Wroclaw squads (profile).
-Tomasz Gielo ('93, Poland): He left his home country last summer, signing for Liberty (NCAA). Even he has injury problems 6'8'' power-forward finally could play 21 games, averaging 3.4 points (57% twos), 2.0 rebounds and 0.4 assists in only 15 minutes. Last summer he also played the U18 European Championship, where he finished with 7.3 points (65% twos), 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 block (profile).
-Ondrej Balvin ('92, Czech Republic): One of the next sensations of Czech Republic basketball. He left his country and 7'2'' center has played last two seasons in Spain, for Cajasol Sevilla. He usually has been practicing for the ACB team, but competing mainly in fourth division at EBA. In this level he had 14.6 points (72% twos), 10.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. Last summer in the U20 Division "B" European Championship he had 12.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks (profile).
-Devon Van Oostrum ('93, Great Britain): Till few days ago he was with senior british team that is preparing the Olympics, but finally he was cut. 6'2'' point guard signed for Caja Laboral three summers ago and last season was loaned to LEB Gold, spanish second division. In Tarragona has averaged 6.0 points (44% twos), 2.3 assists and 1.7 rebounds. Last summer he was one of the youngest players in the Eurobasket: 1.3 points and 3.0 assists (profile).
-Alasdair Fraser ('92, Great Britain): 6'8'' power-forward has played last two seasons for Maine (NCAA), averaging this season great stats in the competition: 12.9 points (55% twos), 7.8 rebounds and 1.3 rebounds in 31 minutes. Born in Scotland last season he also participated in the U20 Division "B" European Championship. In this tournament he had 8.8 points (63% twos) and 4.2 boards in only 18 minutes (profile).
-Vitali Liutych ('92, Belarus): Is not easy to find intriguing prospects coming from Belarus, but Liutych is one of them. 6'4'' small-forward left his country two seasons ago, landing in Lithuania. First year ws loaned to Universitetas (NKL), but last months he has played for Siauliai, even not a lot of minutes. In Baltic League he has averaged 3.5 points (61% twos), 0.8 rebounds and 0.2 assists in 9 minutes (profile).
-Pavlin Ivanov ('93, Bulgaria): 6'4'' guard plays for Benetton Treviso, basiclly in its U19 team. He left his country many years ago to land in a more professional structure. This season he has played three games of Eurocup (0.7 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists). Last summer he played the U18 Division "B" European Championship, being named the MVP: 18.3 points (39% threes), 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals (profile).
Twitter of the author: @marti_artigas
-Photo: bgbasket.com (Pavlin Ivanov)
