By Rafal Juc
Prestigous Sabonis Basketball Academy won Vasas Cup U14, outscoring in final 79:72 Stella Azzurra Rome, while MVP was named already 6'5'' Italian's team point guard Lazar Nikolic ('99). Our scout Rafal Juc was in Budapest to keep you updated. Below are his impressions.
All-Star Tournament (voted by coaches)
Elvis Juozaitis (1999, 193), Sabonis: A bit more matured than others and naturally strong Juozaitis was used mainly as a power forward in undersized Sabonis team, however he shows versatile skills on both ends of the court. He's quite smooth and polished, runs the court fast and willingly. Juozaitis displays ability to put the ball on the flour, nonetheless at Vasas Cup scored most of his poinst inside the paint, taking advantage of his solid frame and better setting.
Ignas Sargiunas (1999, 175), Sabonis: With his skinny and narrow frame Lithuanian is a bit small even as for a 14-old kid, however he makes it up with well-polished point guard package, aggressiveness and passion. Despite so young age, Sargiunas impresses with understanding of the game and smartness. He handles the ball well, knows how to control tempo and cooperates well - as the only one PG at Vasas Cup - with frontcourt players. Due to decent frame Sargiunas is quite limited offensively inside the 3 point line, nonetheless he is a pure shooter with ability to knock down from beyond the arc off the dribble, what is unusual at that age category.
Emanuele Trapani (1999, 175), Stella: Not extremely athelic or uniquely explosive, Trapani possesses suitable size for a combo guard. With his leadership, strong vocal presention and natural-born scoring instinct Trapani was a heart of Stella offensively. He doesn't afraid to take a shots from the downtown, even being under pressure and is able to score in series, nonetheless with a view to more organized basketball in the future he needs to improve shoot selection. Trapani bases most of his offensive plays on one, however really special ability, which is drawing contact well in traffic leaping up toward the rim.
Katona Bence (1999, 172), Vasas: Smart and tough guard, who always puts maximum effort in each play. Despite only decent size he crashes the glass aggresivelly and always looks for an opportunity to start fast-break, scoring many easy baskets with his tendency to up-tempo basketball. Shows nice form on his midrange jumper, being able to makes it consistently.
Marc Tubau Farre (1999, 155), Barcelona: Extremely thin and a short point guard, who organizes half-court offense well with his patience and well-polished ball-handling. Due to decent frame his offensive abilities are quite limited, however compared to peers, Farre impresses with natural flow, understanding of the game and decision-making process.
Individual Awards (voted by coaches)
MVP - Lazar Nikolic (1999, 196), Stella: Fully deserved MVP of the tournament with a high ceiling. Nikolic is a long, athletic and extremely talented 6'5'' guard, being almost often the higher one on the court! He feels the best with a ball in his hands, what in connection with his unselfish mind and creativeness makes him clear-cut candidate for a point-forward position. Must be noted that Nikolic joined Stella Azzurra only for a tournament, so in first game influence on his game had a lack of understanding with a teammates and coaching staff due to language and cultural difference as well as lack of understanding on the court. Nonetheless with every single quarter his games looked better. Nikolic impresses with a polished ball-handling, changing speed and direction often. He showed also nice form and follow-through on his jump show, pulling up well thanks to his strong legs, what allows him to makes even step-back jumpers, which are defenitely too advanced technically for a rest of 14-year old kids so far.
Best scorer - Stefan Adzic (1999, 183), Bosna: Offensively-minded Adzic is a pure shooter with a quite developed and strong frame, who played as a do-it-all forward in a decent KK Bosna team. He's really dangerous with his ability to get low on the dribble and competitiveness above the rim, however sometimes plays too selfish, handling ball too much.
Our honorable metions
Michele Ebeling (1999, 192), Stella: Son of former international standout player John Ebeling ('60) possesses all necessary tools to become proffesional player. He's long, tall and athletic. Compared already by some coaches even to Erazem Lorbek, Ebeling lacks so high level of explosiveness or quickness, however he's typical face-up PF with a soft hands, nice touch and tendency to come outside the paint.
Kresimir Nikic (1999, 198), Cibona: The highest player at Vasas Cup U14 was a Cibona's Nikic, who is extremely long and quite massive, measuring almost 6'7'' in age of only 14! As for a young kid he's really well skilled, showing soft hands and nice form on his jumper. Nikic was the only one backcourt player of all Vasas Cup's participants, who tried to take advantage of his size posting up on low post. Even if he struggled to get closer to the rime due to lack of go-to move and explosiveness he showed many good habits in his decision-making process.
Final standings:
1. Sabonis Basketball Center, 2. Stella Azzurra Roma, 3. MKB Euroleasing Vasas Akademia, 4. KK Cibona Zagreb, 5. FC Barcelona, 6. Olimpija Ljubljana, 7. KK Bosna Sarajevo, 8. LPS Basket Targu Mures
Final day results:
7th place game: Bosna - LPS Basket 100:70
5th place game: Barcelona - Olimpija 82:42
3rd place game: Vasas - Cibona 87:82
final: Stella Azzurra - Sabonis 72:79
Photo: Stella Azzurra's Facebook
