By Luca Virgilio

 

Some weeks ago we travelled to Hungary. Budapest and especially the U14 Vasas Cup is the cradle for the champions of the future; in the last editions we had seen Milos Glisic with Partizan in 2013, Lazar Nikolic with Stellazzurra Academy in 2012, Luka Doncic with Olimpija Ljubljana in 2011, Nedim Djedovic with Barcelona in 2010, Lovro Mazalin with Cibona in 2010 and now we were there to scout the informations coming from the first basketball steps of these young basketball players:

Vladimir Rajacic (G, 6'2'' cm, Stellazzurra): the serbian guard coming from Flash Beograd was on loan to Stellazzurra Academy, he played a good tournament giving the impression that he could score every time he had the ball is in his hands. Sometimes he is too selfish, he is a real "black hole", when he receives the ball he will never give it back to his teammates. Above some hysteric behavior, he an offensive crack in penetration that ended the tournament with 13 points and 6 rebounds per game. He has to improve his three point shots and his defense.

Oton Jankovic (PG, 6'3'', Cibona Zagreb): probably the most fascinating prospect of the competition, Jankovic is a right handed point guard with a skinny physical structure but with long arms and long legs. Good ball handling for his height, he moves on the court with elegance despite he is 6'3'' at only 14 years. He is not ready now, he has a lot of work to do to improve his game: in this tournament he showed his offensive ability to attack the rim also with the left hand and his capacity to pass the ball. He is too discontinuous during the game, if he fails in something sometimes he goes mentally blocked and he usually incurs in foul problems. He was awarded in the All Tournament Team and he ended the tournament with 8 points per games, restricted by a little knee problem.

Tomas Balciunas (C, 6'2'', Sabonis Center): deservedly named MVP of the competition, Balciunas ended the tournament with impressive numbers: 23 points and 22 rebounds, with an incredible 39 points plus 30 rebounds in the opening game against Vasas Academy. He has the size to be unstoppable in the paint because his opponents in this moment are smaller in height and in weight respect to him and in this three days he taught low post moves to all the others center of the tournament. Beyond this Balciunas has soft hands from mid-range (he can shoot also from three point), an interesting bucket of offensive solutions, good pivotal-foot movements, and above all the most interesting thing is his ability to be always in the right place inside the area, being dominant in offensive/defensive rebound situations.

Adam Somogyi (PM, 5'6'', Vasas Academy): with 13.5 points and 3 assists per game he was the charismatic leader of the home team. Playmaker with a good vision of the game, he is able to run the court in transition being also perfect in fast break situation with assists and no look passes. Somogyi has a good frame for his role, efficient on defense particularly on the ball, he is more mature than his teammates and because of that he was the go to guy in the crucial situations.

Matteo Laganà (G, 6'1'', Stellazzurra): brother of the italian gold boy Marco Laganà (1993), Matteo is a strong point guard, physically developed with an important upside. Awarded as best guard of the competition, he averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds in the tournament showing his maturity and an high IQ for the game. His frame is more ready than his opponents but looking to his family he will continue to grow trying to reach the 6'6'', but above this, he was offensively a game breaker every time he was on the court, with a terrific and really fast shot from mid range and with an important impact on the defensive end.

Martynas Arlauskas (G, 6'0'', Sabonis BC): with his skinny frame and his ability to run
the court, this lithuanian polished point guard was one of the most interesting prospect of all the Vasas Cup. Arlauskas averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds per game showing a reliable shot from mid-long range, excellent 1vs1 offensive skills in penetration and in open court with both hands; he is also a good player on the defensive half-court. He is technically well developed but with interesting margins to grow, he knows the game, understanding what is going to happen before the others, physically he's still a kid but he possesses all the necessary tools to become a professional player.

Jokubas Kerevicius (PM, 5'2'', Sabonis): smart and determined, he was the secret engine and the director of the BC Sabonis triumph. Awarded as best playmaker of the competition even though his height and his narrow frame, he ended the tournament with 18 points per game with clutch baskets in crucial moments of games against Vasas and Stellazzurra. Kerevicius supervised every moment of the offensive game of his team, moving his teammates as puppets on the court with great leadership and shooting (with good result from 3 points) only when this was the only opportunity.

 

Twitter of the author: @lucavirgilio

 

Photo: www.vasassc.hu