By Can Pelister
-Emircan Kosut
After the injury of Kerem Gonlum and the foreigner rule in Turkish league (coach Mahmuti added Scotty Hopson to the roster as the 5th foreigner, not Stanko Barac), Emircan Kosut is having serious minutes with Anadolu Efes’ senior team. Kosut played 9 minutes against Fenerbahce Ulker and had two points, one rebound and one block. Recently he played 12 minutes against Pinar Karsiyaka, finishing the game with three rebounds and two blocks. He is also playing with Efes’ farm team, Pertevniyal, in the second league. After three games, Kosut averages 12.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks (first in the 2nd league) per game.
Due to an injury two years ago, Kosut couldn't play the NIJT in Istanbul. He had a year off. But last year was definitely a very good year for Kosut. He was selected the MVP and best center of U18 Turkish Championship, after being an important member of Turkey’s U18 European Champion team.
He is skinny and not ready for the senior team game yet, for sure. In the Karsiyaka game, he guarded Mutlu Demir and Esteban Batista, both are very tough opponents. Turkish second league is very physical and tough league. That’s why he could be ready next year, because he is having 30+ minutes in second league. In my opinion, he will be ready for senior team game next year. Getting serious minutes and seeing ‘real opponents’ will be very good for his development. In two games, we saw how good a rim protector Kosut actually is, no matter if it is U18 or senior team. With his long arms, he has great block timing.
For this year, I expect Kosut to play in second league, gain experience and next year he can be a backup of Semih Erden or a foreigner center.
-Cedi Osman
The past summer was not a great summer for Cedi Osman as an individual. He was not in expected shape in Riga, at U18 European Championship. However, after solid second league experience last year, coach Mahmuti decided to put him in the rotation of Anadolu Efes senior team. In my opinion, after not playing with U18 team of Efes last year, and working in the gym and weight room a lot, we saw that Cedi Osman is ready for senior team game. Maybe he is the most ready young player in Turkey from a physical standpoint. He has no fear about getting contact, attacks the rim and does a really good job on defense so far.
Osman played 13 minutes against Strasbourg in the last Turkish Airlines Euroleague action and had four points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal. With a great court vision and dribbling skills, he can play as a point guard too. Overall, with his energy and ambition, he is one of the most important players of Anadolu Efes now.
-Kenan Sipahi
It is amazing that coach Obradovic started the games against Budivelnik and Barcelona with a 1995-born player. He has not only been giving this kid minutes, but responsibility at the highest level as well. Maybe that is one of the reasons that makes Zeljko Obradovic the best coach in Europe. Kenan -at the pic- had five points (2/2 FG) and one steal in 11 minutes against Barcelona. He also played 16 minutes before the injury he suffered in the game against Besiktas, finishing the game with three points, two rebounds and three assists.
Kenan is not a young player who plays the garbage minutes in Fenerbahce Ulker. He’s the starting PG of the team and knows what he has to do. On and off the court Sipahi is very smart guy. Coach Obradovic is a very big chance for him. I don't know if anybody else could give him this kind of responsibility and minutes at the highest level, Turkish Airlines Euroleague.
When I asked him, what young players mean to coach Obradovic, “Very important. One of the most important subjects for me” coach replied immediately. “Everything depends on them. They have to work very hard. We have a plan for each of our young players. Every young player has to understand that he has to work as an individual beside of the team practice” Obradovic also said to Eurohopes.
Twitter of the author: @HCanPelister
Photo: FIBA Europe / Martins Silis
