By Can Pelister

 

Recently Zeljko Obradovic told me: "Kenan Sipahi plays like 35 year old player. But I don’t want to talk about Sipahi only. We have got great prospects like Metecan, Ayberk, Berk and more coming from cadets. Everybody will get chance, only thing they have to understand is work very hard. We have a plan for every young player."

-JAMES METECAN BIRSEN (’95 Fenerbahce Ulker Forward 2.05)

With Coach Obradovic, Birsen is active member of senior team and averaging more than 10 minutes in Turkish league so far. As far as I’ve seen, Birsen is more active on defense and that’s the biggest change for him maybe. We’re watching more better and aggresive Birsen as defensively so far. However he lacks off athleticism and quickness for position 3. 

He’s great rebounder on both ends for sure and I think he can switch to position 4 in future. Metecan will keep playing this season and he will add lot of experience and confidence. Fenerbahce is now 7-1 in Euroleague, and maybe they will go to Milano this year, who knows? And Birsen will be part of this team.

-BERK DEMIR (’95 Pertevniyal Forward 2.04)

Demir is mobile 4 which is versatile offensive player; who can shoot the ball, play from both inside and outside. After being U-18 European Champion and playing limited minutes due to injury he suffered during the summer, this season he’s playing with farm team of Efes in second division, Pertevniyal.

So far, he had lot of ups and downs during the 11 league game. But recently, vs. Best Balikesir and Vestel, he proved that he’s one of the best talents in ’95 generation. (15 points+6 rebounds vs. Balikesir, 17 points+5 rebounds vs. Vestel). On defensive end, Demir also has great block timing and he’s great rebounder. For position 3, he has to be more quick. But I see him more like stretch four in future.

On Turkish Prospects #3 we will have Berk Ugurlu and Okben Ulubay (’96) soon.

 

Twitter of the author: @HCanPelister

Photo: The Associated Press