By Can Pelister
Thomas Akyazili (’97) was definitely one of the best players in Kyiv, last summer during the U-16 European Championship. He averaged 19.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game with Belgium. Standing at 6’3", Akyazili is very active on one-and-one situations. He can drive to the basket, and finishes strong. Akyazili can shot the ball, but he needs to improve his shot. From the physical standpoint, he’s very strong for his position, comparing to his age group. As he says in interview, he needs to fix his turnovers and work on his defense. Now, let’s read what Thomas said to Eurohopes...
-First of all can you tell us how you started playing basketball?
I started playing basketball when I was 6 years old in a small basketball team around the corner. My brother was ’playing’ there so I joined him.
-You had a great tournament with your national team last summer. How was the European championship for you?
It was a great experience, playing with the best players of my country against the best players in Europe. It was really great and learned a lot.
-We know you have Turkish roots, as we can understand from your surname, Akyazılı...
My grandpa on my father’s side is Turkish, which makes my dad half-turkish and my mom is from Belgium. My dad speaks fluently Turkish, unfortunately I don’t.
I started playing basketball when I was 6 years old in a small basketball team around the corner. My brother was ’playing’ there so I joined him.
-You had a great tournament with your national team last summer. How was the European championship for you?
It was a great experience, playing with the best players of my country against the best players in Europe. It was really great and learned a lot.
-We know you have Turkish roots, as we can understand from your surname, Akyazılı...
My grandpa on my father’s side is Turkish, which makes my dad half-turkish and my mom is from Belgium. My dad speaks fluently Turkish, unfortunately I don’t.
-Do you want to play for any Turkish team in the future? You heard anything about Turkish basketball?
They have a lot of good basketball teams in Turkey and I really love Euroleague, so yeah I could definitely see myself playing in Turkey, why not?
They have a lot of good basketball teams in Turkey and I really love Euroleague, so yeah I could definitely see myself playing in Turkey, why not?
-Let’s talk about your game... What is your weaknesses, need to develop? And what is your biggest strength?
I have to work on my defense, limiting my turnovers and of course every other aspect of the game but especially those. What I consider to be my biggest strength is 1 on 1.
-What’s your targets as a basketball player?
I want to reach my full potential, to achieve the highest spot I can in basketball and to become the best player I can be.
-You are currently playing in Belgium. What’s your future plans? Are you going to stay there or move to other country?
For now I have a good team and I’m lucky to be here. I’m learning a lot from great coaches and players, but if I get an offer from a big, great basketball team I will definitely consider it. My goal is to play as high as I can.
For now I have a good team and I’m lucky to be here. I’m learning a lot from great coaches and players, but if I get an offer from a big, great basketball team I will definitely consider it. My goal is to play as high as I can.
-Where are you put yourself in ’97 generation? And which players you like in that generation?
That’s difficult because it’s hard to compare players, they all have different styles. But I think I did a good job at the U16. They were a lot of great players in Kiev that I like, for example I like the playing styles of Mykhailiuk, Mazalin, Korkmaz...
-Who’s your idol?
My basketball idol is Stephen Curry of the Golden state Warriors, the way he shoots the ball and creates plays is crazy.
My basketball idol is Stephen Curry of the Golden state Warriors, the way he shoots the ball and creates plays is crazy.
Photo: FIBA Europe / Ciamillo-Castoria
Twitter of the author: @HCanPelister
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