By : Vedran Modric
For three days (March 6-8) KK Cedevita training facility was the place where 40 best European prospects born in 1999 were improving their skills. Under the guidance of some of the best Croatian coaches (Drazen Anzulovic, Mladen Starcevic and Andrej Tesla to name a few) everybody but Luka Doncic, Naigel Onuoha,Sandro Mamukelashvili and Souleymane Diakite was in Zagreb, Croatia. And many consider this generation even better than 1995 and 1997.
During first two days, players were divided into 4 teams : Team Jordan, Tarheels, Bulls and Hornets. Each team had 10 players and until the last day they were playing tournament style among themselves. For All-Star game the list of 40 players had to be cut to 20 and I got to say I was very surprised that two or three names were not on the list for the All-Star game. I’m talking mostly about Kresimir Nikic (2.13 cm-Cibona),Tadas Vaiciunas (2.00 cm-Sarunas Marciulionis Academy) and Andrija Marjanovic (2.00 cm-Barcelona). The All-Star game featured game between Team Black and Team Grey. And that game wasn’t your usual All-Star game because there was a lot of intensity (Darko Bajo was smashed in the head while he was driving to the basket and didn’t return after that) and in my opinion it should be like that. Team Grey won 86-62 with Dzanan Musa leading the way with 16 points and 6 assists. After the game it was announced which 10 players will go to Jordan Brand Classic in Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. And here we go. First name announced was Antonio Jordano (1.89 cm-Cedevita)-combo guard with nice shooting ability. He is a bit of surprise here but as I was told during first two days he was working really hard. Then it came Dimitrios Moraitis (1.88 cm-Panionios). This Greek point guard has bright future in front of him. Excellent court vision and feel for the game. Also his defense is very good. Onuralp Bitim (1.96 cm-Anadolu Efes) His shooting is kinda suspicious but court vision, overall feel for the game and attacking the basket skills are very good. Acoydan McCarthy (1.99 cm-Real Madrid) played a little bit passive in a All-Star game but talent wise he is top 5 no doubt about it. He can handle the ball, score, play defense but I would like to see him being more aggressive. After McCarthy Nikola Miskovic (2.03 cm-Mega Leks) was announced. This kid has talent, great frame to build around, incredible shooting skills, feel for the game. Just overall a big prospect down the stretch. One of three guys I was most impressed. After him it was Darko Bajo (2.05 cm-OKK Spars). Bajo is built like a bull, very aggressive, attacks the rim and not afraid of the contact. But his overall basketball skills need a lot of work. Njegos Sikiras (2.02 cm-Stella Azzurra) is a product of famous Stella Azzurra Academy. He is also very strong, can do just about everything on the court, very versatile player. He improved his defense also. Next up is Yves Pons (1.98 cm-INSEP/Asvel) He is a physical specimen. By far the best prospect if you look his phyisical abilities. But thats not all because he has a very good shooting mechanics and good understanding of the game. With practice he can become a very good shooter because the fundamentals are there. German Philip Herkenhoff (2.08 cm-Young Dragons) is incredibly skilled big man. Has inside-outside game, can shoot and pass at high level and his basketball IQ is very good. The last one to travel to Brooklyn on April 14th is for me the most interesting prospect out of this 40 players. Jaylen Hoard (2.02 cm-Castelnau Le Lez) French small forward. France had 4 players at this Jordan Brand Classic Camp (Pons, Mopsus, Briki and Hoard) but Hoard was not as hyped as those three. Hoard is long, has great shooting touch and very good physical abilities. Plays the game with ease and has great frame to build around. Remember his name, kid has NBA written all over him.
For me huge surprise was that Dzanan Musa (2.03 cm-Cedevita) wasn’t selected to travel to Jordan Brand Classic in New York considering his talent and also his performance in All-Star game but he doesn’t need to worry. He can use this as a motivation.
Twitter of the author : @vedranmo
For three days (March 6-8) KK Cedevita training facility was the place where 40 best European prospects born in 1999 were improving their skills. Under the guidance of some of the best Croatian coaches (Drazen Anzulovic, Mladen Starcevic and Andrej Tesla to name a few) everybody but Luka Doncic, Naigel Onuoha,Sandro Mamukelashvili and Souleymane Diakite was in Zagreb, Croatia. And many consider this generation even better than 1995 and 1997.
During first two days, players were divided into 4 teams : Team Jordan, Tarheels, Bulls and Hornets. Each team had 10 players and until the last day they were playing tournament style among themselves. For All-Star game the list of 40 players had to be cut to 20 and I got to say I was very surprised that two or three names were not on the list for the All-Star game. I’m talking mostly about Kresimir Nikic (2.13 cm-Cibona),Tadas Vaiciunas (2.00 cm-Sarunas Marciulionis Academy) and Andrija Marjanovic (2.00 cm-Barcelona). The All-Star game featured game between Team Black and Team Grey. And that game wasn’t your usual All-Star game because there was a lot of intensity (Darko Bajo was smashed in the head while he was driving to the basket and didn’t return after that) and in my opinion it should be like that. Team Grey won 86-62 with Dzanan Musa leading the way with 16 points and 6 assists. After the game it was announced which 10 players will go to Jordan Brand Classic in Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. And here we go. First name announced was Antonio Jordano (1.89 cm-Cedevita)-combo guard with nice shooting ability. He is a bit of surprise here but as I was told during first two days he was working really hard. Then it came Dimitrios Moraitis (1.88 cm-Panionios). This Greek point guard has bright future in front of him. Excellent court vision and feel for the game. Also his defense is very good. Onuralp Bitim (1.96 cm-Anadolu Efes) His shooting is kinda suspicious but court vision, overall feel for the game and attacking the basket skills are very good. Acoydan McCarthy (1.99 cm-Real Madrid) played a little bit passive in a All-Star game but talent wise he is top 5 no doubt about it. He can handle the ball, score, play defense but I would like to see him being more aggressive. After McCarthy Nikola Miskovic (2.03 cm-Mega Leks) was announced. This kid has talent, great frame to build around, incredible shooting skills, feel for the game. Just overall a big prospect down the stretch. One of three guys I was most impressed. After him it was Darko Bajo (2.05 cm-OKK Spars). Bajo is built like a bull, very aggressive, attacks the rim and not afraid of the contact. But his overall basketball skills need a lot of work. Njegos Sikiras (2.02 cm-Stella Azzurra) is a product of famous Stella Azzurra Academy. He is also very strong, can do just about everything on the court, very versatile player. He improved his defense also. Next up is Yves Pons (1.98 cm-INSEP/Asvel) He is a physical specimen. By far the best prospect if you look his phyisical abilities. But thats not all because he has a very good shooting mechanics and good understanding of the game. With practice he can become a very good shooter because the fundamentals are there. German Philip Herkenhoff (2.08 cm-Young Dragons) is incredibly skilled big man. Has inside-outside game, can shoot and pass at high level and his basketball IQ is very good. The last one to travel to Brooklyn on April 14th is for me the most interesting prospect out of this 40 players. Jaylen Hoard (2.02 cm-Castelnau Le Lez) French small forward. France had 4 players at this Jordan Brand Classic Camp (Pons, Mopsus, Briki and Hoard) but Hoard was not as hyped as those three. Hoard is long, has great shooting touch and very good physical abilities. Plays the game with ease and has great frame to build around. Remember his name, kid has NBA written all over him.
For me huge surprise was that Dzanan Musa (2.03 cm-Cedevita) wasn’t selected to travel to Jordan Brand Classic in New York considering his talent and also his performance in All-Star game but he doesn’t need to worry. He can use this as a motivation.
Twitter of the author : @vedranmo
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