After three years of drought the U18 International Tournament of Ciudad de Tenerife went back. The Spanish island served as the last test for some teams that will play in the next month the Adidas Next Generation Tournament qualifiers, the most important U18 tournament in Europe for clubs.
F.C. Barcelona was crowned champion after beat CSKA Moscow in the big final. Let’s make a recap of all the teams that played in Tenerife past weekend.
F.C. Barcelona
With Rodions Kurucs (’98) out until February due meniscus injury, Barcelona is developing a high pace style in their game with Eric Vila (’98) as a main reference. Spanish forward is showing this season his development as a top prospect. His athleticism is growing and he is becoming solid at small forward position. Vila is versatile getting advantage at both forward positions. Vila averaged 13 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.8 blocks per game. But the player that is a game-changer in this team is Atoumane Diagne (’98). The 7-footer was the most dominant player of the tournament. Practically unstoppable under the basket Diagne showed his great athleticism and his strength under the basket. He suffered a small injury during the final but should not be a major problem for Senegalese. Diagne averaged 10.5 points, 8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 2.2 blocks per contest. The other player that excelled for the champion team was Sergi Martinez (’99). Despite Martinez was used as a center sometimes with U16 Spanish national team last summer, he is working as a forward with Catalan team. Martinez is in great form, playing fearless and attacking the basket every time he touches the ball. He led his team in scoring with 15.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
CSKA Moscow
Russians finished as a runner up of the tournament, winning thrilling games against Heidelberg and Unicaja Malaga in semifinals at overtime. The most intriguing player of CSKA is with no doubts Andrei Lopatin (’98). After his spectacular growth last season, when he added two inches to his size (actually 6’10), Lopatin is adjusting his body to his game in a great way. Lopatin also mixes both forward positions even center position showing great versatility during the weekend. He averaged 8.5 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.8 steals per game. The team’s leading scorer was Mikhail Andrianov (’98). Andrianov averaged 14.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1 assist per game. He is a 6’5 small forward with good defensive attitude that can score in different ways but does not stand out in any particular. Andrianov possesses a strong body and has solid offensive skills but he has limited upside. Another interesting player is Alexander Khomenko (’99). The 6’2 combo guard enjoyed some minutes from the bench and averaged 10.5 points, 3 rebounds per game and interesting 50% from three point line. Khomenko has good athleticism and his upper body is really strong for a guard and he uses it to drive hard to the basket. He has poor court vision and he is more a scorer than a facilitator.
Canarias Basketball Academy
The Spanish academy finished third after good wins over Stella Azzurra and Unicaja Malaga. With a game based on intensity and tough defense the most interesting prospect on the floor was Li Shengze (’99). The Chinese big man was a presence in the paint and the main offensive reference of the team. Despite too much missed free throw, only 54% from the line, Shengze was the scoring leader of CBA with 11 points per game. He added 8.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks to his stats. The Mexican Diego Willis (’99) is the floor general of the team and the only player of CBA with high scoring talent. Willis showed his improvement as a playmaker and averaged 9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 2 steals and 44% from the arc. Another interesting player that was under the radar a few time ago is 6’8 forward Joshua Tomaic (’98). Class of 2016 player has a prime body frame, solid skills and high ceiling. Tomaic averaged 9.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1 steal in three contests.
Unicaja Malaga
Usually a great team, Unicaja did not leave a great impression during the tournament. With the same recipe as always, full court press and high level of defensive activity, Unicaja’s team has less talented players than other years. Their most interesting guy is Ivan Raut (’98), a 6’7 swingman from Montenegro. Raut did not show a steady game, alternating bad games with good performances. He averaged 12 points and 2.2 rebounds per game and solid percentage from the arc, 42.8%, even though he did not take a lot of shots. Traditionally Unicaja has his intriguing inside player from Senegal, this season is Ablaye Sow (’99). Sow is a 6’11 raw player with great athleticism and big room to develop his body. With decent skills and court vision Sow has more offensive than defensive tools. He averaged 5.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and struggled with foul trouble. Franco Acosta (’98) did not play his best games at the tournament, struggling with 4.2 turnovers per game and poor free throw percentage. The 6’7 wing showed his physical strength and his brave attitude that makes him an interesting slasher. Acosta averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds during the tournament.
Stella Azzurra Basketball Academy Rome
The Italian academy fell short in their first game against CBA but competed well during the weekend. With Njegos Sikiras (’99) making his comeback in the tournament after his knee injury and not showing all his potential was Lazar Nikolic (’99) and Scott Ulaneo (’98) who starred in their role. Sikiras started the weekend with low pace improving his performances day by day. He averaged 8 points and 3.7 rebounds. Nikolic made a step up and showed his great potential. The Serbian has unlimited talent and can play in all backcourt positions. The 6’8 guard averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game but still struggled a bit from long range with 28% from the arc. Ulaneo is a 6’9 forward with wiry body and good fundamentals. A lefty shooter, Ulaneo showed solid moves under the basket to finish it. The Italian, class of 2016, averaged 12.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
USK Future Stars Prague
Czechs did not show a big potential as a team but they have interesting players like Jakub Tuma (’98) and Jan Zidek (’99). Tuma is a 6’4 point guard with good skills and length for his position. As all the team, Tuma struggled with turnovers averaging 4.2 per game. He showed good shooting mechanics and nice court vision but the USK Future Stars lacked in talent. Tuma averaged 14.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals and a poor 22% from the arc due the big amount of shots that he took it. Zidek is a forward with good body frame still to develop. He averaged 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and a solid 37.5% from the arc.
Heidelberg Elite Sports
The team of the neighboring island Gran Canaria mixed good games with others where they had problems to compete. Their best player was Justin Tene (’98), a 6’8 inside man with huge strength and little upside that was injured during the third game of the tournament. Tene averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds per game.
Unelco Tenerife
Local team tried to compete every game but they could not avoid the last place. With three players from Senegal in their team the most interesting was Omar Kebe (’00). The lanky kid showed good instincts and a body to develop. His athleticism is good but he has butterfingers. Kebe averaged 10.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.7 blocks.
F.C. Barcelona was crowned champion after beat CSKA Moscow in the big final. Let’s make a recap of all the teams that played in Tenerife past weekend.
F.C. Barcelona
With Rodions Kurucs (’98) out until February due meniscus injury, Barcelona is developing a high pace style in their game with Eric Vila (’98) as a main reference. Spanish forward is showing this season his development as a top prospect. His athleticism is growing and he is becoming solid at small forward position. Vila is versatile getting advantage at both forward positions. Vila averaged 13 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.8 blocks per game. But the player that is a game-changer in this team is Atoumane Diagne (’98). The 7-footer was the most dominant player of the tournament. Practically unstoppable under the basket Diagne showed his great athleticism and his strength under the basket. He suffered a small injury during the final but should not be a major problem for Senegalese. Diagne averaged 10.5 points, 8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 2.2 blocks per contest. The other player that excelled for the champion team was Sergi Martinez (’99). Despite Martinez was used as a center sometimes with U16 Spanish national team last summer, he is working as a forward with Catalan team. Martinez is in great form, playing fearless and attacking the basket every time he touches the ball. He led his team in scoring with 15.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
CSKA Moscow
Russians finished as a runner up of the tournament, winning thrilling games against Heidelberg and Unicaja Malaga in semifinals at overtime. The most intriguing player of CSKA is with no doubts Andrei Lopatin (’98). After his spectacular growth last season, when he added two inches to his size (actually 6’10), Lopatin is adjusting his body to his game in a great way. Lopatin also mixes both forward positions even center position showing great versatility during the weekend. He averaged 8.5 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.8 steals per game. The team’s leading scorer was Mikhail Andrianov (’98). Andrianov averaged 14.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1 assist per game. He is a 6’5 small forward with good defensive attitude that can score in different ways but does not stand out in any particular. Andrianov possesses a strong body and has solid offensive skills but he has limited upside. Another interesting player is Alexander Khomenko (’99). The 6’2 combo guard enjoyed some minutes from the bench and averaged 10.5 points, 3 rebounds per game and interesting 50% from three point line. Khomenko has good athleticism and his upper body is really strong for a guard and he uses it to drive hard to the basket. He has poor court vision and he is more a scorer than a facilitator.
Canarias Basketball Academy
The Spanish academy finished third after good wins over Stella Azzurra and Unicaja Malaga. With a game based on intensity and tough defense the most interesting prospect on the floor was Li Shengze (’99). The Chinese big man was a presence in the paint and the main offensive reference of the team. Despite too much missed free throw, only 54% from the line, Shengze was the scoring leader of CBA with 11 points per game. He added 8.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks to his stats. The Mexican Diego Willis (’99) is the floor general of the team and the only player of CBA with high scoring talent. Willis showed his improvement as a playmaker and averaged 9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 2 steals and 44% from the arc. Another interesting player that was under the radar a few time ago is 6’8 forward Joshua Tomaic (’98). Class of 2016 player has a prime body frame, solid skills and high ceiling. Tomaic averaged 9.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1 steal in three contests.
Unicaja Malaga
Usually a great team, Unicaja did not leave a great impression during the tournament. With the same recipe as always, full court press and high level of defensive activity, Unicaja’s team has less talented players than other years. Their most interesting guy is Ivan Raut (’98), a 6’7 swingman from Montenegro. Raut did not show a steady game, alternating bad games with good performances. He averaged 12 points and 2.2 rebounds per game and solid percentage from the arc, 42.8%, even though he did not take a lot of shots. Traditionally Unicaja has his intriguing inside player from Senegal, this season is Ablaye Sow (’99). Sow is a 6’11 raw player with great athleticism and big room to develop his body. With decent skills and court vision Sow has more offensive than defensive tools. He averaged 5.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and struggled with foul trouble. Franco Acosta (’98) did not play his best games at the tournament, struggling with 4.2 turnovers per game and poor free throw percentage. The 6’7 wing showed his physical strength and his brave attitude that makes him an interesting slasher. Acosta averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds during the tournament.
Stella Azzurra Basketball Academy Rome
The Italian academy fell short in their first game against CBA but competed well during the weekend. With Njegos Sikiras (’99) making his comeback in the tournament after his knee injury and not showing all his potential was Lazar Nikolic (’99) and Scott Ulaneo (’98) who starred in their role. Sikiras started the weekend with low pace improving his performances day by day. He averaged 8 points and 3.7 rebounds. Nikolic made a step up and showed his great potential. The Serbian has unlimited talent and can play in all backcourt positions. The 6’8 guard averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game but still struggled a bit from long range with 28% from the arc. Ulaneo is a 6’9 forward with wiry body and good fundamentals. A lefty shooter, Ulaneo showed solid moves under the basket to finish it. The Italian, class of 2016, averaged 12.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
USK Future Stars Prague
Czechs did not show a big potential as a team but they have interesting players like Jakub Tuma (’98) and Jan Zidek (’99). Tuma is a 6’4 point guard with good skills and length for his position. As all the team, Tuma struggled with turnovers averaging 4.2 per game. He showed good shooting mechanics and nice court vision but the USK Future Stars lacked in talent. Tuma averaged 14.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals and a poor 22% from the arc due the big amount of shots that he took it. Zidek is a forward with good body frame still to develop. He averaged 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and a solid 37.5% from the arc.
Heidelberg Elite Sports
The team of the neighboring island Gran Canaria mixed good games with others where they had problems to compete. Their best player was Justin Tene (’98), a 6’8 inside man with huge strength and little upside that was injured during the third game of the tournament. Tene averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds per game.
Unelco Tenerife
Local team tried to compete every game but they could not avoid the last place. With three players from Senegal in their team the most interesting was Omar Kebe (’00). The lanky kid showed good instincts and a body to develop. His athleticism is good but he has butterfingers. Kebe averaged 10.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.7 blocks.
ADVERTISING
