Germany has always been an afterthought when determining where the best basketball prospects in Europe a produced, as Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Schröder and even Maik Zirbes and Tibor Pleiß are more so regarded as outliers than the norm. Though the Beko BBL (the German Bundesliga of basketball) wants to turn into the best local championship of Europe by 2020, the German talent has not been regarded as particularly promising over the last few years until the 1998 generation burst on the scene, displaying quite a number of talented young players who have what it takes to make noise the basketball world.
This is a three part series outlining the players who are more or less known on the European basketball landscape in part one, while part two will introduce players who have flown under the radar for some reason or another. Part three will outline the next generation of players who are just now bursting on the German basketball scene.
Chapter Three: The Next Generation
Jonas Mattisseck 6‘3 165 ('00, PG, TuSLi)
Considered as the premier guard in Germany’s 2000 generation, Jonas Mattisseck has been able to excel on every level he has played thus far. Standing at 6’3 he possesses good size for the point guard position paired with a great build. Though Mattisseck will need to add muscle in the future, he is built solid with great core strength. Additionally he exhibits good quickness on especially on the offensive end.
Mattisseck has continually shown improvements in his shooting percentages displaying a smooth shooting stroke and having become more consistent in his movements. Though he merely attempts two shots from three point territory, shooting 38.9% he converts at a very solid rate, especially considering he made 29.2% of his three point shots during the 2014/2015 campaign. Similarly Mattisseck has been able to raise his free throw percentages from 63.8% to 77.6%
At this point his shooting motion is still somewhat slow in catch and shoot situations due to him setting his feet fairly slow. Though this is mainly due to usually taking completely open jump shots to lost and overmatched teams, it may lead to inconsistencies against more adept defenders. Interestingly he has a very good pull up jumper that he is capable of getting off at all times. Showing the ability to create separation through different dribble moves, Mattisseck has made 60% of his midrange shots through this early portion of the season.
As of now the lefty, Mattisseck, has established himself more so as a scoring guard than as a facilitator, although his capability as a distributor cannot be ignored. A very creative player, he first and foremost looks to create his own shot, as he averages a solid 21.4 points while merely playing 25 minutes per game. Playing with the ball in his hands most of the time, Mattisseck has shown a skillful ability to get to the rim fairly easy. Though he is not overly athletic, his creativity paired with his shiftiness and deceptive quickness allows to consistently blow by defenders.
While he is skilled in different areas of his game, Mattisseck’s game lives off of his ability to penetrate at this point of his development. Having good command of the ball, he regularly uses his shiftiness to move his defenders side to side in order to drive past them often by use of a left to right crossover. Mattisseck has shown the ability to get to the hoop fairly easy at this level and finishes close to 63% of his attempts around the basket.
While it is not his first option, he averages a respectable 3.9 assists and shows great instincts as a passer clearly displaying an ability to facilitate when he needs to. Though more so focusing on his scoring option, Mattisseck has shown he throws passes through impossible openings and finds seems at an elite level. Furthermore, Mattisseck is adept at controlling the tempo of the game, as he seems to know at which junctures to adjust the tempo at this young age.
One area on the offensive end he may need to improve on the future are his off the ball skills. Because he has the ball in his hands over such long stretches of the game, he tends to watch passively when he is playing without the ball. While he does keep proper spacing, he often seems to stand still after letting go of the ball. Another aspect in need of improvement is the development of his off hand, as he very seldom uses his weaker right hand on finishes.
Defensively Mattisseck has displayed good lateral quickness; however his footwork can every so often be faulty, as he opens up his stance at times when his opponent attacks. Although he has the makings up becoming a good defender, he doesn’t always draw the toughest defensive assignments. Instead he can seem somewhat nonchalant over stretches of the game. However, this can be due to boredom, as his team consistently annihilates their opponents by an average of 43.6 point difference. Equipped with quick hands and feet, as well as decent length and strength, Mattisseck not only has the makings, but also shown flashes of being a good defender.
Mattisseck is said to have a great work ethic and is a very coachable player who may just be the best player of Germany’s 2000 generation. He has shown the ability to hold his own against top European prospects and routinely dominates his counterparts in Germany. Since it is still very early in his development, it will be interesting to see how he progresses over the next few years.
STATS
Mate Fazekas 6‘9 210 ('00, C, Ulm)
Mate Fazekas is easily spotted when peering into the gym in Neu-Ulm, as he decidedly towers over his opponents and also his teammates. Already at an imposing size at this young age, he also displays great length and a stout build, all advantageous as he navigates closely around the basket. Interestingly, Fazekas is also fairly mobile and possesses great speed, as he effortlessly runs up and down the floor.
Though only 15 out his 117 field goal attempts during the early portion of the season have been jump shots, Fazekas shows great promise as a shooter, as he is equipped with a very fluid shooting motion. While merely 1 of 7 shots taken from three point territory have found its way in the basket, he has converted 6 of 8 shots from the midrange area. Exhibiting good balance and great shooting alignment should bode well for Fazekas in the future, as he gains confidence as a jump shooter. Currently Fazekas also shoots an above average 85.7% from the free throw line.
At this point of his development Fazekas does not know how to use his body as of yet. When he aggressively attempts to hold position on the block it is tough to push him off of his spot. However, he often accepts the position his opponent gives him without actively attempting to duck in or completely hold his defender off. Too often Fazekas uses a fadeaway jump shot upon contact in the post, which he is not proficient at just yet. Also, he often takes it off balance.
As of now the seeming lack of aggressiveness has not made much of a difference due to his superiority in strength and height. Though he has not been overly assertive up to this point, it does seem as though a mean streak does slumber inside of him. Converting on 70.9% of his shots around the rim, Fazekas exhibits a great finishing ability, usually finishing with a right hook. While his movement on drives is mediocre, Fazekas is best at moving without the ball on ball reversals, as he pins his man on the block and manages to finish high and quickly.
Fazekas is also a good passer who is deft at finding cutting teammates even at difficult angles. Averaging a respectable 2.3 assists per contest, as a passer Fazekas is particularly dangerous from the high post position. However, is has not been in that position all that much, but rather finds himself on the receiving end more often than not. He is also great at starting the break through outlet passes, often finding a teammate for a long pass leading to an easy basket.
On the defensive end Fazekas has a huge impact as a rim protector. His length and timing allow him to not only block 2.1 shots per game, but also change a lot more shots. Being he is a good help defender, Fazekas is often in position to make a play on the ball. However, as he is always looking to help, he often puts himself out of position in one-on-one situations. Similarly he often gives up spots on the block easily by simply positioning behind his man. As of now this does not hurt him because he is a very disciplined one-on-one defender in the post, as he uses his length to contest and body strength and control in order to stay between the man and rim. Though, he has fared well thus far, it is vital he attempts denying good post position early to keep his opponents from operating around the rim.
At this point he relies too much on his length and instincts on the defensive end. Similarly he uses his length and great instincts as a rebounder to corral an average of 13.8 rebounds per game. While he doesn’t consistently box out, he attacks the glass hard, pursuing the aggressively. His average of 4.0 offensive boards per game displays his willingness to chase after the ball on the glass.
Fazekas is still somewhat raw on both the offensive and defensive ends, which is scary because he has been able to greatly impact the game on both sides of the floor accounting for an outstanding 19.7 points per game and an average of 13.8 rebounds. Fazekas still has some ways to go in terms of the player he is able to become, but he also has a lot to offer even at this stage of his development.
STATS
Matthew Meredith 6‘5 180 ('00, PG, Nürnberg)
Playing for a program that is in its beginning stages in terms of youth development, Mathew Meredith is clearly the best product Nürnberg has produced thus far. He is equipped with great size for the point guard position and decent length. While he possesses decent speed, Meredith exhibits good quickness, as well as good strength and body control.
Although Meredith’s overall shooting motion looks promising, his shooting numbers have been dismal over the season thus far due to small mistakes in his shot. While he shot a decent 34.2% from three point range over the course of the 2014/2015, his three point shooting numbers plummeted to a mere 18.4% this season. His free throw numbers have been fairly constant hovering around 60%, as he shoots a horrid 58.3% from the charity stripe. The main problem in his shot seems to be tense shoulders and arms, mainly due to poor shooting alignment. Interestingly the rest of his shooting motion looks smooth.
However, his game is predicated on his ability to penetrate to the basket, as he seems to be able to get by his opponents at will. Meredith has shown he is extremely crafty with the ball in his hands, showing a great use of changes of speed, as well as changes of direction, to deceive his defender. All while displaying the ability to get to the rim at will at the JBBL level, he finishes at 53.3% around the rim, though always finishing with his strong right hand. Managing to go to the free throw line at a high rate, as he amasses 6.9 free throw attempts per game, he is also extremely skilled at drawing fouls.
Although Meredith shows flashes of being a good passer, he often seems to look to pass merely when he has to and the situation does not allow for anything else. Interestingly he seems to see the play, however opting not to pass the ball. This is very apparent by his minimal output of 1.9 assists per game, as he does have the ball in his hands a lot in the 28 minutes he plays per game. Important to note is that oftentimes his teammates have not been able to convert when he does distribute the ball.
On the defensive end of the floor Meredith has shown difficulty to stay in from of quick guards in one-on-one situations, as his lateral speed is rather mediocre. Additionally he has poor habits in terms of his defensive footwork, as he often opens up when attacked, prohibiting him of sustaining good position. As a help defender he has been able to display the contrary by consistently being in position to help from the weakside side and make a play on the ball.
Meredith has also shown great anticipation when it comes to rebounding. Averaging a very respectable 7.4 rebounds per game, he consistently boxes out with good technique when suspecting his opponent will go to the board. Pursuing the ball hard he has also been able to grab 2.9 offensive boards per contest, creating a few extra possessions for his team every game. Similarly he hustles hard after loose balls.
Meredith is arguably the second best point guard in the German 2000 generation. Since it is still very early in his development, it is tough to gauge where is potential essentially may be able to land him. Good at creating for himself, Meredith still has work to do in terms of truly playing the point guard position and making an impact on both ends of the floor, though he does have a lot of good assets to build upon.
STATS
Marco Hollersbacher 6‘7 185 ('00, SF, Hagen)
Marco Hollersbacher came into this season well-known on the German basketball landscape due to his excellent performance in last year’s JBBL playoffs. Displaying prototypical size for the small forward position, he is currently used as a tweener on both forward spots. Possessing good strength, length and athleticism, he is quite a load to handle for teams in Germany’s national under 16 league.
Hollersbacher has shown the willingness to take and make clutch shots in tight games, as he saved Hagen in last year’s playoffs of a quarterfinal exit. Up to this point of the season however, he has been extremely inconsistent from behind the three point line. Shooting a mediocre 28.6% from behind the arch, Hollersbacher also struggles from the free throw line shooting a mere 66.7%. As inconsistencies in his shooting motion have led to rather unorthodox mechanics, Hollersbacher has some work to do in order to become more of a threat from the perimeter.
While his shooting ability has not been a constant, Hollersbacher has shown the ability to consistently get to the rim especially upon attacking closeouts. Although his ballhandling is average at this point of his development, he has shown an incredible aptness for straight line drives. However, as he plays both forward positions as of now, he projects as a small forward and therefore his ballhandling ability does need some refining if he wants to become a full time wing player.
Hollersbacher plays with great tenacity, regularly getting to the rim by sheer will. Similarly when he operates on the block he seems to be able to get to his spots whenever he wants. Oftentimes making moves back to his left hand, the right handed Hollersbacher is a better finisher with his left than he is with his right.
Rolling hard on screens he has shown the ability to put himself in scoring position in the teeth of the defense a few different ways. Carving out space on rolls and duck ins, as well as driving hard to the basket from the perimeter and running the floor extremely hard when he sees openings, Hollersbacher gets in the paint over and over again, drawing a lot of fouls, as he shoots 6.7 free throw attempts per game.
On the defensive end Hollersbacher has shown an eagerness to defend the opposing team’s best player, no matter the position. Equipped with great lateral quickness, as well as good strength and length, he has the versatility to defend multiple positions. Hollersbacher excels in one-on-one situations and is equally deft as a weakside defender. Usually in good position to help, he displays good anticipation in terms of help situations. Despite all that he struggles against cuts, often reacting late, as he’s too focused on the ball.
Hollersbacher has also shown great instincts as a rebounder, often ripping the ball out of the air, as he pursues the ball extremely hard. Averaging an impressive 2.4 offensive rebounds, he is an extraordinary offensive rebounder. On the defensive glass he usually doesn’t box out though, relying on his instincts and anticipation as to where the ball will land in order to corral the ball. Going all out, his effort allows him to generally outrebound his counterpart.
Hollersbacher basically lives off of his tenacity and will, regularly outworking his opposition in order to get the upper hand on them. While he still needs a lot of work in terms of his skillset, he seems to have certain intangibles teams are usually looking for. It will be interesting to follow how he will develop over the next few years.
STATS
Bruno Vrcic 6‘5 185 ('00, PG, IBAM)
One of the biggest talents of the rising IBAM program, Bruno Vrcic -at the pic- has been able to make quite an impact on both ends of the floor. Displaying great size for the point guard position and a robust physique, he has been able to virtually dominate his opponents physically, but skill wise as well. While he is not an overly athletic player, Vrcic does move decent laterally.
Vrcic’s jump shot is a construction site at this point. Though he does display a smooth shooting motion, uses a lot of upper body strength to get it to the rim, making the shot less precise in the process. One of the effects is a lack of lift on the shot leading to a low shooting curve. Currently shooting a horrid 14.3% from the three point line, Vrcic also struggles with his body alignment, often missing to the sides. Similarly his free throw percentage is below average at 64.9%. However, his jumper from the midrange is a decent weapon, as he has shot 11 of 27 thus far.
Though his shot is still a major work in progress, Vrcic is good ballhandler and very shifty allowing him to get by his opponents on a consistent basis. As he continually gets to the rim, he also finishes at a high rate, making 69.5% of his shots around the rim. Though he finishes with his right hand exclusively, he has shown an ability to find multiple ways to put the ball in the hoop regardless. One of his more prominent techniques is his right handed floater. Additionally he gets to the line a staggering 7.1 times per game.
Although he operates with the ball in his hands most of the time when he is on the court, Vrcic moves well without the ball, understanding spacing, as well as cutting for scoring chances from time to time. Also Vrcic is a decent passer with the ability to find cutting teammates, as well as finding the open man on drives, however at this point he rather looks to score than to facilitate the ball.
At this point of his development Vrcic is very turnover prone, as he averages 4.3 turnovers per game. Often driving into no-man’s-land, he has the uncanny ability to create something out of nothing. However, driving into heavy traffic also brings him trouble and currently he seems to be at the stage where he is trying to figure out what will work and what does not.
On the defensive end Vrcic is quite impactful due to great anticipation. He plays the passing lanes very well, often in place to get deflections. Even more so he often darts in to the line of the pass to intercept the ball. Averaging an outlandish 5.0 steals per game, Vrcic is often in the right position at the right time. Similarly he is usually in position to help from the weakside, displaying great defensive awareness and moving well with the ball. In one-on-one situations he also looked fairly well thus far, showing decent lateral speed.
Also, he knows how to end a defensive possession, grabbing 9.1 boards per game. This an astounding number for a point guard. Also, going after it on the glass he averages 2.6 offensive boards per game. Showing good boxing out technique and anticipation, Vrcic often starts the break by himself. An interesting feat for a player who is proficient in the open court and is suited for a fast paced game, as he gone coast to coast numerous times in different games.
Vrcic does a lot of things right and seems to not have any glaring weaknesses, apart from his jump shot. While he does turn the ball over at a pretty high rate, he does have the ball in his hands a lot and looks to create whenever he touches it. However, it will be interesting to see how he will be able to further develop his game to be effective on higher levels. Vrcic is quite an interesting prospect that should be monitored further.
STATS
Photo: sueddeutsche.com
This is a three part series outlining the players who are more or less known on the European basketball landscape in part one, while part two will introduce players who have flown under the radar for some reason or another. Part three will outline the next generation of players who are just now bursting on the German basketball scene.
Chapter Three: The Next Generation
Jonas Mattisseck 6‘3 165 ('00, PG, TuSLi)
Considered as the premier guard in Germany’s 2000 generation, Jonas Mattisseck has been able to excel on every level he has played thus far. Standing at 6’3 he possesses good size for the point guard position paired with a great build. Though Mattisseck will need to add muscle in the future, he is built solid with great core strength. Additionally he exhibits good quickness on especially on the offensive end.
Mattisseck has continually shown improvements in his shooting percentages displaying a smooth shooting stroke and having become more consistent in his movements. Though he merely attempts two shots from three point territory, shooting 38.9% he converts at a very solid rate, especially considering he made 29.2% of his three point shots during the 2014/2015 campaign. Similarly Mattisseck has been able to raise his free throw percentages from 63.8% to 77.6%
At this point his shooting motion is still somewhat slow in catch and shoot situations due to him setting his feet fairly slow. Though this is mainly due to usually taking completely open jump shots to lost and overmatched teams, it may lead to inconsistencies against more adept defenders. Interestingly he has a very good pull up jumper that he is capable of getting off at all times. Showing the ability to create separation through different dribble moves, Mattisseck has made 60% of his midrange shots through this early portion of the season.
As of now the lefty, Mattisseck, has established himself more so as a scoring guard than as a facilitator, although his capability as a distributor cannot be ignored. A very creative player, he first and foremost looks to create his own shot, as he averages a solid 21.4 points while merely playing 25 minutes per game. Playing with the ball in his hands most of the time, Mattisseck has shown a skillful ability to get to the rim fairly easy. Though he is not overly athletic, his creativity paired with his shiftiness and deceptive quickness allows to consistently blow by defenders.
While he is skilled in different areas of his game, Mattisseck’s game lives off of his ability to penetrate at this point of his development. Having good command of the ball, he regularly uses his shiftiness to move his defenders side to side in order to drive past them often by use of a left to right crossover. Mattisseck has shown the ability to get to the hoop fairly easy at this level and finishes close to 63% of his attempts around the basket.
While it is not his first option, he averages a respectable 3.9 assists and shows great instincts as a passer clearly displaying an ability to facilitate when he needs to. Though more so focusing on his scoring option, Mattisseck has shown he throws passes through impossible openings and finds seems at an elite level. Furthermore, Mattisseck is adept at controlling the tempo of the game, as he seems to know at which junctures to adjust the tempo at this young age.
One area on the offensive end he may need to improve on the future are his off the ball skills. Because he has the ball in his hands over such long stretches of the game, he tends to watch passively when he is playing without the ball. While he does keep proper spacing, he often seems to stand still after letting go of the ball. Another aspect in need of improvement is the development of his off hand, as he very seldom uses his weaker right hand on finishes.
Defensively Mattisseck has displayed good lateral quickness; however his footwork can every so often be faulty, as he opens up his stance at times when his opponent attacks. Although he has the makings up becoming a good defender, he doesn’t always draw the toughest defensive assignments. Instead he can seem somewhat nonchalant over stretches of the game. However, this can be due to boredom, as his team consistently annihilates their opponents by an average of 43.6 point difference. Equipped with quick hands and feet, as well as decent length and strength, Mattisseck not only has the makings, but also shown flashes of being a good defender.
Mattisseck is said to have a great work ethic and is a very coachable player who may just be the best player of Germany’s 2000 generation. He has shown the ability to hold his own against top European prospects and routinely dominates his counterparts in Germany. Since it is still very early in his development, it will be interesting to see how he progresses over the next few years.
STATS
Mate Fazekas 6‘9 210 ('00, C, Ulm)
Mate Fazekas is easily spotted when peering into the gym in Neu-Ulm, as he decidedly towers over his opponents and also his teammates. Already at an imposing size at this young age, he also displays great length and a stout build, all advantageous as he navigates closely around the basket. Interestingly, Fazekas is also fairly mobile and possesses great speed, as he effortlessly runs up and down the floor.
Though only 15 out his 117 field goal attempts during the early portion of the season have been jump shots, Fazekas shows great promise as a shooter, as he is equipped with a very fluid shooting motion. While merely 1 of 7 shots taken from three point territory have found its way in the basket, he has converted 6 of 8 shots from the midrange area. Exhibiting good balance and great shooting alignment should bode well for Fazekas in the future, as he gains confidence as a jump shooter. Currently Fazekas also shoots an above average 85.7% from the free throw line.
At this point of his development Fazekas does not know how to use his body as of yet. When he aggressively attempts to hold position on the block it is tough to push him off of his spot. However, he often accepts the position his opponent gives him without actively attempting to duck in or completely hold his defender off. Too often Fazekas uses a fadeaway jump shot upon contact in the post, which he is not proficient at just yet. Also, he often takes it off balance.
As of now the seeming lack of aggressiveness has not made much of a difference due to his superiority in strength and height. Though he has not been overly assertive up to this point, it does seem as though a mean streak does slumber inside of him. Converting on 70.9% of his shots around the rim, Fazekas exhibits a great finishing ability, usually finishing with a right hook. While his movement on drives is mediocre, Fazekas is best at moving without the ball on ball reversals, as he pins his man on the block and manages to finish high and quickly.
Fazekas is also a good passer who is deft at finding cutting teammates even at difficult angles. Averaging a respectable 2.3 assists per contest, as a passer Fazekas is particularly dangerous from the high post position. However, is has not been in that position all that much, but rather finds himself on the receiving end more often than not. He is also great at starting the break through outlet passes, often finding a teammate for a long pass leading to an easy basket.
On the defensive end Fazekas has a huge impact as a rim protector. His length and timing allow him to not only block 2.1 shots per game, but also change a lot more shots. Being he is a good help defender, Fazekas is often in position to make a play on the ball. However, as he is always looking to help, he often puts himself out of position in one-on-one situations. Similarly he often gives up spots on the block easily by simply positioning behind his man. As of now this does not hurt him because he is a very disciplined one-on-one defender in the post, as he uses his length to contest and body strength and control in order to stay between the man and rim. Though, he has fared well thus far, it is vital he attempts denying good post position early to keep his opponents from operating around the rim.
At this point he relies too much on his length and instincts on the defensive end. Similarly he uses his length and great instincts as a rebounder to corral an average of 13.8 rebounds per game. While he doesn’t consistently box out, he attacks the glass hard, pursuing the aggressively. His average of 4.0 offensive boards per game displays his willingness to chase after the ball on the glass.
Fazekas is still somewhat raw on both the offensive and defensive ends, which is scary because he has been able to greatly impact the game on both sides of the floor accounting for an outstanding 19.7 points per game and an average of 13.8 rebounds. Fazekas still has some ways to go in terms of the player he is able to become, but he also has a lot to offer even at this stage of his development.
STATS
Matthew Meredith 6‘5 180 ('00, PG, Nürnberg)
Playing for a program that is in its beginning stages in terms of youth development, Mathew Meredith is clearly the best product Nürnberg has produced thus far. He is equipped with great size for the point guard position and decent length. While he possesses decent speed, Meredith exhibits good quickness, as well as good strength and body control.
Although Meredith’s overall shooting motion looks promising, his shooting numbers have been dismal over the season thus far due to small mistakes in his shot. While he shot a decent 34.2% from three point range over the course of the 2014/2015, his three point shooting numbers plummeted to a mere 18.4% this season. His free throw numbers have been fairly constant hovering around 60%, as he shoots a horrid 58.3% from the charity stripe. The main problem in his shot seems to be tense shoulders and arms, mainly due to poor shooting alignment. Interestingly the rest of his shooting motion looks smooth.
However, his game is predicated on his ability to penetrate to the basket, as he seems to be able to get by his opponents at will. Meredith has shown he is extremely crafty with the ball in his hands, showing a great use of changes of speed, as well as changes of direction, to deceive his defender. All while displaying the ability to get to the rim at will at the JBBL level, he finishes at 53.3% around the rim, though always finishing with his strong right hand. Managing to go to the free throw line at a high rate, as he amasses 6.9 free throw attempts per game, he is also extremely skilled at drawing fouls.
Although Meredith shows flashes of being a good passer, he often seems to look to pass merely when he has to and the situation does not allow for anything else. Interestingly he seems to see the play, however opting not to pass the ball. This is very apparent by his minimal output of 1.9 assists per game, as he does have the ball in his hands a lot in the 28 minutes he plays per game. Important to note is that oftentimes his teammates have not been able to convert when he does distribute the ball.
On the defensive end of the floor Meredith has shown difficulty to stay in from of quick guards in one-on-one situations, as his lateral speed is rather mediocre. Additionally he has poor habits in terms of his defensive footwork, as he often opens up when attacked, prohibiting him of sustaining good position. As a help defender he has been able to display the contrary by consistently being in position to help from the weakside side and make a play on the ball.
Meredith has also shown great anticipation when it comes to rebounding. Averaging a very respectable 7.4 rebounds per game, he consistently boxes out with good technique when suspecting his opponent will go to the board. Pursuing the ball hard he has also been able to grab 2.9 offensive boards per contest, creating a few extra possessions for his team every game. Similarly he hustles hard after loose balls.
Meredith is arguably the second best point guard in the German 2000 generation. Since it is still very early in his development, it is tough to gauge where is potential essentially may be able to land him. Good at creating for himself, Meredith still has work to do in terms of truly playing the point guard position and making an impact on both ends of the floor, though he does have a lot of good assets to build upon.
STATS
Marco Hollersbacher 6‘7 185 ('00, SF, Hagen)
Marco Hollersbacher came into this season well-known on the German basketball landscape due to his excellent performance in last year’s JBBL playoffs. Displaying prototypical size for the small forward position, he is currently used as a tweener on both forward spots. Possessing good strength, length and athleticism, he is quite a load to handle for teams in Germany’s national under 16 league.
Hollersbacher has shown the willingness to take and make clutch shots in tight games, as he saved Hagen in last year’s playoffs of a quarterfinal exit. Up to this point of the season however, he has been extremely inconsistent from behind the three point line. Shooting a mediocre 28.6% from behind the arch, Hollersbacher also struggles from the free throw line shooting a mere 66.7%. As inconsistencies in his shooting motion have led to rather unorthodox mechanics, Hollersbacher has some work to do in order to become more of a threat from the perimeter.
While his shooting ability has not been a constant, Hollersbacher has shown the ability to consistently get to the rim especially upon attacking closeouts. Although his ballhandling is average at this point of his development, he has shown an incredible aptness for straight line drives. However, as he plays both forward positions as of now, he projects as a small forward and therefore his ballhandling ability does need some refining if he wants to become a full time wing player.
Hollersbacher plays with great tenacity, regularly getting to the rim by sheer will. Similarly when he operates on the block he seems to be able to get to his spots whenever he wants. Oftentimes making moves back to his left hand, the right handed Hollersbacher is a better finisher with his left than he is with his right.
Rolling hard on screens he has shown the ability to put himself in scoring position in the teeth of the defense a few different ways. Carving out space on rolls and duck ins, as well as driving hard to the basket from the perimeter and running the floor extremely hard when he sees openings, Hollersbacher gets in the paint over and over again, drawing a lot of fouls, as he shoots 6.7 free throw attempts per game.
On the defensive end Hollersbacher has shown an eagerness to defend the opposing team’s best player, no matter the position. Equipped with great lateral quickness, as well as good strength and length, he has the versatility to defend multiple positions. Hollersbacher excels in one-on-one situations and is equally deft as a weakside defender. Usually in good position to help, he displays good anticipation in terms of help situations. Despite all that he struggles against cuts, often reacting late, as he’s too focused on the ball.
Hollersbacher has also shown great instincts as a rebounder, often ripping the ball out of the air, as he pursues the ball extremely hard. Averaging an impressive 2.4 offensive rebounds, he is an extraordinary offensive rebounder. On the defensive glass he usually doesn’t box out though, relying on his instincts and anticipation as to where the ball will land in order to corral the ball. Going all out, his effort allows him to generally outrebound his counterpart.
Hollersbacher basically lives off of his tenacity and will, regularly outworking his opposition in order to get the upper hand on them. While he still needs a lot of work in terms of his skillset, he seems to have certain intangibles teams are usually looking for. It will be interesting to follow how he will develop over the next few years.
STATS
Bruno Vrcic 6‘5 185 ('00, PG, IBAM)
One of the biggest talents of the rising IBAM program, Bruno Vrcic -at the pic- has been able to make quite an impact on both ends of the floor. Displaying great size for the point guard position and a robust physique, he has been able to virtually dominate his opponents physically, but skill wise as well. While he is not an overly athletic player, Vrcic does move decent laterally.
Vrcic’s jump shot is a construction site at this point. Though he does display a smooth shooting motion, uses a lot of upper body strength to get it to the rim, making the shot less precise in the process. One of the effects is a lack of lift on the shot leading to a low shooting curve. Currently shooting a horrid 14.3% from the three point line, Vrcic also struggles with his body alignment, often missing to the sides. Similarly his free throw percentage is below average at 64.9%. However, his jumper from the midrange is a decent weapon, as he has shot 11 of 27 thus far.
Though his shot is still a major work in progress, Vrcic is good ballhandler and very shifty allowing him to get by his opponents on a consistent basis. As he continually gets to the rim, he also finishes at a high rate, making 69.5% of his shots around the rim. Though he finishes with his right hand exclusively, he has shown an ability to find multiple ways to put the ball in the hoop regardless. One of his more prominent techniques is his right handed floater. Additionally he gets to the line a staggering 7.1 times per game.
Although he operates with the ball in his hands most of the time when he is on the court, Vrcic moves well without the ball, understanding spacing, as well as cutting for scoring chances from time to time. Also Vrcic is a decent passer with the ability to find cutting teammates, as well as finding the open man on drives, however at this point he rather looks to score than to facilitate the ball.
At this point of his development Vrcic is very turnover prone, as he averages 4.3 turnovers per game. Often driving into no-man’s-land, he has the uncanny ability to create something out of nothing. However, driving into heavy traffic also brings him trouble and currently he seems to be at the stage where he is trying to figure out what will work and what does not.
On the defensive end Vrcic is quite impactful due to great anticipation. He plays the passing lanes very well, often in place to get deflections. Even more so he often darts in to the line of the pass to intercept the ball. Averaging an outlandish 5.0 steals per game, Vrcic is often in the right position at the right time. Similarly he is usually in position to help from the weakside, displaying great defensive awareness and moving well with the ball. In one-on-one situations he also looked fairly well thus far, showing decent lateral speed.
Also, he knows how to end a defensive possession, grabbing 9.1 boards per game. This an astounding number for a point guard. Also, going after it on the glass he averages 2.6 offensive boards per game. Showing good boxing out technique and anticipation, Vrcic often starts the break by himself. An interesting feat for a player who is proficient in the open court and is suited for a fast paced game, as he gone coast to coast numerous times in different games.
Vrcic does a lot of things right and seems to not have any glaring weaknesses, apart from his jump shot. While he does turn the ball over at a pretty high rate, he does have the ball in his hands a lot and looks to create whenever he touches it. However, it will be interesting to see how he will be able to further develop his game to be effective on higher levels. Vrcic is quite an interesting prospect that should be monitored further.
STATS
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