The last qualifier of the season of the ANGT circuit took place in Belgrade where Mega earned a position in the Final-8 in Cologne after beating Crvena Zvezda in the final. Our Assistant Director of Scouting, Luka Drca, breaks down the event.
Who was the best player?
Mega Soccerbet had the two biggest talents, the most gifted players of the 2003 and 2004 generation in Serbia on Nikola Jovic (‘03) and Nikola Djurisic ('04). Jovic really shined-shone with his great body frame and a great neck for scoring. He is a versatile player that can score in multiple ways; able to grab a defensive rebound and drive coast to coast. Also, he uses both hands equally well, has a solid shot that could be improved behind the 3-point line, plays above the rim and can finish through contact. Nikola Djurisic had his back the whole tournament. Would have loved if Fedor Zugic (‘03) didn’t get hurt since he is a one-man show, the most athletic kid of the tournament, and a scoring machine. But in absence of Zugic, Jovic took over the tournament in all aspects of the game.
Who was the most surprising player?
I will go with Eray Buyukcangaz (’04) from Buducnost and Dragos Lungu (‘04) from U-BT Cluj. It's difficult to separate those two players since both of them are very gifted players with great bodies and with room for improvement. Both of them can play the PG spot successfully, have a great feeling for the game, and can score in many different ways: driving both ways, moreover, shooting pretty well from behind the three-point line and also able to guard 1-3 with ease.
Who was the top U16 player?
It is hard to point out any U16 player since they weren’t getting so many chances during the tournament. However, the kid worth mentioning and following is Lazar Gacic (‘05) from Crvena Zvezda. Gacic is a talented, long and mobile big with soft hands standing at 6’11. He moves really well and plays the game in the right way. Uses both hands around the rim, is a good passer but needs to improve body strength which is something that will come with maturing. Another kid worth mentioning is Nikola Topic (‘05) from Crvena Zvezda who is a 6'5 point guard with a good feeling for the game.
Jovic (MVP), Djurisic, Saranovic, Jovanovic and Ivisic. What’s your take on the All-Tournament Team?
The All-Tournament team call was right on point since it was a pretty straightforward decision. If Fedor Zugic didn’t get hurt in the first game, it would have been interesting to find out who would have felt out if anybody.
Definitely, Jovic deserved to be MVP of the tournament since he put the whole Mega Team on his back and led them to the championship. In addition to Jovic, his teammate Djurisic was substantial support in winning the tournament. Nikola Saranovic ('03) was the most constant player on Crvena Zvezda on both ends of the floor and his spot in the All-Tournament team was well deserved. Djordije Jovanovic ('03) was the best player on the Partizan NIS team by far since Nikola Radovanovic (‘03) performed poorly playing only one game. His athleticism and scoring ability distinguish him from the rest. Moreover, he led not so great Partizan NIS team to winning third place.
The Center spot in the all-tournament team was reserved for Tomislav Ivisic (‘03) who was averaging a double-double and took over the leading figure on the Buducnost after Zugic got hurt. He never took a break and was playing 39 minutes per game. His competitor for the spot was Iaroslav Niagu ('03) who wasn’t as constant as Ivisic was during the tournament.
Who was the best player?
Mega Soccerbet had the two biggest talents, the most gifted players of the 2003 and 2004 generation in Serbia on Nikola Jovic (‘03) and Nikola Djurisic ('04). Jovic really shined-shone with his great body frame and a great neck for scoring. He is a versatile player that can score in multiple ways; able to grab a defensive rebound and drive coast to coast. Also, he uses both hands equally well, has a solid shot that could be improved behind the 3-point line, plays above the rim and can finish through contact. Nikola Djurisic had his back the whole tournament. Would have loved if Fedor Zugic (‘03) didn’t get hurt since he is a one-man show, the most athletic kid of the tournament, and a scoring machine. But in absence of Zugic, Jovic took over the tournament in all aspects of the game.
Who was the most surprising player?
I will go with Eray Buyukcangaz (’04) from Buducnost and Dragos Lungu (‘04) from U-BT Cluj. It's difficult to separate those two players since both of them are very gifted players with great bodies and with room for improvement. Both of them can play the PG spot successfully, have a great feeling for the game, and can score in many different ways: driving both ways, moreover, shooting pretty well from behind the three-point line and also able to guard 1-3 with ease.
Who was the top U16 player?
It is hard to point out any U16 player since they weren’t getting so many chances during the tournament. However, the kid worth mentioning and following is Lazar Gacic (‘05) from Crvena Zvezda. Gacic is a talented, long and mobile big with soft hands standing at 6’11. He moves really well and plays the game in the right way. Uses both hands around the rim, is a good passer but needs to improve body strength which is something that will come with maturing. Another kid worth mentioning is Nikola Topic (‘05) from Crvena Zvezda who is a 6'5 point guard with a good feeling for the game.
Jovic (MVP), Djurisic, Saranovic, Jovanovic and Ivisic. What’s your take on the All-Tournament Team?
The All-Tournament team call was right on point since it was a pretty straightforward decision. If Fedor Zugic didn’t get hurt in the first game, it would have been interesting to find out who would have felt out if anybody.
Definitely, Jovic deserved to be MVP of the tournament since he put the whole Mega Team on his back and led them to the championship. In addition to Jovic, his teammate Djurisic was substantial support in winning the tournament. Nikola Saranovic ('03) was the most constant player on Crvena Zvezda on both ends of the floor and his spot in the All-Tournament team was well deserved. Djordije Jovanovic ('03) was the best player on the Partizan NIS team by far since Nikola Radovanovic (‘03) performed poorly playing only one game. His athleticism and scoring ability distinguish him from the rest. Moreover, he led not so great Partizan NIS team to winning third place.
The Center spot in the all-tournament team was reserved for Tomislav Ivisic (‘03) who was averaging a double-double and took over the leading figure on the Buducnost after Zugic got hurt. He never took a break and was playing 39 minutes per game. His competitor for the spot was Iaroslav Niagu ('03) who wasn’t as constant as Ivisic was during the tournament.
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