By Pietro Cristofori
The college basketball season started a couple of weeks ago now, and many internationals continue to showcase their talent on a daily basis throughout the nation.
Today we are gonna focus on three European talents, with different backgrounds and ages, that are starting to create some buzz around their high-end performances.
Mario Saint-Supery - 04/14/2006 (19.6), Freshman, 6’4”, Guard, Spain, Gonzaga
Season’s average: 9.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.0 APG, 48.4 FG%, 63.6 3PT%, 2.4 STL
After playing consistently over the Summer with Spain men’s national team, Mario Saint-Supery brought his size and toughness to Gonzaga, where he joined Spanish assistant coach Jorge Sanz.
Saint-Supery had a solid start to the season, gaining minutes in the team’s rotations, being able to impact the game on both ends of the floor from the bench, being used as an energy changer. The start of the season for the Zags featured wins against Creighton and Oklahoma, both games ending by wide margin, and the Spanish guard impacted both games thanks to his athleticism and ability to control the tempo on the offensive end.
Despite lacking elite handles, Saint-Supery plays the primary handler position with confidence and strong attitude. He’s always under control and poised. He’s shooting with good percentages from behind the arc in spot-up situations, and over the course of the years, he has considerably improved that aspect of his game. On the defensive end, he’s one of the most consistent players thanks to his mix of length and athleticism. Solid on-ball defender, he knows how to use his body to initiate contact, and his presence is always felt.
Since the start of the season, his stock has risen, and his ability to adapt to a new environment so quickly makes him even more appealing.
David Mirkovic - 01/06/2006 (19.9), Freshman, 6’9”, Power Forward, Montenegro, Illinois
Season’s average: 16.8 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 2.6 APG, 46.0 FG%, 32.0 3PT%, 1.0 STL
Mirkovic is one of the five new Balkan players on Brad Underwood’s roster, and he has been the most consistent one until now. The 6’9” Montenegrin has clinched the starting PF spot for the Fighting Illini, and he’s delivering strong performances.
Despite struggling in the second half of Wednesday's game against Alabama, Mirkovic has had a strong impact in the game, finishing with a 10-point and 10-rebound double-double. Mirkovic was able to translate to college basketball his high IQ and skilled game. He plays at one pace, and his game is linear: his athleticism and explosiveness are below average for high-major standards, but he makes up for that thanks to his unique way of playing the game. He’s mature and poised and uses his body to create space and angles to score at the rim. To start the season, he’s shooting with a remarkable 46-32-85 split. Smart floor-stretching big: consistent shooter from pick&pop and spot-up situations, and he can find teammates thanks to his vision in multiple situations.
At the moment, Mirkovic might be the most irreplaceable player on the Illinois roster. He gives big confidence and maturity to the team, and he’s a well-balanced player in a top-10 team in the country.
Thijs De Ridder - 01/31/2003 (22.8), Freshman, 6’8”, Power Forward, Belgium, Virginia
Season’s average: 19.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.6 APG, 55.6 FG%, 41.7 3PT%, 0.4 BPG
Virginia has one of the most physically imposing frontcourts in the nation thanks to the presence of Thijs De Ridder and Johann Gruenloh. The 6’8” Belgian PF came to Charlottesville after playing pro in Europe for five seasons, and he’s bringing high-level experience and maturity for the competition.
His strong and bulky body allows him to potentially play both the 4 and the 5 positions in college basketball, but Coach Odom has mainly used him in his natural spot, which is the 4. He plays both face-up and back to the basket, being versatile and efficient on the offensive end.
He’s stretching the floor at a high level, resulting in one of the best shooting bigs in the nation. He crashes the boards, and he plays at a high rhythm and pace. He has a tough and strong playstyle, he embraces contact, and he uses his body to create the right angles to attack and score.
De Ridder will be a crucial piece for Virginia University’s hopes to go back to the NCAA tournament after not entering it last season.
The college basketball season started a couple of weeks ago now, and many internationals continue to showcase their talent on a daily basis throughout the nation.
Today we are gonna focus on three European talents, with different backgrounds and ages, that are starting to create some buzz around their high-end performances.
Mario Saint-Supery - 04/14/2006 (19.6), Freshman, 6’4”, Guard, Spain, Gonzaga
Season’s average: 9.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.0 APG, 48.4 FG%, 63.6 3PT%, 2.4 STL
After playing consistently over the Summer with Spain men’s national team, Mario Saint-Supery brought his size and toughness to Gonzaga, where he joined Spanish assistant coach Jorge Sanz.
Saint-Supery had a solid start to the season, gaining minutes in the team’s rotations, being able to impact the game on both ends of the floor from the bench, being used as an energy changer. The start of the season for the Zags featured wins against Creighton and Oklahoma, both games ending by wide margin, and the Spanish guard impacted both games thanks to his athleticism and ability to control the tempo on the offensive end.
Despite lacking elite handles, Saint-Supery plays the primary handler position with confidence and strong attitude. He’s always under control and poised. He’s shooting with good percentages from behind the arc in spot-up situations, and over the course of the years, he has considerably improved that aspect of his game. On the defensive end, he’s one of the most consistent players thanks to his mix of length and athleticism. Solid on-ball defender, he knows how to use his body to initiate contact, and his presence is always felt.
Since the start of the season, his stock has risen, and his ability to adapt to a new environment so quickly makes him even more appealing.
David Mirkovic - 01/06/2006 (19.9), Freshman, 6’9”, Power Forward, Montenegro, Illinois
Season’s average: 16.8 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 2.6 APG, 46.0 FG%, 32.0 3PT%, 1.0 STL
Mirkovic is one of the five new Balkan players on Brad Underwood’s roster, and he has been the most consistent one until now. The 6’9” Montenegrin has clinched the starting PF spot for the Fighting Illini, and he’s delivering strong performances.
Despite struggling in the second half of Wednesday's game against Alabama, Mirkovic has had a strong impact in the game, finishing with a 10-point and 10-rebound double-double. Mirkovic was able to translate to college basketball his high IQ and skilled game. He plays at one pace, and his game is linear: his athleticism and explosiveness are below average for high-major standards, but he makes up for that thanks to his unique way of playing the game. He’s mature and poised and uses his body to create space and angles to score at the rim. To start the season, he’s shooting with a remarkable 46-32-85 split. Smart floor-stretching big: consistent shooter from pick&pop and spot-up situations, and he can find teammates thanks to his vision in multiple situations.
At the moment, Mirkovic might be the most irreplaceable player on the Illinois roster. He gives big confidence and maturity to the team, and he’s a well-balanced player in a top-10 team in the country.
Thijs De Ridder - 01/31/2003 (22.8), Freshman, 6’8”, Power Forward, Belgium, Virginia
Season’s average: 19.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.6 APG, 55.6 FG%, 41.7 3PT%, 0.4 BPG
Virginia has one of the most physically imposing frontcourts in the nation thanks to the presence of Thijs De Ridder and Johann Gruenloh. The 6’8” Belgian PF came to Charlottesville after playing pro in Europe for five seasons, and he’s bringing high-level experience and maturity for the competition.
His strong and bulky body allows him to potentially play both the 4 and the 5 positions in college basketball, but Coach Odom has mainly used him in his natural spot, which is the 4. He plays both face-up and back to the basket, being versatile and efficient on the offensive end.
He’s stretching the floor at a high level, resulting in one of the best shooting bigs in the nation. He crashes the boards, and he plays at a high rhythm and pace. He has a tough and strong playstyle, he embraces contact, and he uses his body to create the right angles to attack and score.
De Ridder will be a crucial piece for Virginia University’s hopes to go back to the NCAA tournament after not entering it last season.
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