By Pietro Cristofori
From January 3rd to January 5th, the Baltic Sea Basketball Cup was held in Estonia. This tournament serves as the main reference for some Baltic and Scandinavian national teams before they begin their preparation for the European Championships in the summer.
From January 3rd to January 5th, the Baltic Sea Basketball Cup was held in Estonia. This tournament serves as the main reference for some Baltic and Scandinavian national teams before they begin their preparation for the European Championships in the summer.
The level of talent at the tournament is always high, and this time it did not disappoint, showcasing some players who are likely to remain in the European basketball scene for a long time.
In this article, our Editor-in-Chief, Pietro Cristofori, highlights four players who stood out at the U16 event, one from each team.
Nyuol Machol - 2011, 6’5”, Wing, Finland
Lanky and undeveloped, standing at 6’5”, Machol has long arms and a body that oozes potential. He shows good feet and quickness given his size, which allows him to project as a future 3. His shoulders look quite narrow, and his body overall is thin, but he has margin to add muscle and kilos over time. Throughout the event, he struggled to keep up with the physicality of the competition due to his lack of strength at this stage.
He can already shoot at a good level, and his touch looks legit: a high point of release and good momentum in his execution. He shows flashes of fluid handles on some occasions, playing as a confident handler, but he still lacks body control due to a body that is constantly growing. Above-average defensive versatility: he can cover a lot of ground with his strides, and he projects as a solid point-of-attack defender. His lateral quickness and basketball IQ give him guard-defender upside.
His mix of physical potential and skill set reminds me of a younger Dame Sarr.
Kaur Otto Taldrik - 2010, 6’7”, Power Forward, Estonia
The 6’7” Taldrik stepped up for Estonia during the event, showing an intriguing mix of physical tools and skill set. Taldrik possesses legit athleticism, with solid upper-body strength that allows him to play through contact. His body is already mature, but also ready to fill out more: his shoulders are wide, and he will be able to add more kilos.
He’s a reliable spot-up shooter, which allows him to be a versatile threat at the PF spot. Over time, he will be able to take on some all-around forward duties as well, thanks to his mobility and motor, while expanding his offensive game. He already puts the ball on the floor, showing a fair ability to slash to the rim.
At the end of the event, he was nominated as the best player on the Estonian team, as he brought to the table his experience matured at the last U16 European Championship and in Milan.
Markuss Jahovics - 2010, 6’6”, Forward, Latvia
Jahovics was one of the most productive players at the event, leading the Latvian NT after being included last summer in the U16 team that took part in the U16 European Championship. His body is still developing and not yet mature: he brings to the table a good mix of strength and mobility.
Despite the fact that the 6’6” forward is known for his ability to knock down shots from deep, on this team he was not used as a simple spot-up shooter, but was given handler duties, being used as a primary option for his team. Jahovics doesn’t look ready to embrace this type of role yet, due to a lack of pure handles and confidence in that aspect.
However, he’s a solid shooter in various situations, and he can function as a reliable role player at the 3. Good feet and verticality allow him to be versatile on the perimeter and play the wing position in many sets.
He's the true leader on this Latvia team that projects to be a highly projected team in the upcoming U16 Euro Championships.
He's the true leader on this Latvia team that projects to be a highly projected team in the upcoming U16 Euro Championships.
Leon Bosnic - 2011, 6’1”, Point Guard, Sweden
Smart and pesky point guard, playing one year under age, Leon Bosnic emerged as one of the main leaders for Sweden. A 6’1” PG who last summer moved to Mega Belgrade, Bosnic has very good hands and touch, and he’s a three-level scorer with solid handles.
He’s just 14 years old, and his body has to fill out and get stronger, both in the upper and lower parts. He acted as a primary handler for most of the event, and he was productive in that role, already showing a good presence on the floor. His game follows the flow of the action.
A solid three-point shooter, he excels in pull-up situations where he can gain momentum and rhythm.
A solid three-point shooter, he excels in pull-up situations where he can gain momentum and rhythm.
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