By Pietro Cristofori

From January 29th to 31st, in Fuengirola, Spain, the “Avance Global Cup” went underway, and ten teams from eight different countries took part in the event.

It was another very useful event to test how European teams compare to high school and extra-EU competition. Some prospects who will most likely play at the NBA and HM level in the near future showcased their talent on “The Sanctuary” floor over the week.

 

Bellavista Prep won the Final Game against Rytas Vilnius 93-87 in a intense and close game, that saw the Lithuanian team lead for some parts of the game.

 

In this article we will go through some of the best players who played in the tournament.

 

 

The prospect with arguably the best athleticism in the entire event, Osaruyi was impactful on both ends of the floor thanks to his mix of size and athleticism. Standing at 6’8” with a positive wingspan, he covers plenty of ground, and it allows him to bring to the table many valuable traits. His frame is vertical, with legit shoulder width to add muscle. NBA-level explosiveness and overall physical tools. Osaruyi mainly operates around the basket where, thanks to his verticality, he finishes powerfully at the rim, being a valuable lob threat. Active under the boards. Legit rim-runner. His decision-making and reads have to improve: he’s currently not able to manage situations off the dribble, and he’s mainly a straight-line slasher. He lacks a reliable perimeter dimension at the moment to fully translate at the 4 spot, but his motor and coordination allow him to project in that role one day. Inconsistent spot-up shooter with a high shooting release, he lacks efficiency and fluidity off the dribble. He’s not consistent taking shots from outside the paint overall, but his touch looks decent. On defense he can switch from 1 to 5 at this level of competition.

 

 

Karvala stood out as the best shooter in the competition, bringing to the table a high-end mix of size, athleticism, and skillset. His body is not very developed yet: not filled in and quite lanky overall, but his motor and intensity make up for that. He plays at a high pace and he’s tough. He’s not afraid of taking responsibility, and during the event he stepped up on various occasions. On offense he’s an exceptional shooter both off the move and from spot-up situations. Quick overall execution and shooting release: it’s difficult for opponents to guard him in dynamic situations. He lacks elite handles, but he’s fluid enough to be a straight-line slasher and also have a mid-range dimension from the pull-up game. He’s active on the defensive end, and he puts pressure on the ball, leading to various fast breaks. His defensive game translates as a wing and forward defender at the next level.

 

 

Standing at 6’6” with a lanky but lengthy frame, Diop has made a consistent leap over the last season in terms of confidence and adaptation to the next level. His ability to withstand high physicality despite lacking strength is remarkable, as he makes up for that with versatility and skillset. His control on the offensive end has improved: he showed flashes as a handler in pick-and-roll situations, where he was involved as a secondary handler and could create opportunities for his teammates. Given his size, he brings to the table advanced fluidity and mobility for his position. He’s a fluid spot-up shooter, and the ball comes out fluidly from his hands: his shooting execution is quick enough to translate at the next level. Not consistent yet from an efficiency perspective, but he will improve. On the defensive end he navigates screens and brings a legit perimeter defender dimension on guards and wings. Quick feet allow him to be a versatile defender and a shot blocker with margin for improvement. The main concern about his game is his body archetype, which is lanky and narrow. He will most likely have to act at the 2/3 spot in order to have a projection at a high level, and he looks to have the fluidity and skillset to get there.

 

 

The 7’2” big man was one of the youngest players in the event, being 2010-born. He was able to compete against legit physical competition, and despite his frame not being as mature as others in the event, he made up for that with his size and skill. Legit wingspan, and he has room to fill in his body with muscle over time. His athleticism is fair, and he has the motor potential to be consistently active in the paint. Good sense of position near the basket, which allows him to finish in the paint. His strength is still coming along, and he’s far away from his ceiling as a rim protector. He has good instincts in the paint to block shots and grab rebounds. He needs to work on his consistency and toughness overall, but at times he was able to shift the momentum. He showed effort in running the floor and being a dynamic threat on the perimeter. On the defensive end, he shows instincts to step out on the perimeter and contest shots, already guaranteeing advanced mobility and versatility for a player of his size.

 

 

Guard with one of the best combinations of size and athleticism at his position in the competition. Krizanauskas' body is ready to compete at a solid college level right away thanks to his toughness and strong frame. Over the last season, he has been transitioning to the point guard spot full-time, developing more as a facilitator rather than just an athletic and versatile guard. His shot is still inconsistent, hovering around the 25–30% range from three-point territory. He is more comfortable attacking the rim and finishing at the basket thanks to his explosiveness. On the defensive end, he brings good attitude and versatility at the guard spot. Thanks to his strong lower body, he can match the energy and physicality of bigger guards. Overall, Krizanauskas is a functional player who brings many valuable traits to the table and can be considered a reliable complement to a more offensively oriented guard, adding balance and versatility.