ANGT Belgrade 2021-22 Field: Zvezda, ASVEL, Lietkabelis, Mega, Partizan, Tofas, Valencia - Players to Watch
Here the field for the ANGT Belgrade 2021-22: Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, Lietkabelis Panevezys, Mega Belgrade, Partizan Belgrade, Tofas Bursa, Valencia Basket. Players to Watch
The fields are set for the 2021-22 Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament qualifiers. The eight teams for the ANGT Belgrade from February 25-27, 2022: Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, Lietkabelis Panevezys, Mega Mozzart Belgrade, Partizan NIS Belgrade, Tofas Bursa and Valencia Basket. The eighth team will be a Next Generation Team selected at a later date by Adidas staff. And as an added bonus, here are some players to watch from all teams. Please note, these are NOT official roster lists - solely projections by TTC.
Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade
The hosts have not won the ANGT Belgrade since the 2017-18 campaign, losing the first place game in 2018-19 and 2020-21 and crashing to sixth place in 2019-20. Zvezda hope to return to the top with the help of two of the top prospects from Serbia’s 2005 generation - which is a year younger than the rest of the competition. Lazar Gagic should be one of the leaders of this Zvezda team with the help of Nikola Topic. A couple of other players to watch will be Luka Vudragovic, Ognjen Matovic, Marko Sarenac and Pavle Misic.
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
ASVEL promise to be one of the most exciting teams in the competition - once again. As always, the French will have some excellent players from multiple generations. The 2004 group will be topped by Kymany Houinsou, Noah Manet, Romain Parmentelot and Israeli Noam Yaacov. The 2005-born generation actually is probably more enticing with the likes of Zaccharie Risacher, Killian Malwaya, Francois Wibaut and Felix De Almeida. Risacher, Malwaya and Wibaut all helped France win their FIBA U16 European Challenger this past summer to qualify for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup next summer.
Lietkabelis Panevezys
Lietkabelis will be making their ANGT debut and it is unclear who will be playing for the team. A couple of the leading players on the Panevezys U19 team in Lithuania are Vilhelmas Tallat Kelpsa, Niklas Stuknys and Matas Mickeliunas.
Mega Belgrade
Mega have won the Belgrade event two of the last three seasons and should challenge to make it three of four. Nikola Djurisic should be an absolute monster, having dominated the competition already last season. But he will have help as Aleksa Milenkovic is ready to be his sidekick like Djurisic was the Robin to Nikola Jovic’s Batman last season. There is also 2005-born Andrej Musicki. Don’t forget Nikola Djapa, Sergej Jeremic and 2005-born Asim Djulovic.
Partizan NIS Belgrade
Partizan had the misfortune of winning the ANGT Belgrade in 2019-20 and qualifying for the ANGT Finals for the first time and then having the big event ultimately cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Partizan hope to fight for a return to the top of Belgrade and one of the leaders in the team’s effort will be 2005-born Ognjen Stankovic. Bogdan Zagradjanin will be one of his biggest helps along with Turkish Efe Tahmaz. Others to watch include Marko Krstic, Momir Tonic and 2005-born Viktor Mikic.
Tofas Bursa
Tofas will feature two players who could easily make the All-Tournament Team in Ege Demir and Berke Buyuktuncel. The former is playing exclusively in the Turkish second division and dominating, collecting a 20-20 double-double against Orman. Buyuktuncel meanwhile has been playing with Tofas’ pro side as well. But Tofas will be more than just those two. Baran Yurdusen will be a major help as will Abdullah Aksoy and the 2005-born duo of Can Cevikel and Evren Demirci. All six of those players as well Sener Basar were on the ANGT team last season. So, don’t be surprised if Tofas challenge in Belgrade.
Valencia Basket
Valencia have hosted ANGT events the last couple of years and earned a spot thanks to some solid talents. Lucas Mari, David Barbera, Sergio de Larrea and Pablo Navarro were all included in Spain’s extended roster for the FIBA U16 European Challenger last summer before the country pulled out of the event due to Covid-19. All four have also earned regular minutes in the LEB Silver third division.
If you enjoyed this content or any other posts on the Taking The Charge substack, please subscribe by clicking the button below. You can also become a paid subscriber and get access to the weekly Taking The Charge Prospects podcast and the archived Talking Talents podcasts.
Do you know someone else who would like this post? Please share it.