Prospect Highlight: ANGT Dubai preview
This week we take a deep dive into the eight teams at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament Dubai, the third stop of the 2023-24 ANGT calendar and the first tournament in the UAE city.
This week we take a deep dive into the eight teams playing at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament Dubai, the third stop of the 2023-24 ANGT calendar which tips off on Friday March 22 in the United Arab Emirates city.
Aris Midea Thessaloniki
Aris is a traditional power in Greek basketball, having won 10 league titles as well as 8 Greek Cups - though the last ones date back to 1991 and 2004, respectively. The club won the FIBA Saporta Cup in 1993 and the Korac Cup in 1997 and played in threee straight EuroLeague Final Fours - 1988, 1989 and 1990. The club in Thessaloniki over the years has produced many great players including Sasha Vezenkov, Kostas Papanikolaou, Linos Chrysikopoulos, Lefteris Bochoridis and Dimitris Flionis. The youth team is playing in the Greek fourth division National League 2 under the name Navarchos Votsis.
Andreas Kesapidis’ Greek side will definitely not be a big team. Filippos Tsachtsiras is the biggest player at 2.05m while Petros Paterakis (new this season from AOK Chania) is 2.03m, 2007-born Laokratis Vasilakis (who arrived in the summer from DEKA) stands 2.00m and 2008-born Chrysostomos Chatzilamprou is a 2.00m guard.
Filippos Tsachtsiras will be making his ANGT debut, just like the Aris club. The power forward averaged 10.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.7 steals at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022, where Greece reached the Semi-Finals. Tsachtsiras is playing this season with Navarchos Votsis in the Greek fourth division and also has played in the Greek U18 league, averaging 14.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals. The big man understands the game well and has a good post-up game and also can shoot from the outside. He is a tenacious rebounder despite lacking elite athleticism. One of his weaknesses is his dribbling skill which if improved would make him an even greater threat when playing with his face to the basket.
Epameinondas Epameinondas is a 1.92m guard who also played in the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022 and helped Greece reach the Semi-Finals with 1.1 points and 1.1 assists. He joined the team this off-season from YMCA.
Vasileios Kazamias is a 2007-born guard who has already debuted for the club in the EuroCup, playing 2 mintues against Slask Wroclaw. The 1.97 meter guard , who also has played in two Greek GBL league games, played at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023. averaged 5.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals.
The 2007-born generation also includes 1.87m guard Nikolaos Fotiadis (an arrival in the summer from Machites Pefkon); 1.97m guard Vasileios Pourlidas, who starred at the U18 level last season with Zafeirakis Naousas; 1.91m Charalampos Kotsapouikidis (new this season from Makedonikos), 1.98m guard Marios Giannikos, 1.94m forward Thomas Kasianos and 1.90m forward Antonios Biskas.
The team also has some 2008-born players in their ranks, topped by 2.00m guard Chrysostomos Chatzilamprou - actually one of the club’s most promising young talents. Other 2008-born players on the preliminary roster were 1.94 meter guard Christos Venetidis and 1.98 meter guard Pavlos Petalotis.
Dubai Falcons Basketball Academy
Aris may be making their ANGT debut but the club is an institution in European basketball. Dubai Falcons Basketball Academy is a complete unknown in world basketball. The team is coached by Greek playcaller Petros Krasopoulos with Balkan coaches Aleksandar Puletic and Milos Mededovic as assistants.
There will be a very Balkan feeling to the team, which actually played in the U19 ABA Adriatic League for three games this season. There are four Serbian players and one from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The leader will be Aleksa Vlajic, who is making his second appearance in the ANGT after he played 2:50 minutes over two games for Crvena Zvezda Belgrade at last season’s ANGT Belgrade, picking up 2 rebounds. The 2.07 meter Serbian center also has played with Mega Belgrade and is competing this season with Dynamic Belgrade, having already made his Serbian first division debut. In the Serbian U19 league, Vlajic is averaging 12.9 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists for Dynamic. For Dubai in the U19 ABA Adriatic League, Vlajic tallied 20.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in three games. He is a modern big man who can play both power forward and center while playing the low post or with his face to the basket.
The 1.93m guard Marko Tofoski has played this season for Serbian side Radnicki in the U19 league as well as the second division 2MLS. The 2007-born Serbian Lazar Stojkovic, a 2.09m power forward, also is playing this season for Radnicki.
Kosta Zaklanovic is a Serbian 1.85m guard and the 2.01m forward Emel Hamzic is from Bosnia and Herzegovina and played last season for Tuzla in the A1 Liga second division.
The team is very international with two Greek players: 2007-born 1.83m guard Emmanouil Manolopoulos and 1.91m guard Chantzis Konstantinos.
There are plenty of other interesting stories as well. Egor Ryabov is a 2.05m center from Russia born in 2008; Anthony Rodriguez is a 2.09m center from Cuba; the 2008-born Nicolas Lindsay is a 1.96m forward from Canada; and the team has 2007-born 1.96m Netherlands forward Michael Kremers.
There is also Muzammil Dariwala (1.82m) from India, 2007-born Pontus Adam Linder (1.90m) from Sweden, Nassim Houari (1.89m) from Belgium, 2007-born forward Hamza Thabet (1.88m) from United Kingdom and 2007-born Lebanese guard (1.80m) Ray Kablawi.
LDLC ASVEL Villerbanne
ASVEL every season is one of the most exciting teams in the competition and this year it will be no different. The French side is competing in the competition for the 10th time and seventh in a row. Last season ASVEL lost to Joventut Badalona in the ANGT Patras first place game. They then did not get a wild card for the ANGT Finals.
Yohann Sissoko will be one of the leaders of the team again. At last year’s ANGT Patras, the 1.92 guard had 12.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists, earning him a spot on the All-Tournament Team. In this year’s U21 league, Sissoko is picking up 13.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists - though he is shooting 21 percent on three-pointers. He is great at getting to the free throw line as he attempted 10+ free throws five times this season, including hitting 15-of-17 as he scored 25 points with 8 rebounds and 6 assists against Nanterre in mid-October. In two games in the U18 league, Sissoko is averaging 19.0 points.
Roy Krupnikas joined ASVEL this off-season after coming up in the Rostock Seawolves systm in Germany. The 1.86m point guard played for Rasta Vechta at the ANGT Patras last season and picked up 19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals. In this season’s U21 league, Krupnikas is averaging 5.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists, highlighted by scoring 21 points against Strasbourg in late October. And he is scoring 6.4 points in the U18 league. Krupnikas has played a major role for Germany at the youth national team level. He helped Germany win the title at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022, Division B with 5.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.9 steals and then picked up 2.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists for Germany in taking third place at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2023 - the country’s first ever podium in the event’s history.
There will once again be Wembanyama sighting as 2007-born Oscar Wembanyama - the younger brother of Victor Wembanyama - will be back. He picked up 2.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals at the ANGT Patras last season. Wembanyama has only played in two U21 games with a combined 6 points and 3 rebounds in 21 minutes. He is averaging 6.8 points in the U18 league.
The 2007-born Adam Atamna collected 8.0 points and 3.2 rebounds at the ANGT Patras last season. He has dominated the U21 league this season with 13.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.1 steals. He is hitting 26 percent on three-pointers but he has long range shooting games of 7-12, 4-10, 4-9 and 6-9. But he also has missed at least 4 three-pointers 15 times. He has picked up 12.5 points per game in two U18 league contests. Atamna contributed 6.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023, where France took third place.
Killyan Toure will be a major force with his athleticism as the 1.88m guard picked up 6.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.3 steals last season at the ANGT Patras - his second ANGT competition. He helped France take third place at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022 with 6.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists. In the U21 league Toure is averaging 10.2 points, 3.3 rebbounds and 3.0 assists and he is scoring 17.5 points in the U18 league.
Theo Guedegbe is an athletic 2007-born 1.91m guard who will be playing his second ANGT after 1.0 points and 1.2 rebounds at the ANGT Patras. Last summer, he tallied 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals in helping France take third place at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023. In this season’s U21 league, Guedegbe is picking up 3.2 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists, including a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in mid-February. And he is scoring 12.6 points in the U18 league.
The 2007-born Philibert Loussavouvou contributed 1.3 points and 1.7 rebounds at the ANGT Patras last year. The 1.92m forward is averaging 3.9 points and 1.5 rebounds in the U21 league this year and 9.8 points in the U18 league. Also making the trip to Dubai is the 2008-born Appolinaire Loussavouvou - a 1.98m guard who is averaging 3.0 points in the U18 league.
One of the leaders in the front court will be 2.07m big man Anton Mendy, who had 5.0 points and 3.5 rebounds at the ANGT Patras last year. In the U21 league, he is averaging 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds and he is tallying 9.7 points in the U18 league.
The 2.02m center Thomas Andrieux will also be back as he had 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds at the ANGT Patras. He is contributing 1.1 points and 1.8 rebounds in the U21 league and averaging 17.4 points in the U18 league.
Joel Kamta is a 2008-born center who stands 2.06m and is averaging 11.3 points in the U18 league. Marvyn Wade is a 2008-born point guard who is tallying 12.0 points per game in the U18 league.
ratiopharm ulm
ratiopharm ulm will have one of the top talents in the entire ANGT season in Noa Essengue. But the club continues to do great work in developing talent - and that with players from across the continent. The German club has played in the last six ANGTs, finishing a best third place in 2020-21 Valencia. Last season, Ulm ended the ANGT Munich in sixth place with a 1-3 record.
Ulm’s main man will be Noa Essengue, who will be playing his third ANGT season after he averaged 13.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals at the ANGT Belgrade for PFYM Paris. The 2.05 meter forward moved to Germany in the off-season to joins ratiopharm Ulm. Before that he helped France reach the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2023 with 10.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.1 steals. In nine German league games with the professional first team, Essengue is averaging 3.0 points and 0.4 rebounds in 4.4 minutes. And he has picked up 2.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in 6.3 minutes in seven BKT EuroCup contests. He has been playing predominantly with Ulm’s team in the third division and dominating with 19.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.9 blocks. Essengue twice has scored 30 or more points and has four games with 13 or more rebounds. Essengue is capable of defending multiple positions because of his length and athleticism which makes him extremely versatile on the defensive end. Offensively he has developed his shot and ball handling since his arrival in August as a ball handling forward. He still needs to improve his three-point shot as well as passing off the dribble.
Joel Cwik was one of Ulm’s best players last season at the ANGT Munich with 13.0 points to go with 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists. This season the 1.94m guard is playing with three different teams, averaging 7.4 points in the ProB; picking up 20.1 points and 2.7 assists in the fourth division Regionalliga; and contributing 12.3 points and 2.3 assists in the U19 NBBL. The Polish guard shined at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2023 with 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.7 steals.
Oliver Kullamae is a 2007-born 1.83m guard who is the son of former Estonia international Gert Kullamae and younger brother to 25-year-old Kristian Kullamae. Oliver picked up 3.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists at the ANGT Munich last season. He is excelling in the U19 NBBL with 11.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.7 steals. Kullamae, who also plays in the Regionalliga, averaged 12.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023, Division B. This is his second season in Ulm after coming to Germany from Audentese in Estonia.
The 1.85m point guard Jordan Müller has been splitting time between the NBBL team - averaging 8.0 points, 1.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals - and the ProB third division - contributing 4.9 points and 1.4 assists. He helped Germany to the title in the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022, Division B to get the country back to Division A at the cadet level. At the ANGT Munich last season Müller averaged 6.0 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
Jervis Scheffs, a 2007-born 1.90m guard, averaged 4.8 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists at the ANGT Munich last year. He is getting playing time with the Regionalliga team - 13.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists - and ProB - 5.4 points - and played two NBBL games. Scheffs collected 7.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists to help Germany take fifth place at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023 and qualify for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024.
The 1.88m guard Luca Sarnowska meanwhile is dominating in the NBBL with 22.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.8 steals - including blasting Kirchheim for 32 points - and he has collected 8.3 points in the Regionalliga.
The only nominal center is intereting 2007-born Netherlands big man Endurance Aiyamenkhue. The 2.09m big man is dominating the NBBL with 12.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.5 blocks - including a game with 21 points and 19 rebounds - while chipping in 2.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 18 minutes in the ProB. He tallied 3.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023, Division B for Netherlands.
The 1.98m forward Barna Buglyo is playing with the Regionalliga and NBBL, putting up 9.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 steals in the U19 league. The Hungarian picked up 11.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.1 blocks at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022, Division B.
The power forward Jonas Zilinskas is playing with all three teams - ProB, Regionalliga and NBBL - putting up the best numbers in the U19 league with 10.5 points and 8.2 rebounds. Last year he picked up 6.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in the ANGT Munich. He was also part of the Germany team that won the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022, Division B to get the country back to Division A.
The 2007-born Niko Jerkic had 3.0 points and 1.5 rebounds last season at the ANGT Munich. This season the Croatian is dominating in the NBBL with 20.0 points per game to go with 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists. The 1.97m forward is also playing in the fourth division. Jerkic helped Croatia win the title at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023, Division B with 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists to get Croatia back to Division A.
Another 2007-born talent is Milo Murray, who is actually British and came up with the Richmond Knights. The 1.95m forward combined for 8 points and 4 rebounds in 35 minutes over four games at the ANGT Munich last season. This season, Murry is averaging 12.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in the NBBL and also getting playing time in the Regionalliga.
Zoran Milicic comes from a basketball family as his father Igor Milicic has been the Polish national team coach since 2021. His brother Igor Milicic Jr played at Ulm from 2018 to 2021 before heading to the United States and is currently playing collegiately at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Zoran’s younger brother Teo Milicic - born in 2008 - is also in the Ulm youth ranks. Zoran - a 1.83m point guard - is averaging 9.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.6 steals in the NBBL and 7.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in the Regionalliga.
Guillaume Schoentgen is a 2.03m forward who has a Belgian passport but never lived there. He moved from Brazil to Regensburg in southern Germany in 2018 and through IBAM Munich landed in February 2022 at Ulm. Schoentgen is averaging 8.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in the NBBL and 6.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in the Regionalliga.
Other players listed on Ulm’s preliminary roster were Felix Stoll, the 2007-born son of club managing partner Thomas Stoll; the 1.92m forward Kjell Baumann, and 1.84m guard Felix Bolkart.
Valencia Basket
Valencia Basket will be playing in the ANGT for the eighth time and the third straight season. The Spanish club won the ANGT Valencia in 2018-19 and had 2-2 records in taking fifth place the last two seasons at the ANGT Belgrade.
One of the leaders of the team will be 2.03m Jorge Carot, who will be playing at his third ANGT event after picking up 4.5 points and 2.0 rebounds at the ANGT Belgrade last year. Carot is splitting his time with two teams for his second straight season. He is picking up 5.8 points and 3.5 rebounds for Godella in the third division LEB Silver, including games with 12 and 13 points in back-to-back games in early November. And he has 8.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in the EBA, highlighted by a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds against Vila-Real in early February. Carot was a major part of the Spain team that finished second at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022 with 9.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks.
One of the most exciting players will be 2007-born guard Sergi Kemu, who is averaging 10.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals. The 1.91m shooting guard has had two double-doubles including 26 points and 10 rebounds against Puerto Sagunto. Kemu, who also has a Nigerian background, also helped Spain win the title at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023 with 4.9 points and 1.0 assists.
Teaming up with Kemu in winning the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023 is 2007-born guard is Didac Cebolla, who contributed 2.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.2 steals. The 1.88m guard is averaging 5.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals in the EBA.
The 1.90m guard Daniel Salvador averaged 6.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals at the ANGT Belgrade last season. Salvador is averaging 6.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals in the EBA including one game with 5 three-pointers and 22 points.
Salvador Gallego, a 1.95m forward, chipped in 1.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals at the ANGT Belgrade last year. In this year’s EBA, the Valencia native Gallego is averaging 10.6 points and 3.6 rebounds.
Gerard Villarejo, who stands 2.00m, scored 2.8 points per game at last year’s ANGT Belgrade, his second ANGT competition after getting 1 point and 1 assist in 4 minuters at the ANGT Patras in 2021-22 with Barcelona. Villarejo started the 2022-23 season with Barcelona and moved to Valencia in February. In this year’s EBA, Villarejo is averaging 4.9 points and 3.1 rebounds.
Another player of note is Polish 2.07m center Szymon Borowski, who contributed 2.0 points at the ANGT Belgrade and has averaged 1.3 points and 1.5 rebounds in the EBA. This is Borowski’s second season at Valencia after playing with Gortat BS Lodz in 2020-21 and Olimpic Hopes in 2021-22.
The 2007-born Nicolas Gomez averaged 4.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in two games at the ANGT Belgrade last year. The 2.04m center is averaging 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in the EBA, including four games with 10+ points. Gomez chipped in 1.0 points and 2.5 rebounds as Spain took second at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022.
Valencia also feature an exciting Brazilian in Pedro Souza, who was born in December 2008. Pedrinho, who also has played under the name Figueiredo, played at Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas and Clube de Regatas do Flamengo before joining Valencia.
Pau Torrens is a 2007-born (December 24) 1.87m shooting guard is pouring in 10.3 points to go with 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in the EBA. And the team also has 2.05m Serbian forward Nikola Dzepina, and Marc Grau, a 1.92m guard from the 2008-born generation.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna
Virtus Segafredo Bologna has been with the EuroLeague since 2021 and this season the Italians are returning to the ANGT. It’s the first time they are playing in the U18 continental event since 2018-19 when they lost to Valencia Basket in the ANGT Valencia first place game. The leader of that Virtus team was Gabriele Procida. This is Virtus’ eighth ANGT appearance. The club is focused on developing youngsters from the Bologna and Emilia Romagna area.
Virtus will be led by two 2007-born Matteos - Matteo Baiocchi and Matteo Accorsi, who have been playing in Virtus’ youth teams since they were kids.
Matteo Baiocchi will be playing in the ANGT for the first time. The Bologna native is a 1.96 meter combo guard. He missed out on the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023 with an injury but participated in every camp for the Italian 2007-born players. Baiocchi averaged 13 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in the U19 Italian LBA Next Gen Tournament while also collecting 16.1 points in the Italian U17 championship and 12.3 points in the domestic U19 championship. Baiocchi is a talented and physical player, who is versatile and can cover different positions. He does need to improve on his pull-up jumper and his post-up game.
Matteo Accorsi scored 10.9 points to go with 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists as Italy finished second at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023. The 1.89 guard is also a Bologna native and is an excellent offensive player with a great three-point shot but he has to improve defense and playmaking. Accorsi averaged 11.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists in the U19 Italian LBA Next Gen Tournament as well as 14.1 points in the U17 national championship and 9.5 points at the U19 level.
The 2007-born center Riccardo Dalla Cia is a 2.03m big man who has played this season in the third division B Nazionale with Rucker San Vendemiano. And 2007-born Matteo Lenci (2.02m) is listed as playing with Lucca in the Serie B Interregionale fourth division.
The forwards group of Giacomo Donati (1.95m), Stefano Maurizzi (2007-born, 1.95m) and Federico Soli (1.88m) will also be important role players as well 1.87m guard Matteo Boggian. The team also has 2007-born Riccardo Vandini (1.87m), Matta Guidotti (1.88m), Lorenzo Baruffaldi (1.84m) and Edoardo Berlati (1.88m)
Zalgiris Kaunas
Zalgiris Kaunas used to be a major force in the ANGT, winning the title in 2003 and 2007 and finishing runners-up in 2005, 2006 and 2011. The Lithuanian side has participated in the ANGT competition every season since its inception in 2002. The last time Zalgiris won a qualifying tournament came at the ANGT Kaunas in 2018-19. Zalgiris lost to U18 Real Madrid in the ANGT Munich first-place game last season and then went 1-2 at the ANGT Finals.
Nedas Raupelis will be competing in his second ANGT season after he averaged 2.0 points and 1.8 rebounds at the ANGT Munich. At the ANGT Finals, the 2.05 meter center stepped up his game and had 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. Raupelis helped Lithuania take the title at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022 with 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. This season he is averaging 3.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in the Lithuanian second division, including a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds on March 11. Raupelis is a mobile big guy who is a great shot blocker and pick-and-roll player.
Dovydas Buika, a 2007-born 1.95m forward, played well at the ANGT Munich (9.3 points, 3.3 rebound and 2.8 assists) and picked up 9.7 points and 5.0 rebounds at the ANGT Finals. He played a solid role in Lithuania winning the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022 with 7.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals and then had 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists in helping Lithuania finish fourth at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2023. Buika is averaging 8.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.9 blocks for Zalgiris’ second team in the second division NKL.
Mantas Laurencikas played at the ANGT Ljubljana 2021-22 at two years younger and then missed the ANGT Munich last season. The 1.91m guard ended up playing at the ANGT Finals and picked up 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He was a leader on the Lithuania team that claimed the gold at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022 with 13.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 steals. He also picked up 4.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2023. This season Laurencikas is averaging 3.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.3 blocks in the Lithuanian second division NKL.
Mantas Juzenas collected 3.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists at the ANGT Munich and 7.3 points and 3.0 rebounds at the ANGT Finals. He is collecting 9.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 3.0 blocks in the NKL second division. Juzenas had 2.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals in helping Lithuania win the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022 and tallied 9.6
One addition to the team this off-season was Thomas Bassong coming from Gravelines in France. The 2.00m forward is averaging 20.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocks in the U18 league.
One of Zalgiris’ bigs will be 2007-born Georgian Avtandil Bakhtadze. The 2.08m center picked up 2 points and 2 rebound in 4 minutes of one game for the select team at the ANGT Belgrade in 2021-22. Bakhtadze played at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023, Division B and FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2023, Division B last summer. He collected 18.0 points and 10.3 rebounds as Georgia finished third at the U16 level to reach the Division A for the first time since 2018.
The preliminary roster also included 2007-born 1.91m guard Kajus Mikalauskas, who had 4.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists as Lithuania finished fourth at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023; Jokubas Rudaitis, a 1.97m guard who had a minor role at the ANGT Munich and has played just one game in the U18 league this season with 11 points; 2.04m forward Martynas Kancevicius (17.3 points, 11.0 rebounds in the U18 league), and 2.01m forward Justas Juozaitis (9.1 points and 6.7 rebounds in the U18 league). Other 2007-born players listed include: 1.90m guard Ernas Pakamanis, 1.93m guard Majus Bulanovas, and 2.02m center Arminas Vilkas.
The preliminary roster also included 2008-born players Emilis Prekevicius, a 1.92m guard; 1.97m wing Dovydas Jakstonis, and 2.05m center Ignas Stombergas.
Next Generation Team Dubai
The next edition of the Next Generation Team should be really talented for the Dubai tournament. Head coach Petteri Koponen and co. should have a lot of fun with some of the players on this squad.
The main player on this team will likely be Miikka Muurinen, the 2.08m Finland forward, who has left Europe this season to play for Sunrise Christian High School in Wichita, Kansas in the United States. Last season he played in Spain for Zentro Basket after which he shined at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023 with 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 2.0 blocks. Muurinen is considered one of the top Finnish talents since Lauri Markkanen as a long and mobile big forward who shoots the ball very well. He possesses great athleticism and can really finish above the rim. Muurinen comes from a basketball family as his father Kimmo Muurinen played 14 years for the Finnish senior national team from 2000 to 2014 including at the 2011 and 2013 FIBA EuroBaskets - playing alongside Petteri Koponen. Kimmo Muurinen played in Finland and then played college basketball in the United States for University of Arkansas-Little Rock and came back to play in Italy and Germany before returning to Finland. Miikka’s mother also played the game, as Jenni Muurinen (Laaksonen) played 70 games for the Finnish national team. After a long break from the game to care for the couple’s children, Jenni returned to the game and played for Rhein-Main Baskets in Germany.
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Another name on the Next Generation team with famous relatives is Ilja Kurucs, who is the youngest brother of Rodions and Arturs Kurucs. A coach who worked with all three said the 2007-born 2.05m forward Ilja is the best of the trio and Rodions and Arturs both play together for Murcia in Spain and for the Latvian national team. Ilja is at the Get Better Academy in Czechia and is averaging 1.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in the Czech U19 league. Kurucs, who arrived this off-season at GBA from BS Riga, showed glimpses of what he can do at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023 as he picked up 4.0 points and 6.3 rebounds.
Frederick Erichsen is one of the few players on the Next Generation Team with previous ANGT experience. The Danish 2.05m forward averaged 8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists at the ANGT Munich last season. Erichsen stood out at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2023 with 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.8 steals including 15 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in Denmark’s victory over Poland in the 13th place game to stay in the Division A. He is playing with Bakken Bears and is playing with the top team and the second team - both of them in the first division. He is averaging 6.4 points and 1.3 assists with the professional team.
Theo Airhienbuwa is the only other player with previous ANGT experience as the Italian 2.01m forward picked up 8.8 points and 4.0 rebounds at ANGT Patras. Airhienbuwa is playing for Verona.
Maxence Lemoine is a French 2007-born 1.89m guard who plays for SIG Strasbourg. He is averaging 16.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.6 steals in the French U21 league. He contributed 2.9 points, 1.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals in helping France take the bronze medal at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023.
Joan Beringer should be a fun watch in Dubai as the 2.07m forward is averaging 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in the French U21 league for SIG Strasboug.
The sole Spanish player on the Next Generation Team is Andy Huelves, who plays for Zentro Basket. The 1.90m, 2007-born guard is contributing 6.5 points on 36 percent shooting from long range, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in the fourth division EBA. He was a strong part of Spain’s title-winning team at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023 with 9.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.6 steals.
Alexandros Alexakis from Peristeri Athens is one of Greece’s most highly regarded 2007-born talents as the 1.95m guard dominated at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023 with 16.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals.
The 2007-born Panagiotis Lefas plays for PAOK, the Greek 1.96m guard teamed up with Alexakia last summer and collected 10.0 points and 2.9 rebounds at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023.
Eren Ilyem plays for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul and is averaging 10.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.2 steals in the Turkish U19 league. The 1.93m guard has yet to play for Türkiye internationally.
Peter Rosta is a Hungarian 2.06m forward who is playing with Vasas Akademia Budapest in the second flight B Division, where he is picking up 4.5 points and 1.9 rebounds. The 2007-born talent tallied 14.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.1 blocks for Hungary at the FIBAU16 EuroBasket 2023, Division B.
Elisee Assui, who also has gone by Nguessan, has already made his Serie A debut with Varese with two games last fall and also has played in six FIBA Europe Cup games. The forward has been with Varese’s youth ranks since 2020.
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