Top 20 players at ANGT Patras + 2006 and 2007 rankings
The Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Patras is over and Joventut Badalona is now thinking of the ANGT Finals in May. Here is a ranking of the players based on their generation.
The Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Patras is over and Joventut Badalona is now thinking of the ANGT Finals in May. Here is a ranking of the players based on their generation.
One of the first questions people pose when asking about an ANGT event is how was the level of play, which translates to how many NBA prospects are there and how it compares to a previous ANGT tournament. Well, this post might not exactly answer that question, but here are my personal rankings of the players at the tournament - first overall and then in the 2006 and 2007 generations
Top 20 Players at the ANGT Patras
1. Tidjane Salaun - France - 2005 - Cholet Basket
Not an easy choice but Salaun’s physical package on top of his willingness to work and hustle on defense gives the Frenchman the nod here. What a shooting stroke. Plus there was a nice fighty edge displayed in the game versus NGT Patras.
2. Ruben Prey - Portugal - 2005 - Joventut Badalona
This is based on Prey’s skillset at the moment. If the Portuguese big man can really get his long range shot down consistently that might put him ahead of Salaun. An outside shot - plus some fine-tuned dribbling - would give defenses a real problem with Prey, who would then force defenses to come out and he could then even drive by them.
3. Ben Saraf - Israel - 2006 - NGT Patras
Israel national team fans have to be longing for this kid to reach the senior national team and play alongside Deni Avdija. Man, Saraf just can get to the basket at will. That really is enough to put him high high up on list list.
4. Amael L’Etang - France - 2005 - Cholet Basket
What a teaming together he had with Salaun. L’Etang really can beat teams a lot of ways - both offensively and defensively. I am neither agreeing nor disagreeing with this but one person said he saw some Lauri Markkanen in L’Etang.
5. Iker Garmendia - Spain - 2006 - Joventut Badalona
Ahhhhh … Iker Garmendia. Man, he was just fun fun fun to watch. What a flat out baller. Apparently he left Barcelona because he didn’t get the playing time. Definitely an advantage to Joventut. I can see him playing a major role in Joventut’s pro team in three years for sure. Super smart and versatile player.
6. Veniamin Abosi - Greece- 2006 - Olympiacos Piraeus
One of the biggest disappointments of the ANGT Patras was Abosi not really being able to play as he played the first 95 seconds of Olympiacos’ first game and sat the rest. He played the second game - though clearly hampered with a knee injury. Abosi recently became Olympiacos’ youngest player in EuroLeague history and there is a lot to like in his package. A strong frame with drive to basket and toughness. The next question for his development is should he stay or should he go - will he get minutes with the pro team?
7. Dwayne Aristode - Netherlands - 2006 - Joventut Badalona
Aristode already has a pretty solid package - solid shooter from outside, decent drive to the basket, intense defender. There is a lot to like in the Dutch talent. He will undoubtedly be one of Joventut’s leaders next ANGT season.
8. Yohann Sissoko - France - 2006 - LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
Sissoko is relentness with his drive to the basket but that didn’t always turn into points as defenses could collapse on him because it was pretty clear he wouldn’t kick out very often. At the moment, kind of a one-trick pony - just 1/3 from three-point range for the tournament. Sissoko definitely needs to get an outside shot.
9. Killyan Toure - France - 2006 - LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
Toure forte is cleary defense and the youngster can definitely play lockdown D. It’s rare to find guys who have a passion for defense and Toure uses his strong, long athletic frame to stay in front of players and also has quick hands. Offensively, he is still a work in progress, including decision making and outside shooting.
10. Johann Grünloh - Germany - 2005 - Rasta Vechta
Grünloh was one of the players I was most interested in seeing since he has already been playing at the ProA second division level in Germany. The big man will play the game a long time because of his great body frame, offensive understanding and defensive presence including elite level shot-blocking. He broke the record for most blocks per game in ANGT history - 6.25, topping Victor Wembanyama’s previous mark of 6.0.
11. Roman Domon - France - 2005 - NGT Patras
Talk about dreamy potential … the Gravelines player stood out for his offensive potential on the NGT Patras team. Domon has very good size and length for the wing and can dribble to the rim and finish or shoot from the outside. Defensively there is still work to be done but this was a good experience for him to see where he stands.
12. Conrad Martinez - Spain - 2005 - Joventut Badalona
Martinez is clearly not an NBA prospect because of his lack of size. But he definitely makes up for that in game understanding, intensity and emotion, defense and desire to take responsibility in clutch moments. He will knock down a number of dagger three-pointers over the course of his long career.
13. Theo Airhienbuwa - Italy - 2006 - NGT Patras
One of the real revelations of the ANGT Patras. Airhienbuwa was a relative unknown for many in Greece but the Italian who plays with Verona left with many, many more fans of his game. Great length at the guard spot, super effort guy, did so many of the little things a team needs to win. Would be good to see him on his own club where he has more offensive responsibilty.
14. Mervyn Muamba - France - 2005 - LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
It is hard not to like Muamba, an undersized big man. That lack of height limits him in some ways - watch his inability to shoot over Ruben Prey in the ANGT Patras first place game. But there is still an aura of I-will-just-overwhelm-you from Muamba. He is a great rebounder, can handle the ball and thrives on going coast to coast after a rebound, and usually can finish around the basket. He still needs to work on his passing and his outside shooting, but he doesn’t make many mistakes.
15. Mathis Courbon - France - 2005 - LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
Courbon was more of the playmaker for ASVEL, which was impressive considering he was an invite player from Roanne. Courbon has good size at the point guard spot with a good drive to the basket and also very good playmaking abilities, including creativity/flash in his passing at times. He also can really shoot the ball from the outside - though he struggled in the first place game against Joventut Badalona.
16. Elidjah Lamart - France - 2005 - Cholet Basket
Lamart was not really needed to do a lot of scoring with Cholet - given the club had Tidjane Salaun and Amael L’Etang - but he did a good job setting up the offense. Lamart was not overly effective in his shooting in the tournament but he has a solid build and the quickness to get to the basket. Those traits also make his a solid defender.
17. Karl Bühner - Germany - 2005 - Rasta Vechta
This pick might surprise some but Bühner really showed what he can do in his first exposure to the level. The power forward displayed excellent rebounding, especially on the offensive glass (4.2 offensive boards per game) while averaging a double-double. And that was despite playing alongside the second-best rebounder in the competition Johann Grünloh. Bühner flashed efficient offensive skills, shooting 63.6% on two-pointers. He still needs an outside shot to really be an upper level prospect but this was a great opportunity for Bühner to learn from and get better.
18. Karim Lopez - Mexico - 2007 - Joventut Badalona
Maybe another surprise but the 2007-born Lopez - the son of former Mexican national team player Hiram “Chino” Lopez - showed why he is one of the next stars of Mexican basketball. It was a pleasant surprise that Joventut even brought Lopez to the tournament as he is spending his first full season with the team. The long atheltic forward flashed what he could do in the blowout win over Promitheas Patras with 13 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks. Lopez was just flying around everywhere and doing it all. He is definitely someone to watch for the future.
19. Felix De Almeida - France - 2005 - LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
De Almeida was limited early on in the tournament due to an illness but he showed strong leadership skills in his two main games. His versatile offensive game and strong defense was key to helping ASVEL knock off NGT Patras to reach the first place game.
20. Yannick Pinas - Netherlands - 2006 - NGT Patras
This might be a little bit of a surprise pick, but Pinas has only been playing the game for two years and he has massive upside, thanks to his great size, length, athleticism and agility. He is still very, very raw but this experience alone will be tremendous for him to take the next steps.
Ranking of 2006-born Players at the ANGT Patras
1. Ben Saraf - Israel - NGT Patras
2. Iker Garmendia - Spain - Joventut Badalona
3. Veniamin Abosi - Greece - Olympiacos Piraeus
4. Dwayne Aristode - Netherlands - Joventut Badalona
5. Yohann Sissoko - France - LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
6. Killyan Toure - France - LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
7. Theo Airhienbuwa - Italy - NGT Patras
8. Yannick Pinas - Netherlands - NGT Patras
9. Ousmane Ndour - Senegal - NGT Patras
10. Roy Krupnikas - Germany - Rasta Vechta
11. Curro Segura - Spain - Olympiacos Piraeus
12. Janne Mueller - Germany - NGT Patras
13. Gabin Lefort - France - Cholet Basket
14. Tymoteusz Sternicki - Poland - Orange1 Bassano
15. Charles Atamah - Italy - Orange1 Bassano
Ranking of 2007/08-born Players at the ANGT Patras
1. Karim Lopez - Mexico - Joventut Badalona
2. Alberto Blanco - Spain - NGT Patras
3. Maikcol Perez - Italy - Orange1 Baassno
4. Soren Bracq - France - Cholet Basket
5. Theo Guedegbe - France - LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
6. Oscar Wembanyama - France - LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
7. Erwan Ntsantso Djoni - France - Cholet Basket
8. Ian Platteuw - Spain - Joventut Badalona
9. Adam Atamna - France - LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
10. Giannis Odzebe - Congo - Orange1 Bassano (born November 23 2008)
11. Patrick Hassan - Italy - Orange1 Baassano
12. Terence Kekenbosch - Belgium - Joventut Badalona
13. Philibert Loussavouvou - France - LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
14. Djairo Bernardina - Netherlands - Rasta Vechta
15. Matija Stevovic - Montenegro - Promitheas Patras
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