The third qualifier for ANGT was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates happening from March 22 by means of the twenty fourth. The winner of this occasion was to obtain an auto qualifying bid for the ANGT Remaining held in Berlin, Could 24-26, at the side of the Euroleague Remaining 4. Actual Madrid gained the primary qualifier (learn article on prime prospects from first qualifier right here) and Barcelona gained the second qualifier (learn article on prime prospects from second qualifier right here). Within the ultimate of this occasion we noticed Ratiopharm Ulm defeat Zalgiris Kaunas in an 89-84 extra time thriller. A sport the place the highest prospect for this occasion, Noa Essengue, wouldn’t permit his crew to lose, main his crew from a 13 first half deficit and hitting a sport tying three with 9 seconds left to get to extra time, and ending with a sport excessive 33 factors and 18 rebounds for the sport. Zalgiris Kaunas can solely hope they are going to be awarded one of many three wildcard bids to make the ultimate 8 golf equipment to compete as the highest U18 Group in Europe. Beneath are the highest prospects from the occasion (Be aware: The duo Frederick Erichsen and Adam Atamna) would have almost certainly been included within the rankings had they performed extra than simply the primary day.)
Prime Prospects:
Noa Essengue 6’9 Ahead Ratiopharm Ulm 2006 Born France HighlightsNoa Essengue was voted MVP of the occasion as he averaged 20.2 ppg, 11 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and a couple of.2 blocks. Late January Essengue measured at 210 cm (in sneakers), wingspan of 213 cm, and a standing attain of 276 cm. As well as, at BWB World, he stood out athletically together with his fast occasions within the agility assessments. At this occasion he displayed wonderful handles for a wing. Combining his handles together with his quickness allowed him to simply get by the primary line of protection and get downhill. As well as, he has mushy contact across the rim, permitting him to complete performs off when a secondary defender cuts him off from ending performs with a dunk. At this occasion he was too fast for gamers his dimension and too lengthy for guards to be stopped from getting downhill. Regardless of his physique being on the slim facet, he additionally was capable of benefit from submit up mismatches as he has wiry energy and mushy contact. Resulting in a 69.2% (27/39) subject objective share from contained in the three level line. Due to his robust handles, he is an effective passer, significantly on quick break alternatives. Whereas he’s nice at this degree, dealing with up in half court docket units, he wants to enhance his vary as a shooter. On the free throw line he shot a dismal 18/43 (42%) , typically dashing his shot and capturing it flat. Regardless of making the clutch three pointer within the championship sport, he was solely 3/13 for the occasion with just a few rushed pictures. On the defensive facet of the ball, his mixture of quickness, size, and good defensive instincts made him a defensive menace at this occasion. On quite a few events he was capable of steal an entry go from the wing and created a quick break for himself for a straightforward dunk. As well as, he was an important assist facet defender, getting quite a few blocks from the assistance facet, stopping opponents from simple lay-ins on half court docket units. Lastly on decide and roll switches together with his good lateral quickness and pace, he might keep in entrance of opposing guards whereas nonetheless being shut sufficient to their physique to discourage soar pictures. Essengue starred at this occasion and confirmed why he’s a possible future NBA participant, however to succeed in his full potential as an offensive participant, he might want to work on his capturing from the road and from past the arc. His progress in these areas will likely be instrumental to his inventory as a 2025 NBA Draft prospect.
Mantas Juzenas 6’6 SF Zalgiris Kaunas 2006 Born Lithuania HighlightsMantas Juzenas averaged 18.2 ppg, 11.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals whereas going 10/25 from three (40%) and was voted to the all match crew. He displayed a fluid soar shot and was significantly robust within the ultimate the place he went 5/10 from three. He’s robust as a shooter, both coming off screens or as a spot up shooter. If defenses overplay the go on the wing, he’ll again door opponents and end with a straightforward lay up. When he must create for himself, he likes to again opponents right down to the mid-range and faux baseline, reverse pivot, create area for a mid-range jumper and had some success with this transfer. He has good energy and is an effective offensive rebounder for this degree. A really common athlete who makes use of change of tempo and craftiness to get downhill and end across the rim. This explains his 12/30 (40%) subject objective share from two. Defensively is a stable assist defender and makes use of his energy to be a powerful rebounder
Maxence Lemoine 6’2 PG SIG Strasbourg 2007 Born France (NGT Dubai*) HighlightsThe lefty has had a breakout season within the U21 league in France and was a standout participant right here in Dubai. Voted to the all match crew, Lemoine averaged 15.5 ppg, 5.2 assists, 1 steal, with a 2.36 help to turnover ratio (21/9). He performs very very like a conventional level guard. He appears to be like to run the offense, get teammates concerned and decide and select his alternatives to attain. He frequently made good reads in decide and roll conditions. A lot in order that head coach Petteri Koponen preliminary scripted units within the first couple video games had Lemoine with the ball in his arms and one of many crew’s submit gamers (Muurinen and later Beringer) set a excessive decide and roll and on Lemoine, draw the opposing huge, whereas the picker slips for a dive to the basket and Lemoine delivers a wonderfully executed alley oop go. Between his wonderful imaginative and prescient and his good hesitation crossover, Lemoine is ready to get downhill and could be very artful ending across the rim with both hand. As well as he has a fast launch and good, mushy contact together with his mid vary shot. He went 3/9 from three, however total appeared extra snug capturing from the midrange than from three. He shot 21/30 from the free throw line and when he missed he tended to float his comply with by means of ever so barely. Simply a median athlete he might want to proceed to increase his vary to be efficient on the subsequent degree.
Miikka Muurinen 6’9 PF Dawn Christian 2007 Born Finland (NGT Dubai*) HighlightsMiika Muurinen performed for Dawn Christian this season, and returned to European competitors for the primary time because the FIBA U16 championships (article right here), taking part for the NGT Dubai crew for this match solely. Rated as one of many prime highschool sophomores within the USA it was a superb alternative for him to showcase himself in entrance of the European viewers. A yr youthful than a lot of the gamers for this occasion he averaged 7 ppg, 5 rebounds, and 1 block per sport. He confirmed some flashes of his potential, ending alley oops with robust finishes and self-creating with crossover dribble three level makes. He additionally confirmed why he performed restricted minutes in excessive degree video games on the highschool circuit this season, as he discovered himself typically on the ground shedding battles with stronger opponents and shedding his steadiness by means of contact, inflicting him to overlook some pictures he in all probability might make. He’s such an intriguing prospect together with his potential as a hybrid ahead to face up in half court docket units, displaying each his handles and his fluid soar shot and his potential to be a conventional submit participant. In these conditions, he can decide and dive, decide and roll, or be on the block dealing with away from the basket and rating. He works on protection, seeking to defend the paint together with his size and getting blocked pictures and did a superb job of transferring his ft on decide and roll switches.
Yohann Sissoko 6’3 CG ASVEL 2006 Born France HighlightsYohann Sissoko was voted to the all match crew averaging 16 ppg, 9.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and a couple of steals per sport. An excellent athlete, he has a nicely constructed physique and good quickness which helped him get previous the preliminary defender with ease and get to the basket. Confirmed a capability to complete performs off with both hand and was as harmful happening the left lane as the appropriate lane. SHot it nicely from the sphere going 19/42 (45%) from two. Loved absorbing contact and was ready to attract fouls at a gentle tempo attending to the road 29 occasions in 4 video games. Has potential to develop his shot as he went 23/29 from the charity stripe (79.3%) however was total dismall from lengthy distance going 1/13 (7.7% for the match). Wants to enhance his help to turnover ratio as he turned over because it 1 to 1 at this occasion. His close to time period growth as each a shooter and lead guard will in the end decide his potential as a prospect.
Avtandil Bakhtadze 6’9 PF Zalgiris Kaunas 2007 Born Georgia HighlightsLike Miikka Muurinen, Avtandil Bakhtadze was a star at Fiba U16 European championships however B division over the summer time (article right here) Bakthatadze has made some good progress in his physique motion. He seemed way more fluid operating up and down the court docket and seemed extra snug getting out of the submit and even dealing with the ball a bit bit. He performed simply 11 minutes per sport averaging 5.7 level per sport on 7/10 from the sphere. He displayed a fluid soar shot making a pair nook pictures that have been on the three level line and was excellent from the free throw line (3/3).
Jervis Scheffs 6’3 CG Ratiopharm Ulm 2007 Born Germany HighlightsJervis Scheffs averaged 10.75 ppg, 5 rebounds, whereas going 6/13 from three 46%. Scheffs has a really sq. a la Kyle Lowry utilizing his physique to create area. An excellent shooter, he significantly likes the left facet nook three. However he can self create together with taking and making step again threes on decide and roll defensive switches. He additionally has a superb energy crossover that helps him explode to the outlet and get downhill. He can end both on the appropriate or left facet with ease. Whereas he has fast ft on the defensive facet his quick wingspan makes it troublesome for him to get deflections and steals.
Theo Guedegbe 6’5 SG ASVEL 2007 Born France HighlightsThe Guedegbe is a really younger 2007 Born (December) and appears like he has room each to develop and achieve muscle. He already has good size and handles the ball nicely for a capturing guard whereas being explosive and fast. Averaging 7.5 ppg, 1.5 steals and a couple of.8 help to his 1.2 turnovers there’s a consolation degree when he has the ball in his arms. His lack of energy was a difficulty in his effectivity going to the ring and as a prospect you prefer to for him to take a bit extra initiative as he typically took a backseat to each Yohann Sissoko and Marvyn Wade. However of all of the gamers at this occasion his physique has essentially the most potential to develop and additional assist his case as a prospect.
Joan Beringer 6’9 PF SIG Strasbourg 2006 Born France (NGT Dubai*) HighlightsJoan Beringer averaged 7.5 ppg ,9 rebounds, and a couple of.5 blocks for the occasion. A conventional submit participant, he demonstrated a superb potential to rebound and defend the paint on protection together with his mixture of size, energy and athleticism. On offense he was handiest on decide and dive alternatives and as a low man in a excessive and low submit mixture. Completed off performs with dunks or lay ins when he used the room as safety to keep away from blocks. Must work on his potential as a shooter and in face up events to additional improve his intrigue as a prospect.
Marvyn Wade 6’2 PG ASVEL 2008 Born France HighlightsBorn in 2008 Marvyn Wade was one of many youthful gamers at this occasion, began for ASVEL. He averaged 8.2 factors per sport and a couple of.2 steals. Seems to have good size on his skinny body and was routinely capable of get within the passing lanes and disrupt the opposite crew’s offenses. Went 9/15 from two the place most of his pictures have been self created on dribble drives. A lot youthful than most of his opponents, he was missing at occasions in energy and explosiveness relative to a few of his opponents however made up for it with quickness and size. He must proceed to work on his capturing each on the free throw line and from three because the shot lacks arc. .
Honorable Point out:
Nedas Raupelis 6’8 PF Zalgiris Kaunas 2006 Born Lithuania HighlightsAveraged 12.8 pp, 7.5 rebounds, 2 blocks and 60% from two. Had some spotlight actual dunks and was voted to the all match crew. An undersized submit participant who must proceed to develop his shot.
Joel Kamta 6’8 PF ASVEL 2008 Born France HighlightsAveraged 9.2 factors and 5.2 rebounds whereas capturing 59% from the sphere and being one of many youthful gamers in Dubai.
Dovydas Buika 6’4 SG Zalgiris Kaunas 2007 Born Lithuania HighlightsAveraged 11 ppg, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. Was capable of get downhill with both hand. Had 17 turnovers and 10 assists and must proceed to work on his shot going 4/24 from three.
Ilja Kurucs 6’8 PF GBA Lions 2007 Born Latvia (NGT Dubai *) HighlightsAveraged 6.5 ppg in a bit over 16 minutes per sport. Going 10/11 from the sphere and three/3 from the free throw line. Didn’t get numerous taking part in time however was very environment friendly within the minutes he did play and made most of his alternative. Had some good dunks on offense.
Endurance Aiyamenkhue 6’10 C Ratiopharm Ulm 2007 Born Netherlands HighlightsAveraged 5 factors, 5.8 rebounds, and a couple of.2 blocks. Very a lot a piece in progress however strikes nicely for a middle and has good size.
Lazar Stojakovic 6’10 PF BKK Radnicki 2007 Born Serbia (Dubai Falcons)Averaged 8.5 factors, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 1 steal in virtually 29 minutes. Confirmed an attention-grabbing software package. Has good kind on his shot the place he went 6/7 from the free throw line and may face up on the perimeter. Confirmed some potential to place the ball on the ground. Must work on his energy and rebounding. His protection and toughness have been questionable at this occasion.
The final qualifier will likely be held in Paris From April 5-7, 2024
