ABA League – Who is the next ABA League Top Prospect?

ABA League was, is and probably will be loaded with good prospects and NBA scouts can always find a player in this league/region. Just in the last 5 seasons (from 2013/14 to 2018/19) since the ABA League Top Prospect award was awarded to the league’s best young player aged 21 and under (for next season born in 2000 and younger), there were 21 players drafted in the NBA draft coming from this league. Not many international leagues can compete with these numbers.

Just to name the players who won the award:

2014 – Dario Šarić (Cibona)

2015 – Nikola Jokić (Mega Bemax)

2016 – Ante Žižić (Cibona)

2017 – Jonah Bolden (FMP) 

2018 – Džanan Musa (Cedevita)

2019 – Goga Bitadze (Budućnost)

Obviously, last year’s season hasn’t finished due to the corona outbreak but the award would go in the hands of Marko Simonović from Mega Bemax. He was just too dominant in comparison to other prospects in last season.

All of those six players were drafted on the NBA draft, four of them even in the first round. Only Jonah Bolden was drafted on the 36th spot while Nikola Jokić was “the worst pick”, drafted on the 41st spot. In other words, the award looks like a ticket to hear your name be called out on the NBA Draft night. 

But besides those six players, there were many other prospects drafted or going from ABA League to NBA. Jusuf Nurkić, Bogdan Bogdanović (drafted in 2014 when he played for Partizan), Ivica Zubac, Timothe Luwawu Cabarrot, Vlatko Čančar and Luka Šamanić are still in NBA while there are many more players that were drafted but never played in NBA (Vasilije Micić, Nemanja Dangubić, Nikola Milutinov, Luka Mitrović, Rade Zagorac, Ognjen Jaramaz, Alpha Kaba, Issuf Sanon, Vanja Marinković).

So there is talent in the league and let’s look at the main candidates to win the award in next season, in case the league will be played out completely. 

The first thing when I hear “prospects” and “ABA League” in the same sentence, Mega Soccerbet (Mega Bemax last season) comes to my mind so I believe it makes sense to start looking for the award winner in their team first.

There are many prospects in their roster again but only two of them should have a bigger role: Filip Petrušev and Malcolm Cazalon

Filip Petrušev is coming from a great season at Gonzaga where he averaged 17.5 points and 8 rebounds per game in a little less than 26 minutes. He also showed in the preparation matches for Mega that he should be amongst the best players of the team and that big things are expected from him. 19 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks vs Crvena Zvezda, 25 points and 9 rebounds vs Cluj, 28 points and 6 rebounds vs Mornar, 20 points and 8 rebounds vs Sloboda Užice, 22 points vs Zlatibor, 11 points and 12 rebounds vs Borac are the stat lines from Petrušev in the preparation matches so far. He is strong and mobile, has good footwork and can move bodies on low post. Reads the situations and game very well, makes good decisions on post ups and can find open teammates. Worked a lot on his shot from distance during the summer and is slowly adding three point shot to his offensive arsenal. On the defensive end, he has a strong stance and not moved easily on post ups while he also has the footwork to guard on perimeter and is a very good pick & roll defender. He could be one of the best bigs in the upcoming season and he is, in my opinion, the main favorite to win this award.

The second player from Mega Soccerbet is Malcolm Cazalon. He joined the team in last season just before the Corona outbreak and hasn’t played any official matches for Mega yet. Athletic swingman from France has great potential as a perimeter defender and can put pressure on ball handlers. Makes good rotations and brings energy on the floor. Due to his athleticism he can get to the rim in offense, showed some playmaking and passing skills in preparations too and was used as an initiator in offense on some occasions. Statistically he won’t be as efficient as Petrušev but he will be an important piece of Mega’s team and will probably be amongst the top5 players eligible for the award. 

Only one club has “produced” two award winners so far, so let’s stop in Zagreb next and visit Cibona’s arena (and while being there, also visit the Memorial Center Dražen Petrović next to it). Roko Prkačin, ranked #3 on our 2002 ranking list, is expected to be one of the leaders of the team in next season. He had some good games last season too but this year his role should be much bigger. Versatile big that likes to play with face to the basket and attack from the top. His combination of athleticism, footwork and ball handling skills makes him a nightmare matchup for most bigs in the league and he can get past them and to the rim pretty easily. Worked a lot on his outside shot too and if he manages to bring good shooting percentages from the three point line to the table, he could be one of the players to watch for in the future, not just in next season. But with the role that is expected for him in next season, he should be amongst the most noticeable young players in the league and the biggest competition to Petrušev.

Next in line will probably be Marko Pecarski from FMP. He was dominant in youth competitions, one of the best and most dominant players whenever he showed up in any of the FIBA Youth competitions. But those stats and awards “won’t pay the bills.” He somehow struggles with adapting to the more physical game on senior level. Pecarski has a great offensive skill set, understands the game well and showed in some games last season that he can play. His main liability on senior level is his defensive game, where he gets punished too easily. With some improvements in his defensive game and adding more muscle to his frame, he should log more minutes and get a little bigger role in the team. Shouldn’t have so much freedom and minutes as those three prospects mentioned before but this could be the season when he becomes a bigger part of the rotation from coach Vladimir Jovanović.

The last player that could have a nice role in his team and is eligible for the reward is Dalibor Ilić from Igokea. Averaged almost 23 minutes per match, 8.3 points and 5.9 rebounds in last season and could get an even bigger role this season. He was somehow always in the shadow of his two countrymen Petrušev and Pecarski in FIBA Youth Competitions but he deserves some recognition. Has great defensive potential and can defend almost all positions. His offensive game, especially shooting, is still inconsistent and somehow limited but with some fixes and improvements he could improve his percentages. Not a favorite for the award but could be a player to follow and monitor in next season, especially if there are some improvements in his offensive game. 

Those five players will be, in my opinion, the most noticeable young players in the league that are eligible for the award but there are some other young players that should get a decent amount of playing time but are one year too old and not eligible for the award or their roles probably won’t be so noticeable. 

Let’s see who those players are..

Marko Simonović (Mega Soccerbet): born in 1999. As said above, he would take the award in last season but Corona happened and the season was cancelled. His name is still on the draft entry list for this draft but even if he will be drafted, he should be stashed for another year. Last season he averaged 16.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, probably his role will be a little smaller this season because of Petrušev, but there will be times where both will play together on the court and Simonović will play on the power forward position. He also worked a lot on his outside game, his shot became quicker and more consistent, started to shoot some off the dribble threes too. His high IQ and offensive versatility are his main assets. Can stretch the floor, play face up or with back to the basket and usually makes the right decisions with the ball in his hands. Definitely one of the players NBA scouts and executives from top level teams around Europe should watch and evaluate in next season.

Nikola Mišković (Mega Soccerbet): born in 1999. Has been a starter last year in most matches and averaged 9.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 25 minutes per game. Was used mainly as a stretch forward and attacking the rim from the top. Took a lot of three point shots too but wasn’t the most consistent and efficient. Probably his role will be similar this year too, maybe even a little smaller because of Simonović getting some minutes on the PF spot. Needs to improve his effort on the defensive end and be more consistent in offense for a shot on higher level. 

Mateo Drežnjak (Cibona): born in 1999. A big role is expected for him in this season. Drežnjak had a great season last year in Široki in ABA2, averaging 15.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists and also made his debut for Croatian national team. Improving and stepping up his game every season and becoming an all around player that can play in different roles on the court and adapt to his matchup. Was mostly overlooked by most scouts and coaches in last years and this year he has the chance to prove himself on a bigger stage.

Toni Nakić (Cibona): born in 1999. Toni should be the third main player of new Cibona, next to Prkačin and Drežnjak. Showed during youth competitions for Croatian national team and in last seasons in GKK Šibenik that he deserves a chance on this level. Versatile all around wing that can create for himself or his team mates. Pretty reliable spot up shooter from corners and from the free throw line too. Will definitely be fun to watch how Prkačin, Drežnjak and Nakić will cooperate together on the floor. 

Uroš Trifunović (Partizan): born in 2000. Eligible for the award but don’t expect such a big role for him in this loaded Partizan team that he could be in the conversations for the award. Played some good matches last year in the second half of the season and could be a part of the rotation on some matches in this season too. Wasn’t the most efficient as a shooter last season, he is definitely capable of better percentages. Has smooth shooting stroke and has the potential to become a solid shooter for European level. Can also get past defenders and finish at the rim, bulked up in the offseason and his body looks much better and ready for senior competitions.

Sani Čampara (Split): born in 1999. Had a great season last year in ABA2 playing for Sloboda Tuzla, averaging 13.4 points and 5.0 assists per game in 30 minutes. This year he should have the back up point guard role behind Ilija Djoković. More a rim and score oriented guard but has a good eye to find open teammates too. Hasn’t made the jump from Real Madrid’s youth team into the Spanish league but is now slowly making his way back up again through ABA League. 

Darko Bajo (Split): born in 1999. Wasn’t getting much opportunity in ABA league when he played for Cedevita and decided to join Split last season after the Cedevita-Olimpija merger. This decision has proven to be the right one for him since he had a really good season. Averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds in 25 minutes in ABA2 League and could put similar numbers to the board this season too even though the competition and toughness level is much higher in ABA1 League. Athletic big, that can play on both big positions, had some good matches in preparations, even made some highlight reels. Good post up player that has the strength, footwork and feel to create separation down under. Can also stretch the floor but needs to improve as a shooter. He should be one of the main players from Split this season and should get enough opportunity to prove himself on the highest regional level.

Ivan Perasović (Split): born in 2002. The third Split kid with the biggest upside of them all. Put his name in most scouts notebooks at the FIBA U16 Championship in 2018 where he was among the leaders of the Croatian team that won the competition. Had some injuries in last years that slowed down his progress but is still a player that is worth following. Great athlete with explosive burst. Moves fluidly and can get to the rim with his long strides. Due to his length, athleticism and size he has the potential to be an impactful defender too. His shooting raises some question marks and needs to be fixed for a higher level. Got a decent amount of minutes in preparation matches and I expect that he will be in the rotation of Split when the season starts.  

Also Fedor Žugić (Budučnost) and Duje Brala (Zadar), both born in 2003, could get some minutes, especially Brala got a good role in preparations but we will see if he will be a part of the rotation in ABA League matches too. No matter what, both players are worth a follow and their time will come in this or next season to show their talents.