ITALY
Before the Italian SuperCup, everyone would have been skeptical to see so many prospects finding minutes and space in the Italian top division, even in the backup roles. Unlikely last years, many prospects have a chance to take advantage of more opportunities in a league where you normally have to sweat and work super hard to carve out any minutes.
UPSIDE FROM A2
New recruits coming from A2 are tested in Serie A every season but this time, all the “promoted” have the opportunity to play in the European Cups as well.
The first name is Giordano Bortolani, by far the best A2 player last season in Biella. 2000 born guard after signing a contract until 2025 with Olimpia Milano has been sent on loan to Brescia which opens up the possibility to play in Eurocup. Known as a sharpshooter who boosts athletic abilities but this year’s plan is to work more on playmaking and ball-handling to bring out his potential as a comboguard. Standing at 6-4 ft, he is a decent athlete with a sound technical craft which is visible in his offensive versatility as a three-way scorer. He has the nerves and right concentration to compete but still struggles in defense in coming out of the screen plays (in particular PnR defense) and defensive IQ off the ball.
In BCL, Mattia Palumbo and Kaspar Treier will exploit their minutes to evolve their game pace. The 2000 tall comboguard can learn a lot from a veteran like Adrian Banks – in particular to balance his playmaking with shooting skills. He can take advantage of his physicality combined with smooth and effective hands, is able to shot both from PnR and spot up from beyond the arc and understands the game quickly on defense end. The 1999 Estonian wing (due to Justin Tillman’s shoulder injury) will have to make the most of the minutes allowed in a dense and high-level frontcourt to prove his skills as solid 4 that through deep seal can impact the game close to the glass or contribute as a three-point target. Moreover can support the bigs in the defense of the paint but unfortunately his lateral movement isn’t quick enough to stop closeouts drives on the perimeter.
FROM THE YOUTH PROGRAM TO THE FIRST TEAM
Gabriele Procida: the 2002 Italian swingman got his first professional contract during the summer and found his minutes in Super Cup behind James Woodard and Andrea Pecchia. Tremendous athlete who strengthened his body to withstand the physical requirements of Serie A;. Can vary his scoring as strong driver or three point shooter even tho he still has to find more consistency behind the arc.
2003 Davide Casarin is seizing the opportunity to be the backup of Stefano Tonut and is using his minutes thanks to high motor and speedy moves. He demonstrates complete and superior technical package for his age as well as a tremendous knowledge of the game (can play also as secondary handler) and a remarkable ability to think out of the schemes. It still has to manage his defensive effort but may not look out of place even in Eurocup.
The Reggio Emilia’s big duo Mouhamet Diouf-Ibrahima Cham faced the SupeCup with the right personality. The Italian-Senegalese born in 2001 had enormous physical growth last year. The Gambian native born in 2003 is a more recent add. Given the absence of Frank Elegar and Justin Johnson during the SuperCup, he has already highlighted mobility physicality and touch. Moreover he possess intriguing potential as a rim protector given decent instincts despite arriving in Italy just a year ago. However, the idea that Reggio Emilia has for him is to bring out his technical skills and let him play more with the ball as a 4 man in future.
In the end, Maximilian Ladurner will be the second unit member behind JaCorey Williams in Trento in Serie A and Eurocup, 2001 somewhat old school center has shown notable progress in terms of shooting (exploring also the mid-range) and self-confidence in his tools. He is still not very fluid in his movements and often late on defense but the new responsibilities could give him an extra push to grow. Next to him, Trento can rely on the return of Luca Conti, after two years of loans between Pesaro and Montegranaro, to support the guards as glue guy.
A SECOND CHANCE FOR DRELL
Henri Drell was confirmed in Pesaro roster again despite the limits exposed last season. His second chance will take place under strict experienced coach Jasmin Repesa in a more competitive roster that has a better chance to avoid relegation in A2 and consequently can give the 2000 wing the opportunity to grow without too much pressure in terms of performance. Comparing to last year, he should present more balanced selection of individual plays and more repeatability in long range shooting which must be an extra weapon to reach his full potential. He undoubtedly possess qualities like rare fluidity and wiggle with the ball for his size. He also showed relevant defensive improvements putting his body against the 4s in back to the basket situations and higher reactivity in contesting shots on the perimeter but is far from impactful defender on a regular basis.
MORETTI’S DEBUT IN EUROLEAGUE
Before this summer, Davide Moretti was ready to test the NBA possibilities after a convincing junior year at Texas Tech University but unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic has effectively closed the door prompting the 1998 guard to accept the 2+1 contract offered by Olimpia. So far we have seen rare glimpses of the talent of Italian player who logged in for a few minutes during SuperCup matches. This year he will try to find a way to satisfy Ettore Messina, integrate within the system, gain valuable experience in the Euroleague and then try to emerge next year in bigger role.
GERMANY
This time there wasn’t any transfer bomb like Killian Hayes the past year in Ratiopharm Ulm. Len Schoorman may be someone who can log decent minutes in first year of draft eligibility and attract attention thanks to that. Fraport is an easily reachable transport hub and NBA scouts know it perfectly from not only layovers but also their visits to evaluate Isaac Bonga not so long ago. German high flyer has NBA athleticism and proved in season restart than he can already defend on BBL level – at least on ball. Talented comboguard will have to show more flashes of (secondary) playmaking in order not to end up in more wingy role later on in his career and utilize his potentially high level finishing ability at the rim better than in Munich.
Phillip Herkenhoff is established domestic player who has positional size for stretch guy and can really shot it but he may actually be at this stage more interesting option to follow for German top teams than NBA executives.
Luc Van Slooten somewhat unexpectedly changed environment which can give him boost after a little bit stagnant years in Vechta. Despite early development LVS has a really well rounded game and may remind under coach Pete Strobl who is committed to develop young players why he was considered one of the top prospects of entire 2002 generation in Europe 2-3 years ago.
Aito keeps doing Aito things and despite not having top prospects Alba is setting the example of how to use and integrate them thanks to Spanish old coach’s experience and know-how. Someone like Jonas Matisseck could not work elsewhere but in Berlin he is already giving valuable minutes even in Euroleague given his compact frame, pesky defense, shooting ability, character and teamwork. His upside is rather limited but he is expected to be a good piece for Berliners (and perhaps even NT) system for years. Malte Delow, Lorenz Brenneke and Kresimir Nikic will surely get their chances during the season as well. It will also be interesting to see if Louis Olinde steps up his game under legendary mentor.
Olinde is a Hamburg native and was tempted by Towers for a long time. Speaking of them Justus Hollatz is no longer unknown in the league and among scouts. Hamburg may be a strong candidate for dark horse of the competition since Pedro Calles took the team over and roster looks intriguing on paper. As a local kid in young team German playmaker should keep having good minutes consistently and it would be nice to see him becoming more aggressive scoring wise and more accurate from downtown.
Son of Ludwigsburg head coach, 2003 born Jacob Patrick unexpectedly gained quite solid playing time during restart of the season. Guard with positional size standing at 6’6 and very good outside stroke may crack rotation regularly now altogether with his two years older brother Johannes. At the end Lubu system is not a rocket science and who knows it better than them despite the very young age? Their familiarity with it, good basketball IQ and competitive nature can certainly add some value to the athletic and aggressive playing style of a team.
Last but not the least, there is Isiaha Mike in Chemnitz. Who knows if Canadian forward who left SMU after his junior year isn’t the last college expat in Easy Credit BBL who can be 2021 Draft eligible.
