Another ANGT in the books! Crvena Zvezda, MEGA MIS, INSEP, Valencia, Partizan, Anadolu Efes, Umana Reyer and the Next Generation Team all competed to advance and participate in the ANGT Finals which is going to take place in Kaunas. There were some really close games, some OTs and unforgettable individual performances in the tournament. MEGA took the 1st place after winning against Crvena Zvezda and got themselves a spot in Kaunas. One of the surprises of the tournament was the Next Generation Team’s performance for sure. There were not many “big” names in the roster but comparing to the other Next Generation teams this season, they probably played the best basketball as a team and got the 3rd place in Belgrade, deservingly.
Here are the standout performers of the tournament:
Nikola Topic (G | 198 cm | ’05) ~ Crvena Zvezda
26.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 2 steals, 24/39 2FG (61%), 9/17 3FG (53%), 32/33 FT (97%)
If you haven’t heard of Nikola Topic before the ANGT Belgrade, you will now. 2005-born guard was sensational in Belgrade and led his team to the final of the tournament. Topic only played 9 minutes in the game against Partizan so if we count that out of the conversation, he averaged 32.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 2.6 steals in 3 games and deservingly got the MVP award.
Topic showcased his offensive skillset both in half court offense and transition. He initiates the offense without wasting any time and moves wisely while driving to the paint, can either finish, draw fouls or find the open man. Explosiveness plays a big part of his game and has a very effective first step on offense, often misleading his matchups with his footwork or even body language. He draws incredible amount of attention on pick and rolls, operates well and feeds his teammates with his court vision and passing abilities. He can finish through contact, doesn’t lose his balance on air. He is also a good cutter and might become an underrated off-ball option on teams that have solid passing bigs on their rosters.
His shot creating is also really promising, shot 53% behind the 3-point line in the tournament and hit some NBA range 3s, didn’t seem bad on catch and shoots as well. One of the most impressive parts of Topic’s game was his consistency at the free throw line. He made 32 of his 33 free throw attempts in the tournament which is insane for a 17 year-old player. He might’ve missed the most important free throw of the tournament and it might’ve cost them the final game but it’s understandable, considering the back to back games and the effort he was putting in on every single offensive position.
Topic did not “shine” on the defensive end in the tournament. His anticipation and deflections on off-ball defense was good but doesn’t have a solid two-way potential overall. Might lack effort on some defensive plays and have trouble against athletic guards and shooters. His athleticism is going to be one of the defining factors of his NBA chances, might need to work on it in the future. Will monitor how he will grow as a vocal leader on the court as well.
I could easily see Nikola Topic become one of the top EuroLeague players and an important part of the Serbian National Team in the future.
Sergio De Larrea (G | 198 cm | ’05) ~ Valencia
13.5 points – 11/28 2FG – 4/16 3FG – 4.8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 4.8 tos
De Larrea was the best playmaker in Belgrade, creating a lot of chances for his teammates and averaging 6 assists per game and he got himself a spot in the All-Tournament Team. He is a solid pick and roll operator with a decent court vision, has high basketball IQ in general. Has good size and frame for his position and uses it for his advantage, showed some post moves in the event against smaller guards which we might see more in the future as a part of his game. They were a great duo with Lucas Mari and they might very well be the 2nd guard options of an ACB team starting next season. De Larrea’s athleticism is not going to be at NBA level but we’ll see if he’s going to be able to cover it with his craftiness and intelligence. Has slow pace and did not have good shot selection during the tournament, shot 15/44 from the field. His shots were not falling except the first game but has nice release, needs to be better at finishing around the rim and driving to the paint. As De Larrea gains more muscle and becomes a more reliable shooter, he can get more minutes next season with Valencia and a good EuroLeague career is not far away.
David Mirkovic (F/C | 205 cm | ’06) ~ Next Generation Team
17.5 points, 20/38 2FG – 5/14 3FG – 15/18 FT – 9.8 rebounds, 1 block
2006-born David Mirkovic led the Next Generation Team in Belgrade, averaging 17.5 points and 9.8 rebounds in 4 games and was named in the All-Tournament Team. Next Generation Team was short on bigs and Mirkovic played as center most of the time, competed against players that are bigger than him. Mirkovic showed once again that he is a solid rebounder, posting 3 double-doubles in the event. He’s a guy that can be used to space the floor, likes playing pick and pop and has a promising potential behind the 3-point line. He can also create his own shots and give the extra passes to his open teammates. Mirkovic has a soft touch around the rim, can play as a post scorer, finish with both of his hands and has nice footwork. His court vision and passing ability impressed me last summer but in this tournament, we just saw little flashes of them. He has what it takes to become an all-around offensive weapon in the future.
Playing as a power forward seems what is most ideal for Mirkovic, might be too slow to play small forward and not big enough to play center in the pro level, can work as a small ball five when needed. His athleticism and pace are the things that he should work on in order to become a more versatile player. Has trouble defending pick and rolls and standing against guards without fouling them. Showed some good help defense at times in the tournament, can grow into a better defender in the future. Seems more like a future EuroLeague player to me now but has a shot at making it to the NBA as long as he works on his speed and athleticism.
Filip Jovic (F/C | 205 cm | ’05) ~ MEGA MIS
19.2 points, 28/42 2FG, 3/6 3FG, 3.7 rebounds
Jovic was one of the most important pieces of the MEGA roster that clinched the ANGT finals which will take place in Kaunas. The undersized big was too strong for everyone else in the event and enjoyed it pretty much the whole tournament. Jovic averaged 19.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game and got himself a spot in the All-Tournament Team.
Jovic runs the floor really well after grabbing the rebound and can rise up with authority all of a sudden. Doesn’t have the best ball handling skills but can get passed his opponents in full court using his pace and basketball IQ pretty well. He is a solid post scorer and a good athlete, the most important part of his post game is his patience though. He showed how he tricks his matchups around the paint with shot fakes and footwork in Belgrade, he can wait as long as he needs to get open looks or draw fouls, can finish through contact as well. He hangs in the air and knows when and how to finish which is impressive for his age. If he doesn’t get the ball around the paint, he can get it around the 3-point line and still make plays, when he’s 100% sure that he’s going to drive into the paint and score, hard to stop his explosive and powerful slashes but makes mistakes when things don’t go as planned or help defense shows up.
How his game will translate when having to play against bigs with more strength and size in the big stages of pro level is one of the biggest questions about Jovic’s upside. He is a good competitor and will still find ways to show himself no matter what but has to add more tools to his game on both ends of the floor. Tried 6 shots behind the 3-point line in Belgrade and made 3 of them which is a good sign. He needs to stretch the floor much more than he does and be more aggressive on defense, can see him as a power forward and a small ball 5 in the EuroLeague easily.
Noa Essengue (F | 205 cm | ’06) ~ PFBB INSEP
13.8 points, 22/37 – 1/11 3FG – 8/18 FT – 8.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2 steals
Noa Essengue was one of the top performers of the ANGT Belgrade and was named in the All-Tournament Team. Essengue’s frame and athleticism makes him one of the hardest players to defend as a slasher. He runs well in transition, can initiate fast breaks and is a solid finisher around the rim. Essengue dominated the games on both ends of the floor, pressuring guards in the full court defense, defending 1 to 5 in half court and also with steals and deflections thanks to his long arms and quick hands. He can finish through contact and make a lot of and 1 opportunities. Essengue showed that he has upside as a passer especially when he gets the ball around the paint, he can find the open man and feed his teammates. His anticipation on rebounds has potential to be elite, positions himself well and grabs a lot of offensive boards and create second chance point opportunities as well.
Essengue’s biggest issue was shooting in the tournament. He only made 1 of his 11 3-point attempts and was not successful from midrange tries. The positive approach about this might be: it can only get better. He had a lot of trouble from the free throw line too, needs to improve his shooting in general. Essengue is almost a 2007-born (18 DEC 2006) and might have the best chance for an NBA career amongst all the prospects who participated at the event in Belgrade. If he grows to 6’11 and adds a little bit shooting to his bag, he can be a first round draft pick in the future.
Lazar Gacic (F/C | 216 cm | ’05) ~ Crvena Zvezda
14.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 16/18 2FG (89%), 6/13 3FG (46%)
Gacic had one of his most efficient tournaments for a while in Belgrade which might be a beneficial example of his ideal use in the pro level. Gacic didn’t touch the ball a lot but his contribution to the games was crucial in Crvena Zvezda’s run. He averaged 14.3 points in only 31 total field goal attempts in 4 games. (16/18 2FG, 6/13 3FG) Gacic is known for stretching the floor more but he was aggressive around the rim, especially when he got mismatches in the post and finished them most of the time. His existence around the paint was felt on offense which is pretty important for a 216cm prospect, still not the best post scorer against bigs that are solid rim protectors. Gacic is pretty effective in transition too, moves well, runs the floor and drives into the paint with good footwork. His ball handling skills are impressive for his size and can dribble the ball.
Gacic shot 46% behind the 3-point line and looked reliable for catch and shoot situations, hit some big shots too. Shot creation upside is a question mark for now. His potential on the defensive end should be much higher than he shows but sometimes it looks like he should put more effort in doing more than “enough”, especially around the paint. Needs to work on timing on help defense, contesting shots and protecting the rim. If he ever becomes a decent shot blocker, Gacic might very well end up getting a contract in the NBA as a 7’1 wing who can shoot.
Bogoljub Markovic (F/C | 212 cm | ’05) ~ MEGA MIS
14 points – 13/22 2FG – 4/15 3FG – 6.5 rebounds
Bogoljub Markovic had a good showing in Belgrade and was a vital piece for MEGA. Markovic averaged 14 points and 6.5 rebounds in 4 games, showing offensive upside and some flashes on the defensive end. He initiated a lot of fast breaks for his team and often made the right plays as a big, gave out smart passes and slashed to the rim. He runs the floor well and gets to the right spots to get the ball. Markovic only made 4 of his 15 3-point attempts and didn’t have a good shooting performance in the tournament but has potential to stretch the floor. Gave some positive signs in terms of footwork around the paint but still is not a solid scorer in the post. He was active on rebounds too.
Playing defense hasn’t been one of his strongest qualities so far in his career and still isn’t, has slow first step on defense but he has upside as a shot blocker if he puts more effort into it. He was effective around the paint from time to time, should be more careful about his timing and positioning not to fall for the shot fakes. He contests 3s with the purpose to be the first one to run to the offense, can be dangerous when the opposing teams get second chance points, might need to concentrate more to finishing his job on defense cause when he does, he is capable of forcing bad shots.
If he adds more muscle, improves as a shooter and add more tools to his scoring abilities in the half court offense, he has a shot at making it to the NBA in the long term.
Nolan Traore (G | 190 cm | ’06) ~ PFBB INSEP
11.3 points, 10/23 2FG – 7/21 3FG – 4/8 FT – 4.3 assists – 2 steals
Traore showcased his skills as a two-way guard in Belgrade, averaging 11.3 points, 4.3 assists and 2 steals per game. His quick first step makes him a decent slasher and can finish around the rim or dish out assists. He showed good on and off-ball defense in general and forced his opponents into turnovers. Shot okay behind the 3-point line except the 3rd place game. His shot selection got a little bit better but needs to work more to become a reliable shooter. Has a floater game which might improve and turn into something that he can use frequently, also he can create for his own from midrange. Traore is a decent passer but not a true playmaker and sometimes commits easy turnovers. Overall, he had a good tournament and expecting him to be a more efficient player as he gains more experience over the years seems realistic.
Lucas Mari (G | 196 cm | ’05) ~ Valencia
14 points, 18/36 2FG – 4/19 3FG – 5.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.5 steals
Mari displayed his offensive skills in ANGT Belgrade, averaging 14 points and 5.8 assists per game. He is the ideal second ball handler option in a team, will probably keep playing as a shooting guard, really good passer and smart player. He can operate pick and rolls and dish out nice assists. Mari showed good shot creation skills in the tournament with both catch and shoots and off dribble shots even though his shooting percentages were not as expected, has good mechanics. He also played as a slasher, driving to the paint in the event and showed some athleticism as well. Mari also has upside as a defender and is a solid shot blocker for his position. Blocked 5 shots against Anadolu Efes and has good timing on defense as a whole. He should be more careful with his shot selection and just like De Larrea, he could get more minutes as a pro starting from next season.
Urban Kroflic (G | 198 cm | ’06) ~ MEGA MIS
10.5 points, 8/21 2FG – 7/24 3FG – 6.2 rebounds , 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals
2006-born Slovenian prospect Urban Kroflic averaged 10.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.7 steals in 4 games and helped his team finish the tournament in the first place. Kroflic’s performance was similar to last year’s ANGT, had trouble finishing around the rim and his shots didn’t fall at times, couldn’t find his rhythm. He has the potential to become a solid scorer and shooter but might not be the ideal first scoring option that a team should rely on in every game. He can run the floor for fast break opportunities and create for himself in half court but needs to improve his finishing skills. His confidence during games is crucial for his shooting, has a good feel and touch. Although he is not a playmaker or a great passer, he can be more than a shooter, operate pick and rolls and create for his teammates too when needed, has to be more careful with easy turnovers and sloppy passes. He is good at deflections and shows some hustle plays on defense but can lose his focus and misread plays. Kroflic grabbed 25 rebounds in 4 games which is a positive sign for the future and has to be noted.
Melih Tunca (G | 193 cm | ’05) ~ Anadolu Efes
10.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.5 steals
Melih Tunca is having a breakout season in Turkey, and showed how valuable he is as a guard in Belgrade too. Tunca didn’t get many minutes in the last game of the tournament, averaged 13.6 points, 4 rebounds and 9 assists in the first 3 games and showcased his skills as a floor general. Tunca is a skilled playmaker and operates pick and rolls well, plays at his own pace in half court and has some interesting finishes around the rim, hangs in the air and finishes with balance. He runs the offense well in transition, good rebounder for his position and size, throws passes coast to coast or finds the open man behind the 3-point line. His basketball IQ and court vision is really advanced. He is also smart on the defensive end and is good with deflections and anticipations of passes. His shooting and scoring in pro level is going to be the biggest question mark about him as he is not a great shot creator and a 3-point shooter yet. Tunca can become the 2nd guard option of a Turkish EuroLeague team in the future. For more, he needs to improve his shooting and feel as a scorer.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Kaan Onat (G | 195 cm | ’07) ~ Anadolu Efes
Vasilije Todorovic (F | 198 cm | ’05) ~ Next Generation Team
Talis Soulhac (G | 188 cm | ’06) ~ PFBB INSEP
Mohamed Diakite (F | 205 cm | ’06) ~ PFBB INSEP
Savo Drezgic (G | 191 cm | ’06) ~ Partizan
Pietro Iannuzzi (G | 194 cm | ’06) ~ Umana Reyer
Andrej Musicki (G | 189 cm | ’05) ~ MEGA MIS
