As every year, some of the best European teams and prospects met for a U16 tournament in Szekesfehervar, Hungary to compete at the highest level. The age ranged from the oldest player Josip Pavkovic (2006) to the youngest player Mahmoud Landoure (2009). Basically, eight teams played against each other in two separate groups and played placement matches on the final day, where the respective 1st place teams met, and so on.
Here are the reports on the most promising players in the event:
Junior Kemm (G | 196 cm | ’07) ~ Stellazzurra Roma
Kemm is a playmaking shot creator with a nice mix of NBA-like athleticism, toughness, and motor. With an aggressive and quick first step, he’s good in attacking with no fear of contact, or going up against bigger bodies (30 free throws in 4 games). He’s also a threat from distance (38% over the tournament) with a smooth and clean shooting form and even shoots it without hesitation if the opponent gives him space. Worth mentioning from the event is his midrange game, which is very pronounced and works after switches against close defending bigs. Comparisons with Victor Oladipo or Jordan Clarkson is quite appropriate at this point regarding his style of play. His weakness is sometimes decision making which is a normal thing for his age.
At the defensive end Kemm did not always show the same effort that he had in offense. He tends to relax, but his laterality is over-average. He likes to show sparks of his athleticism in steals and defensive rebounds, but his level of energy is not the same in both halves of the court.
What makes Kemm even more exciting, is that as a Swiss-Brazilian he worked his way up to a renowned academy like Stella Azzurra in the first place via a voluntary summer camp. Most probable will put him this performance on the radar of top European teams.
Declan Duru (Forward | 203 cm | ’07) ~ Real Madrid
Duru acted as an athletic and explosive point forward very dominant throughout the tournament. He often set the scene for his teammates from top of the key (handoffs, passes to cutters), created with his quick first step from drives and scored from distance (41% 3FG), which even could set him apart from a comparable player like Draymond Green. Especially his constant attacking of closeouts and his 1v1 attacks, which are on an elite European level, led to many free throws, which he hit with solid percentages (65% FT). It is also worth mentioning that he is very energetic in grabbing rebounds (6.5 rebs). Two negative aspects resulted from post-up situations, although he has potential in the post-up due to his strong physique. On the one hand, the overload in double-teams and on the other hand the weak finish with his left hand. Although he has a good overview for his teammates, he does not manage to get the ball out of the post with skip passes.
Nevertheless, an extremely variable performance over the entire tournament (+/- +9).
Sidi Gueye (G | 208 cm | ’07) ~ Real Madrid
The Senegalese big man paint beast with extremely long arms and broad shoulders dominated the zone in all aspects (25 paint FGs). Offensively he handles all passes above and below ring level, defensively he constantly prevents (2blcks per game) and impedes drives and shots. Despite his size, he mostly blocked out his opponent (9rebs per game) and showed equally solid hedge defense with quick lateral footwork to keep the opposing guard in front of him. One negative aspect is still his slenderness, as he often let stronger opponents push him around. In the post, he still found good positions with his quick feet to produce with his back to the basket and knew how to be creative out of it. During the tournament, he adjusted defensively and fronted his opponents to avoid exposure to mismatches. Finishing with his weak hand should be his focus in the coming months, along with gaining physical weight. There is surely NBA potential with further physical development and if all goes according to the plan.
Maikcol Perez (G | 203 cm | ’07) ~ Orange1 Bassano
Perez is a wing (SG/SF) being a constant offensive threat who used his size to find productive spaces in the offense, even in the 2023 Szent Istvan Cup. With his aggressiveness on drives, he found open lanes, finished solidly with contact, and also found efficient options in the low post. Unfortunately, he has still been extremely inefficient from the three-point line (0/7 3FG). Once teams with greater spacing adjust to him on 1v1 defense, he is forced to show a solid shot as well. Nevertheless, the Italian showed an exceptional flow and feel for the game in all four games and his ball handling qualities are also very pronounced and advanced for a wing player.
Josip Pavkovic (PF/C | 206 cm | ’06) ~ Cibona Zagreb
The Croatian national player, who was superior for this tournament both physically and in terms of experience, convinced on several levels and showed coaches to be ready for some rookie minutes on solid european pro-level from the next season on. Basically, he is a typical inside-outside player who hits high percentages from distance (4/9 3FG, 44%) in pick-and-pop situations, but also convinces with powerful and variable post-up play (11,25ppg). Despite his massive build, he manages to get past opponents with an excellent first step and good ball handling and finishes on drives and midrange shots. Although he seemed unmotivated a few times in running back after turnovers, he is anything but a selfish player (2,5ass). With weakside skipping passes out of the post or swings, he regularly sets up his teammates, making him a Luke Sikma-like player. Likewise, he has his teammates’ cuts on screen and shows good fundamental vision. Defensively, however, he has a few weaknesses. He can hardly keep up with fast guards (ended two games with 4 fouls) and has not always been 100% active in rebounding, despite his 5rebs per game. This is surprising, because offensively he handles physical contact very well and is absorbing contact.
Gabor Lukacsi (PG | 193 cm | ’07) ~ Ratgeber Academy / Hungary NT
Lukacsi is considered one of the most talented (guard) prospects in Hungarian basketball in years. With constant tempo control, excellent passing skills and productive scoring (12,5ppg), he brings everything a modern floor general (+/- of +15) must have. Obviously, he has solid ball handling and above-average passing skills with both hands (3ass per game), which allows him to expertly break up double teams up front or in pick-and-roll situations. In pick and roll, he also dares to make risky and challenging passes to teammates, which could transfer to pro-level immediately.
He also likes to be proactive with the ball and regularly attacks with his good and nimble footwork and hits catch and shoot threes (3FG 8/23, 35%) as well. Occasionally Gabor also creates space in midrange (2FG overall: 53%) and hits them with the help of his flawless shot. Near the basket, he still shows great potential at times, especially against tall opponents.
Defensively, he repeatedly disrupts the opposing guard and provokes ball losses with the help of his good hands. Basically, his defensive skills are solid, but not remarkably good.
Giannis Odzebe (Forward | 196 cm | ’08) ~ Orange1 Bassano
Odzebe was the most promising talent of the 2008 generation. The Congolese is a fundamentally athletic forward who has an over-average motor for European level, a rock-solid shot (midrange and three-pointers also contested) and an impressive anticipation to block shots. He was the man to stop in Bassanos offense (15ppg). Sometimes he struggles with referee decisions but is not impressed by them and at the same time is the communicative leader of his team, hyping his teammates. In the 1v1 defense Odzebe still has some potential because he committed some clumsy and unnecessary fouls (reach-ins) in harmless situations.
Patrick Hassan (G | 190 cm | ’07) ~ Orange1 Bassano
Hassan was an outstanding tall playmaker throughout the tournament, knowing how to be offensively productive from all regions. Whether it was a three-pointer off the dribble, a floater on the drive after an explosive first step or a variable basket (hooks, fingerrolls, eurostep) or even wild circus finishes. In addition, Hassan also had the eye for the teammate (3.3 ass), despite all his scoring qualities. Nevertheless, he also made a few turnovers due to risky passes.
Defensively he wasn’t noticeable, which states he is not doing a lot mistakes, but also isn’t proactive on the ball defending.
Prince Lumena (C | 203 cm | ’07) ~ Stellazzurra Roma
A very physical and athletic big, equipped with a good motor, he was an unstoppable duo in combination with Kemm. Time and again he excelled as a roller after picks (10ppg) and knew how to finish near the basket with his back to the basket (18/31 2FG), but also with drives. Defensively, he always stood his ground and kept quicker guards in front of him. In contrast to his ANGT performance in Zadar, he got even more offensive responsibility (30mins average playtime) and accordingly appeared as a good communicator. His post moves are already on a good level, especially his fast and hard to stop spin move. Weak point is still his drop defense, which is still a bit unsafe and leads to unnecessary fouls (3,5fls per game).
Mahmoud Landoure (C | 210 cm | ’09) ~ Real Madrid
The youngest player of the tournament was by no means the most inexperienced. The Malinese center, with strengths in offensive post-up and rebounding, will inevitably be one to keep an eye on in the years to come and is in the best way to be one of the most dominant bigs in Europe. He has fluid movement and good coordination for a player as long and young as he is. His shooting mechanics are smooth yet come into little use so far. His athleticism allows him to be efficient as a pick and roll player. The next steps in his development will be focused on working on his repertoire in the post. In contrast to teammate Sidi Gueye, he already can oppose stronger opponents in the post-up, but he does not have the variability to finish.
Defensively he shows glimpses of great anticipation of blocking shot and is also solid in drop defense. On the board he did a great job to not allow any offensive rebounds.
Adrians Andzevs (PG | 186 cm | ’07) ~ Real Madrid
The Latvian exceptional talent is a true floor general and, on his way, to becoming a modern point guard. Fast, smart, and strong on the shot. He picks up tremendous speed on drives, benefits from a solid motor and doesn’t shy away from bigger opponents (with good balance in his upper body, he also finishes rock solid against them). Add to that an already good understanding of breaking up offensive pick and rolls. He regularly punished opposing guards, when they went under the block, with long range hits. However, with just under 5 assists per game, he was also setting up his bigs or finding wing players at the three-point line. With his well-developed eye and awareness, he usually finds the open teammate. Impressive was also his behavior in situations when the shot clock expired, which he solved with calmness and intelligence.
A weak point is certainly still his ball handling, which is currently his biggest focus in the daily work. Defensively he stood his man and forced some steals but wasn’t able to be pro-active or an aggressive on-ball defender.
