By Niki Bakouli/ bakouli@eurohoops.net
The globalization of everything brought –among many other things- the naturalizations in sports, with FIBA accepting the new reality, by setting some –quite few to be exact- rules. And that is how countries with no great basketball tradition or small countries with no tall sketch (if you want to put it in general prospective, without too many options) manage to fill a gap, since every national team can use only one naturalized player, to each FIBA’s tournament.
In Slovenia, 10 out of 24 teams will have a player who became one of their own, by receiving a passport. There are nine guys who will try to become what Bo McCalebb was for FYROM at Eurobasket 2011: their leaders to success! He was the best scorer of the tournament, while he led his team to the 4th place and of course he is the 10th one of the list. But this time, his mission is to repeat Lithuania’s epic games. By the way, they could be 11, but Matt Lojeski got injured and left Belgium. Shall we see the hall list?
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
He was the chosen one of the Bosnian Basketball Federation, for the place of the nation’s starting point guard, on April of 2012, while he was playing at Cibona Zagreb. The newly wade American (he was born in Austin, Texas, on 05/02/1985) is the one who completes Bosnia & Herzegovina’s “Big 3”, together with Mirza Teletovic and Nihad Dedovic. Wright can score, can pass and as he showed at the preparation games, now he can even score three-pointers.
FYROM
He is again the fuel on FYROM’s engine. He knows how to make his teammates look better, while he can distinguish the moment he has to shine –he has to give the solution to his buddies. McCalleb was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana (on 04/05/1985). FYROM has the exact roster of 2011 –they even convinced Todor Gecevski to come back, so nothing won’t change-, they have a solid team and McCalebb one of the main reasons.
GEORGIA
Ricky Hickman
He is the back up of George Tsintsadze (starting point guard) and the one who will give an extra hand on shooting guard position. Maccabi Tel Aviv’s player has the personality to live up to the expectations, to offer what his… second country needs, due to the fact he is an experienced –Euroleague- player, capable of many things. He was born at the 1rst of September, in 1985 at Winston Salem, North Carolina.
GREAT BRITAIN
Toronto (Canada) native (he was born there on 31/12/1988) shooting guard of Sutor Montegranaro, is a wing player who had his first European adventure at Greece (for Ilisiakos), after he graduated from Long Island. He is one of the three most quality players of Great Britain (keep in mind that Freeland, Bonsu and Deng are out) and he can offer lots of energy (at the both ends), together with points.
ISRAEL
He curried an ankle injury from last season and that was the reason he missed the half of Israel’s preparation, while coach Shivek was trying to protect him, so he can have him when it counts. He is a modern power forward/center, an undersized player with tons of energy, great efficiency on rebounds, a good defender,… who lives to block! He was born on 08/01 of 1988, at St. Louis, Missouri.
ITALY
Through the backdoor, Italy got a really good point guard –if you come to think that for many years now there is a gap at this spot for the “Azzurri”. By the way, he is going to debut –as an Italian- at Slovenia. He was born on 01/03/1982, at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, he was an NBAer from 2005 to 2010 and the last three years he played for Dinamo Sassari. He can create and he can score the Italians will need everything he has to give, while they will miss Bargnani, Gallinari, Hackett and Mancinelli.
MONTENEGRO
Taylor Rochestie was the favorite to get the spot of Montenegro’s naturalized player, till the preparation was in place and Rise proved to be a lot more useful, for Luka Pavicevic’s plans. He is a left-handed point guard, who was born on May 15th of 1987, at Richmond, Virginia. He can be a leader, he can use his teammates in the right way and he also can score when this is what he needs to do.
POLAND
A great shooter, who makes Poland’s offence more dangerous. Lampe and Gortat are the ones who take upon them the 80% of the shots. Which means they attract many defenders,… which also means that some of their teammates are free. When Kelati is free, he knows how to punish. He was born on the 27th of September, in 1982, at Walla Walla, Washington, USA. Just so you know, he qualified for Polish citizenship through marriage to a Pole.
CROATIA
Roko Leni Ukic’s back up allows to Croatia’s captain to rest –relaxed- at the bench, since he is also able to give good defense, he knows how to create and at the same time he knows to execute –and all that at high levels. He is the perfect one for this role and he seems to enjoy every minute. Real Madrid’s point guard was born on August, 10th, in 1984 at Baltimore, Maryland. This will be his second Eurobasket adventure –he debuted at Lithuania, two years ago.
UKRAINE
Pooh Jeter
To make a long story short, he is Ukraine’s McCalebb. He is able to create some serious rifts in defences, he runs a lot, he is dynamic, he defends really well the ball and he can score as he wishes. Eugene Jeter was born on the first of December, in 1983, at Los Angeles, California and he already has played at Russia, Spain, Israel, China and the NBA (2010-2011 Sacramento Kings).