By Stefan Djordjevic / info@eurohoops.net
The Basketball Champions League has been filled with young talent since its beginning and while last year, there was much attention on guards, this time around Eurohoops gives some spotlight to the big guys in the frontcourt.
Here are five players born in 2000 that already have (or will very soon) a significant impact on their team’s performance and are looking to take a step forward in their careers.
Dalibor Ilic
Height: 206cm
Weight: 96kg
Position: F
Team: Igokea
Dalibor Ilic is a big but agile combo forward with solid motoric, dribbling shooting and passing skills. Although he’s capable of producing strong on offense and can match up defensively versus most frontcourt players, he lacks consistency on both ends. His off-the-ball movement and run in transition are very good along with a solid low-post technique but needs to work on creating his own shots.
The Bosnian-born Serbian center made his initial basketball steps in the hometown team Varda before joining Igokea at 15 years old. He had a strong presence in Igokea’s youth squads, winning the Junior ABA League in 2018 and finishing third the following year. He was averaging 20+ points and 10+ boards both seasons with a significant jump in the second one.
Ilic debuted for the senior team at 16 years old while he became a regular on the roster as time went on with 15, 20 minutes on average. He spent some time with Mega on a loan after which he returned to Igokea and has been there ever since.
He won three Bosnian Cups and one Bosnian League title with Igokea while he’s also got a Eurobasket gold under his belt with the Serbian U20 national team.
Yoan Makoundou
Height: 207cm
Weight: 96kg
Position: PF/C
Team: Cholet Basket
Among the players on this list (and beyond), Yoan Makoundou has the best raw athletic ability and physicality. He is slightly undersized for the center position but makes up for it with his verticality, wingspan and energy.
He is not afraid to enter a physical duel and a bit more muscle will help in his adjustment to pro basketball. He is fast in transition, dunks easily and is very good on the block – especially when chasing from behind.
However, despite all that raw athletic talent, his skillset lacks heavily and will have to improve in order for Makoundou to gain a much-needed versatility in the offense.
His focus should be on improving the ‘point guard skills’. To be able to drive to the basket one-on-one, learn the basic dish-out extra passes and find a spot-up shot with consistency.
Keep in mind that Makoundou hasn’t had a chance so far to truly prove himself as he has played for Cholet’s teams in lower French divisions. However, he was given an opportunity this year on the main squad with around 15 minutes per game and that will go a long way in his development.
Much work necessary, huge upside.
Jaime Fernandez
Height: 206cm
Weight: 95kg
Position: C
Team: Casademont Zaragoza
The closest player to a traditional center on this list. Fernandez has the size necessary to play down low and has quick enough footwork during the screen-setting as well as rolling into the paint. His low-post technique is solid and versatile as he doesn’t shy away from hooks and pivoting multiple times if needed with firm balance.
That said, his execution must improve. Having the fundamentals and proper technique doesn’t mean much if the ball doesn’t go through the net often enough. The recipe for that, of course, is repetitiveness and if the young center continues to practice and continues to put himself into those situations in-game, he will without a doubt gain ‘the touch’ and rise to a new level.
There is also a big upside to him in case he succeeds in improving his long-range shooting which would make him much more versatile and enable him to stretch the opposing defense. His shooting technique is a bit raw and insecure. While his shots have the direction, they usually tend to hit the back of the rim.
One of the things that might help would be to change the way the ball lands on his palm, that is to lift it off the bottom of the palm and have more control with the fingers that seem to be closer together than needed. Whatever the case may be, Fernandez doesn’t show any fear nor hesitation when left open and with enough shot attempts, that will improve regardless of the way he holds the ball.
It’s important to note that while Fernandez had ample minutes with the Barca B squad for the past two years, he hasn’t been getting much playing time with Zaragoza since his return and the team was recently taken over by a new coach in Sergio Hernandez. All of that might hinder and slow down the youngster’s development.