Post#1240 » by Noonskadoodle » Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:47 pm
Eurocups Top 5 Rising Star Candidates...
5. Rudy Gobert, Cholet Basket (26 June, 1992)
Gobert brings an impressive combination of size and athleticism to the center spot, which has turned him into an elite shot-blocking prospect. He was selected to the all-tournament team at the Under-20 European Championships over the summer after helping France win a silver medal with a whopping 10.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.7 blocks in the three elimination round games. Having locked down a starting spot with Cholet this season, the sky is the limit for Gobert.
4. Tomas Satoransky, Cajasol Seville (30 October, 1991)
The tall and athletic Satoransky returns to the Eurocup two years after helping Cajasol reach the competition title game. His experiences with Cajasol and the Czech senior national team have only helped Satoransky’s knowledge of the game improve to make him a truly dangerous weapon. He is a great slasher who loves to excite the crowds with big dunks. Improving his outside shooting appears to be the final frontier for Satoransky on his rise to stardom.
3. Nikos Pappas, Panionios (11 July, 1990)
Scoring guard Pappas has long been considered one of the top young guards in Europe after terrorizing the junior summer circuit by leading Greece to two gold and three silver medals at the Under-18, U-19 and U-20 European and World Championships between 2008 and 2010. He has already established himself as a go-to guy for his new club Panionios after erupting for 32 points, 8 rebounds and a performance index rating of 36 in the third game of the Greek League regular season.
2. Bojan Dubljevic, Valencia Basket (24 October, 1991)
Dubljevic comes off a season in which he was selected to the All-Eurocup Second Team, even though he didn’t claim a spot in Buducnost’s starting five till late in the regular season. He was the MVP for the first games in the quarterfinals when he went for 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals against his current team, Valencia. This season he provides serious scoring punch in a part-time starting role that could expand as the 21-year-old continues to improve week by week.
1. Furkan Aldemir, Galatasaray Medical Park (9 August, 1991)
Ademir showed skill as a dominant rebounder and active player in the paint last season as he garnered votes in the 2012 Euroleague Rising Star Award voting. Now a year older and stronger, Aldemir should be a fixture in the Galatasaray lineup and one of the best offensive rebounders in the Eurocup. With a motor that never stops, no fear of contact and a cast of great players around him that will make Aldemir and Galatasaray better, he enters the season as a prime candidate for the Rising Star Award.