Greek wrote:Marcus wrote:Greek wrote:To get an idea who is Charalampopoulos watch this video. I see him more of a PF since he doesnt have an explosive athleticism, but his skill level is well beyond his years.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dGRSEKzR2A[/youtube]
do you know if he has any plans to come to the US?
If you mean collage ball no. His team hired coach Ivanovic who is known for developing youngsters so most probably will use the rout of Mirotic, than to come raw in the NBA, but i think that he is willing to try in the league if he pans out. The scary part is maybe not even the best talent of PAO youth. On his age is Panagiannis 7'1 C 7'5 wing span soft touch decent athleticism, very good skill level, has some issues with his endurance, but its acceptable for his age and built. Reports saying that he is making huge progress on the last 3 months. He used to play in US high school and was 5 star recruiting. I can see him being lottery pick in 2 years and move in NBA at the same year. He is currently rated top 3 talent in Europe.
The 1998 born Lountzis is already 6'5 with huge huge wing span and his game is similar to Diamantidis (legendary player in Europe, one of the best PG ever, and the best defensive guard ever by large margin in the Europe, and its not an overstatement, just check his accolades) but way better athlete, and can shoot the 3 already. Good passing instincts, he can see the floor. A do it all PG and defensive menace who can guard 3 positions.
I actually think that maybe is the best prospect playing in Greece right now, since he doesnt have the typical weakness of the Greek players namely athleticism.
I cant predict the future but those 3 names will hear a lot on the next 2-3 years thats for sure.
I am sure Charalampopoulos will be a first round draft pick. As soon as he works out for NBA teams and scouts and as soon as he goes to a rookie camp like at Treviso. Players that far ahead of all others in their class are tending to get drafted these days high. It is not like it used to be where many of the greatest players ever from Europe never got drafted.
Just see for other players from Greece, that they have Vezenkov in mid 2nd round and even that is where Papanikolaou went, and Charalampopoulos seems like a much more all around and complete player than both of them.
As far as Papagiannis goes, every report says he will be in NCAA next season. From what I know Kentucky is on him extremely hard as are several other big schools. He will then spend one year in NCAA and go to NBA. There is very small chance he will stay in Panathinaikos.
For the player Lountzis that you mention, I see basically no similarity at all to Diamantidis, other than them being Greek and they are Panathinaikos players. That must be a marketing thing someone from the club came up with. I have watched Lountzis play in the youth camps and he is much, much more athletic than Diamantidis has ever been and his scoring skills and ability is far greater than anything Diamantidis ever had. He is also already probably even as a kid a better shooter than Diamantidis.
Diamantidis is basic pass the ball and move it round, pick and pop, pick and roll, have a some set a screen and shoot it, or let the big man dive the basket and throw it to him player, with an occasion post up of a smaller guard. Can play three positions on offense, point forward type player, wing defender on defense type of guy. Can knock down an open jumper on catch and shoot occasionally but that is it.
Lountzis really bares no similarity at all to that type of player. He's a very athletic, explosive scorer, guy that creates his own shot, and looks to score on fast break and also very good shooter off the dribble. I would compare Lountzis from what I see at youth camps as rich's man's Rudy Fernandez. Basically, Rudy with better skills. I think he is way more talented and better player than Diamantidis. Diamantidis is guy that played years and years and years in championship teams and made a legend in that club with its fans and got admiration in Greece with certain people from when they won gold medal in Euro in 2005 from clutch play.
He is obviously a great player, but he has never been a very good offensive scoring player. In his whole career, he never really saw a second or help defender, let alone double team, and still struggled on offense most of the time individually without 2 man game. His career is made on being a winner, being clutch, hitting big shots, things like that, not his individual talent or how good he was as an individual player. That's a fact, no matter how much some Panathinaikos fans or Greeks can't stand it. He was never some player like Navarro, Bodiroga, Spanoulis, that were individually superstars and dominant type talents in Europe, not even was he ever someone like Jasikevicius to be honest about it. And his level of defense has always been greatly exaggerated. Just like they have myths about how certain players play defense in NBA (Chris Paul or Kobe for many years), they do also in Europe, and Diamantidis is perfect example. He was for many years not even the best defender in his team.
Young Lountzis is a much more talented player than him and they really are not at all similar. You are selling him short to make that comparison, even if you don't realize it because in Greece they have unwarranted over worship syndrome for Diamantidis, giving him credit just basically for being in a good team year after year, and confusing it with being some kind of Jordan.
No, that Lountzis kid is much above Diamantidis in prospects. He has much more of a chance than to just be a guy throwing pick and roll passes 30 times a game like Diamantidis. He has actual real individual talent, personality, and individual scoring ability, something more in line with Greek players like Galis, Spanoulis, Christodoulou, Giannakis, Pappas.
. He will end up around 6'3-6'5. I can dream dont i? 
