2022 international class

[juanc]

Žiga Samar with a good game against the Euroleague club Baskonia. His team Fuenlabrada destroyed Baskonia in the 3rd quater and won 84:70.

He finished the game with 12PTS/4REB/7AST in 25 minutes. Oh and all that without a TO. For the season he has 5AST to 1.1 TO

[Toxicity]

Matteo Spagnolo from Italy is shining in the Italian Top League with Cremona (on loan from Real Madrid):

12.1 ppg (50% from the field, 45% from 3, 80% from FT), 3.4 rpg and 2.6 apg in just 25 mpg... not bad at all for a 2003 born!

The other italian prospect, Gabriele Procida, is struggling more to find minutes at this point (6.6 ppg 42% from 3, 85% from FT and 2.9 rpg in 17 mpg) but has better athleticism and maybe more NBA upside (even if he's 1 year older) with his 6-7 frame with long arms...

Projection for Spagnolo: late 1st rounder (but he was just a late 2nd rounder a couple of months ago) with che chance to climb some spots...

Procida: middle to late 2nd round...

[EMG518]

Matteo Spagnolo from Italy is shining in the Italian Top League with Cremona (on loan from Real Madrid):

12.1 ppg (50% from the field, 45% from 3, 80% from FT), 3.4 rpg and 2.6 apg in just 25 mpg... not bad at all for a 2003 born!

The other italian prospect, Gabriele Procida, is struggling more to find minutes at this point (6.6 ppg 42% from 3, 85% from FT and 2.9 rpg in 17 mpg) but has better athleticism and maybe more NBA upside (even if he's 1 year older) with his 6-7 frame with long arms...

Projection for Spagnolo: late 1st rounder (but he was just a late 2nd rounder a couple of months ago) with che chance to climb some spots...

Procida: middle to late 2nd round...

I would take Procida in the lottery personally. He has all the tools you would want for a wing.

[LewisnotMiller]

I watched Besson and Dieng (and Hukporti) in person on the weekend.. man, Besson is just a bucket. Ousmane was a liability all around.. obviously talented but he needs an extra year at minimum, shouldn't put his name in. Hukporti has sensational physical tools but was hit and miss because he's not a high IQ player.

Affirmed what I've seen all season from them. I agree, Besson is a 1st round lock right now, probably a top 20 guy. He may not have outstanding physical tools, and his D does still need work, but his scoring is incredibly polished.. Almost reminds me of someone like Tyler Herro.

Did Besson look like a guy who can create and pass? Curious as a Raps fan with us needing a 2nd unit playmaker

This is kinda a hot take, since the guy has played very well, but I'd stay away. He can create his own shot, and is pretty polished for a young man. But he doesn't look big to me (listed at 6'3" in draft prospectus I've seen, but I'd guess 6'1") so I think at the NBA level he's a point guard only, really (unless you have a tall PG he can switch defensively with).

He just reminds me of a guy who's forever rock solid at the second level, but can't make the leap due to listed size, length, athleticism, or uber-skill.

However...as I said...he's looked very good in the NBL, same league Ball and Giddey got drafted from. He's ineligible for rookie of the year due to some technicality, but he'd win it otherwise.

Note : to be clear, I'm not saying he IS only 6'1". Just what he looked like in person.

[Toxicity]

Matteo Spagnolo from Italy is shining in the Italian Top League with Cremona (on loan from Real Madrid):

12.1 ppg (50% from the field, 45% from 3, 80% from FT), 3.4 rpg and 2.6 apg in just 25 mpg... not bad at all for a 2003 born!

The other italian prospect, Gabriele Procida, is struggling more to find minutes at this point (6.6 ppg 42% from 3, 85% from FT and 2.9 rpg in 17 mpg) but has better athleticism and maybe more NBA upside (even if he's 1 year older) with his 6-7 frame with long arms...

Projection for Spagnolo: late 1st rounder (but he was just a late 2nd rounder a couple of months ago) with che chance to climb some spots...

Procida: middle to late 2nd round...

I would take Procida in the lottery personally. He has all the tools you would want for a wing.

Maybe you're right... talent wise he may be lottery or 1st round material... but he has to improve a lot, starting from his footwork and strenght along with ball-handling... if he doesn't want to be "just" a 3&D prospect (which isn't that bad)...

Another solid performance yesterday: 12 pts on 5/7 FG, 4 rebounds and 1 blk... we'll see if he can keep this kind of quality in the 2nd part of the season, as he's seeing more minutes of PT by his coach (Fortitudo Bologna is dead last in italian 1st division but he's one of the few players that can change a game athletically for his team).

Some highlghts from a past game by Procida:

Watch on YouTube

Take a look @ 1:26 mark...

[Hal14]

Matteo Spagnolo from Italy is shining in the Italian Top League with Cremona (on loan from Real Madrid):

12.1 ppg (50% from the field, 45% from 3, 80% from FT), 3.4 rpg and 2.6 apg in just 25 mpg... not bad at all for a 2003 born!

The other italian prospect, Gabriele Procida, is struggling more to find minutes at this point (6.6 ppg 42% from 3, 85% from FT and 2.9 rpg in 17 mpg) but has better athleticism and maybe more NBA upside (even if he's 1 year older) with his 6-7 frame with long arms...

Projection for Spagnolo: late 1st rounder (but he was just a late 2nd rounder a couple of months ago) with che chance to climb some spots...

Procida: middle to late 2nd round...

I would take Procida in the lottery personally. He has all the tools you would want for a wing.

Funny you say that. Because I would take Spagnolo in the lottery. Best PG in the draft IMO.

People saying it's Washington but Spagnolo is like a year and a half younger, 2" taller, just as good of a shooter, passer and defender while being a little better at getting to the rim. Plus Spagnolo is less of an injury risk, since Washington is injured again right now, for the second time in the past few weeks. Spagnolo has more experience under his belt playing games vs top notch competition (as in comp that's tougher than high schoolers) despite being a year and a half younger.

It's close but gun to my head I would take Spagnolo over Washington right now. Got them both top 15 on my big board.

[sisibilio]

Žiga Samar with a good game against the Euroleague club Baskonia. His team Fuenlabrada destroyed Baskonia in the 3rd quater and won 84:70.

He finished the game with 12PTS/4REB/7AST in 25 minutes. Oh and all that without a TO. For the season he has 5AST to 1.1 TO

Definitely worthy of a mid 2nd IMO. Kind of a bigger, more athletic Pangos.

[EMG518]

Matteo Spagnolo from Italy is shining in the Italian Top League with Cremona (on loan from Real Madrid):

12.1 ppg (50% from the field, 45% from 3, 80% from FT), 3.4 rpg and 2.6 apg in just 25 mpg... not bad at all for a 2003 born!

The other italian prospect, Gabriele Procida, is struggling more to find minutes at this point (6.6 ppg 42% from 3, 85% from FT and 2.9 rpg in 17 mpg) but has better athleticism and maybe more NBA upside (even if he's 1 year older) with his 6-7 frame with long arms...

Projection for Spagnolo: late 1st rounder (but he was just a late 2nd rounder a couple of months ago) with che chance to climb some spots...

Procida: middle to late 2nd round...

I would take Procida in the lottery personally. He has all the tools you would want for a wing.

Maybe you're right... talent wise he may be lottery or 1st round material... but he has to improve a lot, starting from his footwork and strenght along with ball-handling... if he doesn't want to be "just" a 3&D prospect (which isn't that bad)...

Another solid performance yesterday: 12 pts on 5/7 FG, 4 rebounds and 1 blk... we'll see if he can keep this kind of quality in the 2nd part of the season, as he's seeing more minutes of PT by his coach (Fortitudo Bologna is dead last in italian 1st division but he's one of the few players that can change a game athletically for his team).

Some highlghts from a past game by Procida:

Watch on YouTube

Take a look @ 1:26 mark...

100% has to improve but at 19 that is expected. I personally think he is playing very within the role they are asking of him but he shows flashes of being capable of developing into a much higher usage player and he has the physical snd athletic tools to be very successful and play in the league even if those other skills don't develop much although I personally believe they will. I don't see why he can't develop into more of a point forward he can play out of the pick and roll.

[EMG518]

Matteo Spagnolo from Italy is shining in the Italian Top League with Cremona (on loan from Real Madrid):

12.1 ppg (50% from the field, 45% from 3, 80% from FT), 3.4 rpg and 2.6 apg in just 25 mpg... not bad at all for a 2003 born!

The other italian prospect, Gabriele Procida, is struggling more to find minutes at this point (6.6 ppg 42% from 3, 85% from FT and 2.9 rpg in 17 mpg) but has better athleticism and maybe more NBA upside (even if he's 1 year older) with his 6-7 frame with long arms...

Projection for Spagnolo: late 1st rounder (but he was just a late 2nd rounder a couple of months ago) with che chance to climb some spots...

Procida: middle to late 2nd round...

I would take Procida in the lottery personally. He has all the tools you would want for a wing.

Funny you say that. Because I would take Spagnolo in the lottery. Best PG in the draft IMO.

People saying it's Washington but Spagnolo is like a year and a half younger, 2" taller, just as good of a shooter, passer and defender while being a little better at getting to the rim. Plus Spagnolo is less of an injury risk, since Washington is injured again right now, for the second time in the past few weeks. Spagnolo has more experience under his belt playing games vs top notch competition (as in comp that's tougher than high schoolers) despite being a year and a half younger.

It's close but gun to my head I would take Spagnolo over Washington right now. Got them both top 15 on my big board.

I personally if drafting Ivey am developing him at the point and playing him there so he is my #1 point guard. It's not a good point guard class. I'm not sure TyTy is more than a combo guard off the bench, he might be just not your traditional point guard. I haven't watched enough of Spagnola probably but from what I have seen he feels like a guy who could maybe break into the 1st round but more likely a 2nd rounder in my view. He could be better than TyTy in the end but I'm not terribly high on him either. This draft doesn't have great depth in my view. I like the top 10 but it feels like it's not deep.

Procida I honestly would take top 10. It's rare to find a wing at that age with the size, athleticism, defense, shooting,.and that flashes the skills to expand to a higher usageplayer.

[jezzerinho]

Am now obsessively watching Fortuna Bologna and Procida and am very excited by what i see. You know when you just stumble on a player you knew nothing about and he knocks your socks off?

There's a ton to like: above average athleticism, some vertical explosion, broad shoulders and a lot of scope for him to add physicality, great defensive anticipation, competitive temperament, metronomic shooting form from 3 and FT, with a high release, decent court vision and IQ, basic handle but keeps it low, ok footwork that could use development, occasional finishes with off hand, a few advanced passes despite not showing massive playmaking.

In such a shïtty draft, that's a lot to value.

Still watching but i just find it hard to imagine this kid won't be successful - too many good traits in his favour.

[sisibilio]

i don't know if he'll be declaring this year but if he does Michael Caicedo might be a steal with a late 2nd

[mr570]

Any new thoughts on Badji? Really interested in him.

[Mirotic12]

We sure he's not 24? he sure looks the part heh. but definitely super impressive athlete.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2120474

Anyway, I wrote a more full early look scouting report for Fanbo Zeng.

Yeah, how are these guys 19? Similar to Zion, I dont get it, when I was 19, I weighted like 130 pounds.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adem_Bona#cite_note-fiba-2

Real question is how this dude become a Turkish citizen at age 15? Plus moving to Turkey at 13 to play professional basketball? After playing football in his youth? Turkey is now in the business of handing out citizenships to 15 year olds?

They have been doing it in basketball for decades. Hedo, Turkcan, etc., etc.

[MemphisX]

I would take Procida in the lottery personally. He has all the tools you would want for a wing.

Maybe you're right... talent wise he may be lottery or 1st round material... but he has to improve a lot, starting from his footwork and strenght along with ball-handling... if he doesn't want to be "just" a 3&D prospect (which isn't that bad)...

Another solid performance yesterday: 12 pts on 5/7 FG, 4 rebounds and 1 blk... we'll see if he can keep this kind of quality in the 2nd part of the season, as he's seeing more minutes of PT by his coach (Fortitudo Bologna is dead last in italian 1st division but he's one of the few players that can change a game athletically for his team).

Some highlghts from a past game by Procida:

Watch on YouTube

Take a look @ 1:26 mark...

100% has to improve but at 19 that is expected. I personally think he is playing very within the role they are asking of him but he shows flashes of being capable of developing into a much higher usage player and he has the physical snd athletic tools to be very successful and play in the league even if those other skills don't develop much although I personally believe they will. I don't see why he can't develop into more of a point forward he can play out of the pick and roll.

Procida should be a 1st rounder.

[Toxicity]

Procida is playing good lately: in his last game posted a team high 15 points on 4/4 FG (3/3 from 3p and 4/5 FT) and 3 rebs in just 19' of PT... he sat in the last quarter for a minor injury and his team lost by 3 points in the end.

Take a look at that put-back dunk by him (after the 3p shot)...

[BlazersBroncos]

Procida kid looks really nice, going to have to look into him some more.

[BarbaGrizz]

Gui Santos will make a GM look smart. Body of a SF playing as a PG in Brazil. 19yo do it at all player. Reminds me of a smaller, more athletic Kyle Anderson (Memphis version)

[jman3134]

Gui Santos will make a GM look smart. Body of a SF playing as a PG in Brazil. 19yo do it at all player. Reminds me of a smaller, more athletic Kyle Anderson (Memphis version)

He should be a lottery pick imo. I wouldn't call him a true point guard, but he can certainly fill the role. The handle is definitely there and he can get to the rim at an NBA level now. The comp isn't awful considering Kyle acted in a point/wing role early in his career. Defensively, Gui is elite and would be an amazing fit for our Grizzlies.

His season has been quite remarkable with Minas. The only thing holding him back from being at the very top of the draft chart imo is his uncontested 3 percentage. But, this will definitely improve in time, as his stroke is fluid. He could be the star of this draft class.

[Hal14]

Gui Santos will make a GM look smart. Body of a SF playing as a PG in Brazil. 19yo do it at all player. Reminds me of a smaller, more athletic Kyle Anderson (Memphis version)

He should be a lottery pick imo. I wouldn't call him a true point guard, but he can certainly fill the role. The handle is definitely there and he can get to the rim at an NBA level now. The comp isn't awful considering Kyle acted in a point/wing role early in his career. Defensively, Gui is elite and would be an amazing fit for our Grizzlies.

His season has been quite remarkable with Minas. The only thing holding him back from being at the very top of the draft chart imo is his uncontested 3 percentage. But, this will definitely improve in time, as his stroke is fluid. He could be the star of this draft class.

He's averaging 9 pts, 5 rebs, 2 assists a game. 45% FG, 31% from 3, 72% FT. What has he done that's so remarkable? Brazilian league isn't even that good, is it? I would think he'd be dominating if he's supposedly a lottery pick. He's not even in this team's starting lineup often times.

[jman3134]

Gui Santos will make a GM look smart. Body of a SF playing as a PG in Brazil. 19yo do it at all player. Reminds me of a smaller, more athletic Kyle Anderson (Memphis version)

He should be a lottery pick imo. I wouldn't call him a true point guard, but he can certainly fill the role. The handle is definitely there and he can get to the rim at an NBA level now. The comp isn't awful considering Kyle acted in a point/wing role early in his career. Defensively, Gui is elite and would be an amazing fit for our Grizzlies.

His season has been quite remarkable with Minas. The only thing holding him back from being at the very top of the draft chart imo is his uncontested 3 percentage. But, this will definitely improve in time, as his stroke is fluid. He could be the star of this draft class.

He's averaging 9 pts, 5 rebs, 2 assists a game. 45% FG, 31% from 3, 72% FT. What has he done that's so remarkable? Brazilian league isn't even that good, is it? I would think he'd be dominating if he's supposedly a lottery pick. He's not even in this team's starting lineup often times.

Go through the tape or check out my comprehensive scouting report (with clips) I put out there so many times. He's 6'6 with a ~7'0 wingspan and 19 years old playing in a pro league against former NBA guys like Caboclo/Marquinhos. He has point guard level handle, is a good pick and roll player, can finish at the rim, and is an excellent defender. He can switch 4 positions basically. Think he made the allstar game this year and his team is towards the top of the NBB. Think they won the Copa and he hit a game winner. The minutes have nothing to do with talent level. The same thing happens in Europe - where they often go with older players.

Because of his average three point shooting this year, he will likely slip, but I believe he is a lottery talent. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with his shooting stroke. He is completely under the radar because covid impacted his ability to play internationally as well as the Nike Hoops Summit (which he was invited to).