U-19 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

lithuanian · Post #1 » by **lithuanian** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:51 am

Hey, i haven't been here recently, but seems no one else started the thread on u19 champ, or perhaps no else cares, anyway here's the thread.

So, which team will win? USA is clear favorite. Greece has a strong team, Lithuania has Motiejunas. I see USA and Greece fighting in the final, but it's much harder to predict 3rd place match, Lithuania, Australia, Argentina, France - many teams can make it.

Teams are divided into four groups, here they are:

GROUP A: Angola, Greece, Lithuania, Puerto Rico
GROUP B: Egypt, France, Iran, USA
GROUPC: Australia, Canada, Spain, Syria
GROUP D: Argentina, Croatia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand

KWSN-Men · Post #2 » by **KWSN-Men** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 5:09 am

lithuanian wrote:Hey, i haven't been here recently, but seems no one else started the thread on u19 champ, or perhaps no else cares, anyway here's the thread.

So, which team will win? USA is clear favorite. Greece has a strong team, Lithuania has Motiejunas. I see USA and Greece fighting in the final, but it's much harder to predict 3rd place match, Lithuania, Australia, Argentina, France - many teams can make it.

Teams are divided into four groups, here they are:

GROUP A: Angola, Greece, Lithuania, Puerto Rico
GROUP B: Egypt, France, Iran, USA
GROUPC: Australia, Canada, Spain, Syria
GROUP D: Argentina, Croatia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand

Draftexpress predicted a USA-Greece final with Greece winning. I haven't really paid attention to it yet so I don't know if that's accurate or not.

Joana · Post #3 » by **Joana** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:46 pm

Yeah, I don't know all the teams yet, but USA, Greece and Lithuania should be the stronger ones, by this order.

Btw, it's not worth its own thread, but for our British posters, there will be an interesting tournament (and coaching clinic) in London, from 10th to 12th July, with some very nice prospects. It's the 2009 edition of the Future Stars Tournament. http://www.futurestars.uk.com/ I'll probably catch a few games.

brassviews · Post #4 » by **brassviews** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:16 pm

Serbia beat USA in 2007 and just recently beat them in a friendly.

USA isn't a lock by any means. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if they miss out on the gold medal game.

Joana · Post #5 » by **Joana** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:53 pm

They aren't a lock; merely the favourites.

When has Serbia beaten USA recently? Anyway, the USA are taking a new roster and Serbia won't be playing.

brassviews · Post #6 » by **brassviews** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 11:19 pm

It wasn't the U-19 team. It was the World's USA University team.

But there's this notion around here that all USA teams are vastly superior to world teams. :roll:

Mumbles · Post #7 » by **Mumbles** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 2:32 am

I don't see why because that is not that strong of a US group. I know little about the other teams, so maybe they are strong relative to the field, but I had an underwheming feeling the first time I saw the USA roster. Unlike other countries, The US Junior teams have little to no continuity in the form of returning players. And even though they are trying to form a 'team', they still do not take the best players avaible to form the best possible team. The US still has to get more serious in that regard. These players have only been playing together for a little over two weeks. Now compare that with other countries.

Leolovinliberal · Post #8 » by **Leolovinliberal** » Wed Jul 1, 2009 4:16 am

My sleeper pick: Canada

PG: Corey Joseph (6th ranked pg in America)
SG: Manny Arop (signed with Gonzaga)
SF: Tristan Thompson (1st-4th ranked recruit in America, depending on the service)
PF: Kelly Olynyk (also signed with Gonzaga)
C: Marc Trassolini (going to be a sophomore at Santa Clara, named 1st team all freshman WCC)

This is the best starting5 in the tourney.

Joana · Post #9 » by **Joana** » Thu Jul 2, 2009 12:42 am

Yeah, it seems Canada is going to present a strong team. Arop is a good player, I don't know the others; I'll keep an eye on them.

Btw, it's possible to subscribe FIBA TV to follow the tournament for €8/$6.

Some lopsided games in this first day. USA 106 - Iran 55.

p.s. - This Redikas kid seems to be really good. Only 16 years old and already very productive. Lithuanians are getting killed with turnovers and by not protecting the board though.

Spanish team doesn't look anything special. Their games relies too heavily in the guards. Maybe it looked that way because Syria has a very tall guy inside, he's at least 7'3'. I can see him and Belal Gneed being mentioned in draft talks some day.

lithuanian · Post #10 » by **lithuanian** » Thu Jul 2, 2009 6:44 am

First day has started:

USA-Iran 106-55
Croatia-Kazakhstan 104-74
Puerto Rico-Lithuania 80-73
Spain-Syria 79-53
Australia-Canada 88-77
France-Egypt 102-56

lithuanian · Post #11 » by **lithuanian** » Thu Jul 2, 2009 7:15 am

As Joana said, Lithuania was killed by turnovers (20 overall). Redikas and Cizauskas were decent, while Orelikas and Motiejunas could do better. Motiejunas had 13 pts, 9 rebs, 5 turnovrs. Puerto Rico made a huge comeback, as they were down by 17 in 1st quater. They seem to be a strong team. Players to watch: Young (18 pts, 12 rebs, 5 stls), Sosa (18 pts, 5 rebs).

DerrickandKirk · Post #12 » by **DerrickandKirk** » Thu Jul 2, 2009 5:46 pm

Joana wrote:Spanish team doesn't look anything special. Their games relies too heavily in the guards

Is in that way. Besides that problem isn't unique of this selection, it seems that is endemic in almost all of the spanish selections except obviously in the senior selection. Anyway, as you say this particular selection has very little. This selection will live from Jorge Santana, Álex Hernández and Dani Pérez. Sub 18 selection, for example, is much better than this selection, althoug we should remember that Rubio would play by age with sub 19 selection (he's of the year 90).

Greek · Post #13 » by **Greek** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 5:13 pm

Yiancovic, Sloukas, Papanikolaou and Pappas are doing great until now, but i wonder why Sarikopoulos is only playing like 2 minutes per game? He is that bad?

suspect · Post #14 » by **suspect** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 6:46 pm

Greek wrote:Yiancovic, Sloukas, Papanikolaou and Pappas are doing great until now, but i wonder why Sarikopoulos is only playing like 2 minutes per game? He is that bad?

It's because he has not fully recovered from an injury. (He got injured right before the WC). He will get more playing time later on.

brassviews · Post #15 » by **brassviews** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 4:13 am

I really like Matias Nocedal of Argentina. Of course, he still needs to work on his shot among other things but I think he has a bright future. Curious to see how he plays next season for Tau Ceramica.

KWSN-Men · Post #16 » by **KWSN-Men** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 9:41 am

PopularByDemand wrote:I really like Matias Nocedal of Argentina. Of course, he still needs to work on his shot among other things but I think he has a bright future. Curious to see how he plays next season for Tau Ceramica.

I don't think he would get any playing time at that level.

mnWI · Post #17 » by **mnWI** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 11:03 pm

KWSN-Men wrote:
PopularByDemand wrote:I really like Matias Nocedal of Argentina. Of course, he still needs to work on his shot among other things but I think he has a bright future. Curious to see how he plays next season for Tau Ceramica.

I don't think he would get any playing time at that level.

I agree. Has a few great tools, but a couple years at least from putting it together.

southampton · Post #18 » by **southampton** » Sun Jul 5, 2009 5:16 am

On Friday I went to the Under 19 Basketball World Cup being held in Auckland at the moment. I saw lots of NBA scouts (Memphis, Portland, Lakers, Knicks, Jazz, Hawks, Cavs) and here is my recap on some of the up and coming young players I saw.

France - Only one player really stood out to me Andrey Albicy, a 5ft 9inch pg - I know he is short but was extremely fast passed well and shot very well in this game, does he have NBA potential? Probably not but he should have a very good career

USA -

Ashton Gibbs - Another quick PG, Wierd looking jumpshot but it was effective. NBA potential? No

Seth Curry - A pg/sg just like his brother stephan is a great shooter from anywhere on the court, not quite as quick as stephan (as i heard from the Portland Trailblazers scout - I was being nosey) but should be at worst a 2nd round pick and be sort of like a Pargo.

Tyshawn Taylor - My personal favourite Team USA player, a 6-3 SG is quick and effective in everything he does. He played real smart in the game and in my view will be a late first rounder.

Terrico White - My 2nd favourite Team USA player, a 6-5 SG, he was one of the most athletic players I saw all day, and pulled of a great in game dunk. Shot well from 3. NBA potential - Yup if he works on his allround game he should be a 20-30 pick in my view.

Klay Thompson - 6-6 SF, has a good shot from midrange and from 3, and played extremely smart. He is currently at Washington State and had a decent first year, if he keeps it up I could see him being a high 2nd round pick - sort of like Kyle Weaver.

Howard Thompkins - 6 -9 PF, Just an Athletic big man who can shoot a bit. Pulled of a few athletic blocks that impressed me, as for NBA potential he has work to do but could end up being a first round pick if things go his way.

Argentina -

Juan Fernandez - a 6-4 PG, Played very well and smart, created a lot of good looks for his teammate. A PG who can create and hit the 3 is basically what he is, but really impressed me. NBA potential? Nope

Matias Nocadel - a 6-3 PG/SG - I know the Portland scout liked this guy and he seemed very impressive in him, and played real well. I know at one stage this guy was talked up with Rubio but those have well intruly gone, still he has potential and could possibly end up being drafted in a few years.

Spain -

Daniel Perez - A 6-0 PG - A real real quick pg, with a good shot, and good passing ability. However has a bad bad attitude - I saw him go off his nuts at several of his team mates, got told off by coaches before the game, and just seemed like a very angry young man. NBA potential? sure if he gets it all together.

Australia -

Jordan Page - A 6-0 PG - In my view is the next Patrick Mills, really impressed me and was surprised he didnt play much more then 20 minutes.

Croatia -

Mario Delas - A 6-10 PF - Played amazing, absolutly dominated NZ inside and out and hardly missed a shot, also got a few blocks. However his performance was helped by NZ tallest player on that day being 6-8. NBA potential? For sure is said to be a potential lottery pick in 2011

Tomilas Zubcic - A 6-11 PF - Also played well, and dominated NZ inside anytime he wanted but again I feel this was due to NZ lack of height, however he was impressive and like Mario is potentially a lotto pick in 2011.

New Zealand -

Richie Edwards - a 6-8 SF - Shoots quite well and just knows how to play basketball, plays in Florida High school and is ranked as a 3 star/4star prospect. NBA potential? I dont think so, if he plays 4 years in college then maybe a 2nd rounder.

I will be back again another day to see the bronze and gold medal matches, and hopefully see Lithuania who have a C who is suppose to be a top 5 pick next year and hopefully also Greece. After these games ill post more on what I think of these prospects.

Joana · Post #19 » by **Joana** » Sun Jul 5, 2009 3:00 pm

I've followed some games with FIBA TV. So far the players who have impressed me most:

From Spain, the most impressive player is the PG Daniel Perez, without a doubt. I agree with what the poster above said, although I didn't notice the attitude issues (an advantage of seeing games live). Very good understanding of the game, a true PG. At the very least, he's going to be an excellent ACB player.

From Croatia, Delas is already an amazing player (he just needs to work on his body and athleticism) and Zubcic (very versatile skill-set for a player of his size, I'd be surprised if he doesn't play in the NBA at some point), but also Radosevic, an intelligent and combative big man who plays with a focus well above his age. Also the PG, Prostran, although I'd like to see him playing versus better competition.

In the Argentina's squad, I liked Orlietti a lot. He plays like a true Argie; very though, smart and physical player. Nocedal has talent, but he still isn't ready to the ACB.

From New Zealand, I didn't like what I saw from Edwards, but I liked their center, Rob Loe, quite a bit. Fluid, fundamentally sound big man, who moves well and knows the game. The Canadian kids failed to impress me, although some of them have great tools. But so far only Arop seems to know how to translate them at this level. I also liked Gneed and Hamowi from Syria.

I still haven't seen USA and France.

Post #20 » by **suckfish** » Sun Jul 5, 2009 3:29 pm

Haven't been able to watch any of the games yet. We're supposed to be getting some of the games here in the UK via Eurosport, but I'm not sure how far into the tournament their coverage starts. I'm on the fence whether to buy the online pass that FIBA is providing.

Prior to this tournament I had heard promising things about Michael Rosario and the Puerto Rican squad. I haven't looked at any of the results yet, so I don't know who they have beaten and been beaten by, but apparently they beat a (weaker?) USA squad earlier in the year.

Btw, it's not worth its own thread, but for our British posters, there will be an interesting tournament (and coaching clinic) in London, from 10th to 12th July, with some very nice prospects. It's the 2009 edition of the Future Stars Tournament. http://www.futurestars.uk.com/ I'll probably catch a few games.

Last year it was club teams if I recall correctly, while this year it appears to be fielding the national teams. Surely the Spaniards are the favourites in this? The English national team isn't on the same level as Spain, Israel and Italy, and the English club team will be weaker than the national team. Poland probably will be more so on the level as the English. I haven't seen any of the teams though, so I'm just making assumptions.

Are you in England Joana?