Gabrielius BUIVYDAS

Lithuania | 6’5 | Guard | Per Game Stats: 16.1 pts, 5.0 rebs, 4.3 asts

Secure ball handler with good passing vision and maturity, Buivydas’ confidence never seems to waver with the ball in his hands. Better used attacking off the catch as a secondary handler, he gets inside and finishes through contact or before the help comes, with good touch on his floaters. Due to his maturity, he knows how to get defenders on his hip and use that to his advantage. Can shoot from the perimeter, especially off the catch, but needs some space to get it off. Playing at his pace, he reads the game well and is able to find teammates in stride or hit a shooter coming off movement.

Areas of development: some turnover problems when he had to create consistently as the main initiator. The repetitions are important, but can he get to a place where he’ll be the main initiator?

Messi YANGALA

France | 6’8 | Wing | Per Game Stats: 13.0 pts, 6.7 rebs, 1.4 asts

With a great physical profile, the appeal with Yangala is that he can turn those tools and combine them with skill on the offensive end. He is a really good defender who can guard outside and inside, with size, length and strength to switch and be everywhere, although feeling more comfortable inside. Offensively, he’s still a bit more reserved. Plays off the ball, screens for guards or attacks the rim. Knows how to use his body when getting to the rim to finish but also displays good touch. Some creation from the low post as he takes advantage of smaller players with his back to the basket. Smart in his movement and with quick thinking, he’s a good passer on the short roll or when he gets the ball in the middle of the paint, not panicking, assessing the situation and getting the ball to a colleague when the defense comes. Really good rebounder on both ends, always on the lookout for extra possessions.

Areas of development: with most of his finishes coming away from the defender, he could be a bit more physical in his actions considering the usual advantage he has when getting to the basket.

Aaron TOWO-NANSI

France | 5’10 | Guard | Per Game Stats: 14.1 pts, 3.4 rebs, 6.6 asts

A confident ball handler withsome years of experience at this level already, Towo-Nansi is one of the best shot creators in Europe. He knows how to manipulate defenses, finished as the top passer at the U16 EuroBasket by consistently finding teammates in the best position. Likes to get inside off pick and rolls, but usually to get the ball to a teammate. He’s still a pretty good and resourceful finisher inside, keeping defenders behind him and trying to beat the help before it arrives by getting to the basket quickly or going for a floater. Pulls up from three with ease, even if he’s a bit behind the line, has no problem going for the long shot if he notices the defense gives him the space to do so. Despite his size, his activity on the defensive end and constant pressure on the ball make him a tough defender to deal with. He’s so smart in the way he uses the attacker’s attempt to take advantage of his lack of size to his favor. Takes away physical reference points and tries to force the lower body, where he can make things more equal.

Areas of development: as he continues to improve, he needs to find more counters when he gets inside. A better use of his quick reading and the way he keeps his man in jail to get to the line more should be in order. Also, some of his attempts from three seem to come when he’s tired of the physicality inside, so it’ll be interesting how he manages that balance and finds ways to make better decisions as a shooter.

Matija LUKIC

Serbia | 6’8 | Wing | Per Game Stats: 8.7 pts, 2.7 rebs, 2.1 asts

Credit: FIBA

With a long path to develop still, Lukic is an intriguing wing player with some ball handling chops. He can use his handling ability to get inside, creating from the perimeter or attacking closeouts quickly and finding ways to get to the basket. Finishes well at the basket, with good size that he can use to finish over defenders. That ability to have the ball in his hands and not run away from it make him a potential secondary ball handling option, as soon as he tightens up his ball control in traffic. Has the ability to shoot off the catch, with a quick motion and high release and doesn’t seem bothered by the proximity of a defender. He’s extremely quick and tries to get out in transition every chance he gets.

Areas of development: on one hand, his activity levels and length should be a good indicator on the defensive end. On the other, a lot of it are empty calories and the consistency as a defender isn’t there. If he can be a bit more patient on that end and not try to do all at once, he can improve as a defender on the ball.

Jona DRUCKE

Germany | 6’4 | Guard | Per Game Stats: 8.7 pts, 3.7 rebs, 3.7 asts

With good size as a point guard, Drucke stands out as a mature player who plays at his pace and never seems sped up. Doesn’t force shots and tries to get everyone involved. Good passer with some quick reads and accuracy when getting the ball to a teammate. Has the potential to be a good shooter, especially when the ball gets back to him off the catch. When he’s creating off the dribble, it’s usually to get inside and find a finish, with great body control that allows him to get rid of the defender in front of him and get into the paint. Holds his own on the defensive side with his size and laterality.

Areas of development: as an initiator and shot creator, especially with his skill level when going at opponents, the field goal volume has to be higher. He is a good passer and likes to get teammates involved and that’s a great quality to have, but there are other times his team is going to need him to be more selfish and use his abilities to go get his shot.

Hubert SWIRYDOWICZ

Poland | 6’6 | Wing | Per Game Stats: 10.3 pts, 6.9 rebs, 1.4 asts

A versatile offensive weapon, Swirydowicz may never become the main ball handler of a team, but his work as an off-catch wing who can dribble, pass and shoot is just as impressive. Makes quick decisions once he catches the ball, with great size and athleticism when attacking closeouts and tremendous body control as a rim attacker to keep defenders at an arm’s length and finish inside. Impressive processing when finishing to find the best way to avoid the rim protector. Can shoot the ball off the catch or coming off movement, again using quick decisions. Constantly active, he finds pockets of space on the defense in order to attack, call the defense to him and find an open teammate, inside and out. Solid perimeter defender who can guard down when needed or go help inside. Smart off-ball reader to come up with steals and a continuous tracker of his man driving inside to block shots.

Areas of development: curious to follow his development as a shooter. The spot up stuff is there and he shows some ability to shoot off movement. Can that become a consistent part of his arsenal, considering his ability to move around? Adding that to an already mature rim attacking skillset would be huge with his archetype.

Aaron ONA EMBO

Belgium | 5’10 | Guard | Per Game Stats: 21.0 pts, 3.6 rebs, 4.6 asts

Yes, you have read that name recently. After shining at the U18 EuroBasket as the youngest player of the tournament, he became the MVP of the U16 EuroBasket – Div. B, guiding Belgium to a promotion to Division A. Finishing second in scoring and fourth in assists, it’s pretty fair to say we’re talking about one of the best shot creators of his age. He even showed that while playing two years up before. Ona Embo is always comfortable with the ball in his possession. Keeps the ball on a string at all times, with quick handles and a low center of gravity and showcases great timing and instincts with his passing. The scoring is there inside and out, being able to get past his man and using his touch on floaters or by going for step back and side step threes with deep range.

Areas of development: at his size and despite the floater working, he can be more of a threat going inside and finishing through contact. He has the handles to put defenders in difficult situations and the quickness to evade his opponents. With his playmaking, he makes the right decision, but he can step up that part of his game by being bolder and riskier. It will result in more turnovers, but will also unlock easier and quicker opportunities for teammates – and take some of the attention off him.

Andrej FANTIC

Montenegro | 6’9 | Forward | Per Game Stats: 15.1 pts, 4.6 rebs, 1.7 asts

Forward with some on-ball creation potential, Fantic has a smooth and seemingly low profile playstyle, but gets the job done with efficiency. Tremendous shooter off the catch with some off-dribble reps sprinkled in. Quick motion with unalterated movement point to a successful shooter down the line, especially with the way he shoots now. Likes to get to his mid-range, with good transfer from his dribble to the shot. With a strong lower body and already well-developed physically, he gets inside by using that strength, keeping defenders on his hip. Makes the right pass when he’s in position and doesn’t try to force anything. His game is predicated on efficiency and making the right play.

Areas of development: interested to follow his development as an on-ball weapon, especially if he can find ways to get inside due to his handling and less to his physical traits, which would put him in a position to be one of the best wings in Europe.

Angelos ZOUPAS

Greece | 6’7 | Wing | Per Game Stats: 20.6 pts, 4.7 rebs, 2.3 asts

A scoring machine on the wing, Zoupas carried Greece athte U16 EuroBasket. Comfortable attacking off the catch, he was rarely sped up and always tried to find ways to get to his spots, especially the mid-range. Uses his size and patience to get to his preferred mid-range pull up, but he’s also explosive and athletic enough to get inside and finish above or around defenders. Hits threes at a good rate, usually off the catch but can add some points from there off his own creation. Loves to run in transition. He’s a safe passer who reads plays around him quickly and knows he’s going to get the ball to a teammate as soon as he catches it. Good shot blocker at his size as a help defender and a really good overall off-ball disruptor due to his movement.

Areas of development: the handle can definitely use some improvement, particularly as he tries to create in tighter spaces and get to the rim. He’s athletic and can contort his body once he gets inside to find any shot he wants. But getting there is the biggest area of improvement I see for him at this time.

Miguel SOUSA

Portugal | 6’8 | Big | Per Game Stats: 10.7 pts, 10.6 rebs, 1.9 asts

Sousa was a double-double machine for a Portugal team that missed the promotion to Division A by a thread. A rim-runner with an exceptional physical profile, he can get up high out of nowhere, finishing plays as one of the best lob threats in his age group. Provides some rim attacks off the dribble, going from the perimeter or facing up in the low post to get the rim, with good touch inside. Doesn’t shy away from advancing the ball in transition at times or get to the perimeter to shoot, although the shooting motion needs some refining. Quick thinking and accuracy when getting the ball to cutters from a stationary position. Controls the area around the paint as a defender, covering a ton of ground and blocking or altering every shot around him. Was the best shot blocker in both divisions combined, with 3.4 per game.

Areas of development: can he develop enough as a perimeter threat (shot and drives) to become more of an outside presence, or will he go the inside route with more post touches, using his ability to finish with either hand and going for baby hooks and duck ins?