Zdravko PERIC

Croatia | 6’6 | Guard | Per Game Stats: 13.4 pts, 2.8 rebs, 2.9 asts

Peric’s all-around play as an offensive player is extremely intriguing. Playing as a secondary ball handler, two things immediately pop: his ability to keep control of the ball in tough situations and the passing flair. Gets inside with handles close to his body, finishing plays by extending his body or using his touch before the defense arrives. Creative playmaker who looks to find teammates, even if the easy pass isn’t there. Shows great vision and timing as a passer, collapsing the defense. Has some potential as a shooter, mainly on spot ups. Some range to his shot, but still takes a bit to load.

Areas of development: besides the aforementioned speed of his shot, it seems like he can use his creativity for more than his passing. Peric has the handles, the speed and the skill to try to find more opportunities as he gets inside, thus developing his finishing.

Mario MACHETTI

Italy | 6’1 | Guard | Per Game Stats: 11.9 pts, 2.9 rebs, 4.9 asts

Traditional point guard who looks to feed his teammates before going for his own scores. Makes consistent decisions out of the pick and roll but tries to be creative when it’s time to find an open colleague. Not afraid of taking risks with his passes, he’s really good at bending defenses as he finds open shooters and can also call the defense to him as a driver and deliver to a cutter. Has a tight handle and a strong body, capable of dealing with contact on the way and at the rim. Likes to get to the mid-range to pull up, showing maturity in the way he keeps the dribble alive up until he knows he can go up. Solid shooter from three, feels a bit more comfortable when he takes a shot in rhythm, going off the catch or off the dribble, rather than step backs or going in the opposite way.

Areas of development: smart with his use of his strength, it will be interesting to see how his body develops. If he can combine his IQ with quickness, the ability to stop and athleticism when finishing, he can become a more dynamic shot creator.

Robert KANGUR

Estonia | 6’4 | Guard | Per Game Stats: 14.1 pts, 4.7 rebs, 5.3 asts

Kangur was the main source of offense for Estonia, finishing 12th in scoring and 3rd in assists in Division A. Smart with the ball in his hands, he can create in many different ways: off pick and rolls, in isolation or by beating smaller/weaker players from the low post. Knows where he wants to go, keeps the dribble tightly next to him. Makes good use of his lower body to get to where his spots, holding off defenders and stopping quickly. Can get to the mid-range to finish away from a defender, coming from the perimeter or facing up in the low post and knows how to trick defenders into sending him to the line. Still inconsistent as a shooter, but can hit the open three off the catch or pull ups. Really good passer, has great timing, ices the defense with his dribble or by looking away before hitting a cutter and usually leaves the ball in the perfect spot for his teammate.

Areas of development: he has so many good moments as an outside shooter that he’s bound to improve his efficiency – not just because of his age, but with an improvement in his motion. It can become more repeatable and on the way up instead of coming down as it happens sometimes. Looks poised to keep developing given his reading and use of tools right now.

Benas BIRZINIS

Lithuania | 6’5 | Wing | Per Game Stats: 7.6 pts, 4.4 rebs, 1.7 asts

The Birzinis experience is like allowing a wild horse to finally roam free: he’ll look a bit out of his environment at times, but you’ll appreciate the beauty of his game. Tries to get inside at every opportunity, leaving defenders behind without much trouble. Goes through contact with tremendous ease and doesn’t get affected by size or strength inside. But he’s as much a skilled finisher as he is a strong one. Can finish in different ways, using his tools as a way to get the finish around defenders. Despite the low volume, he looks ready as a shooter when he catches with space, there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with his shot aside from the confidence to take it.

Areas of development: do what you know how to do, but more. He’s way too efficient, strong and coordinated as a finisher to have such low volume on his finishing actions. Trusting his ability as a driver, play finisher and as a shooter to not think as much before acting (or trying to do everything at once) can project him to a much higher level.

Oliver BISHOP

Great Britain | 6’10 | Big | Per Game Stats: 17.7 pts, 9.7 rebs, 0.7 asts

Credit: FIBA

Standing 6’10, Bishop is far from a big body only. He’s mostly an inside finisher, aside from some timid outside attempts (that he hit at an impressive rate in Division B, but we’ll get there), capable of finishing through traffic, on the move. He’s nimble and mobile enough to adapt to what the defense gives him and find ways to finish. Has touch at the rim and reacts quickly to help defenders getting in his way. Doesn’t impress with his explosiveness, but his mobility and laterality allows him to stay in front of drivers and repel shots, while his ground coverage helps him as a rim protector off the ball, despite not being a great leaper.

Areas of development: let’s talk about the shooting: 3 of 4 from three is, at the same time, a really small sample size and an interesting number. Combined with 79% from the free-throw line, for a 6’10 16-year old, we’re talking about someone who can shoot. So, he should start doing that more. Bishop displays good cordination and mobility when getting to the rim, so expanding his range of action is the natural next move.

Tom KASONGO

Belgium | 6’7 | Wing | Per Game Stats: 13.9 pts, 9.3 rebs, 1.6 asts

Fluid wing, Kasongo is great at finding (or creating) opportunities to get inside. Loves to run the open court but also knows how to navigate tight spaces in order to get inside, where he is a good finisher. Athletic and explosive, he rises above the defense when he has the space and slithers in through the defense when he doesn’t. Pretty good through contact as someone who looks for it and gets to the line at a good rate. Uses his size against smaller guys in the low post to find easy scores, simple in his actions, using one or two dribbles and going for the finish. Great anticipation as an off-ball defender, taking away passes or easy opportunities at the basket by using his length and athleticism as a helper.

Areas of development: it’s hard to envision any type of shot arriving any time soon, maybe the mid-range. But using his ability as a driver and finisher, he can add more and better passing, especially as defenses will converge inside due to his lack of shooting. He has the makings of a driver who can attract just enough attention to get the ball to open teammates on the perimeter consistently – or let the defense risk him beating them going downhill.

Matej BUBEN

Czechia | 6’9 | Big | Per Game Stats: 15.3 pts, 7.6 rebs, 2.0 asts

Versatile big that can play in and out, Buben showcases great mobility for his size. Likes to get to the rim from the perimeter, having the ability to attack with force if he gets a head of steam. Capable handler in the open court, he gets to the rim and has the necessary explosion to rise above defenders. Moves well off the ball to get easier opportunities as a cutter, doesn’t stand still and tries to give his teammates passing options, then using his strong upper body to finish plays at the basket. Able to step out and try the open three, he’s still far from a consistent shooter to have that as a big part of his game.

Areas of development: there is more self-creation than he lets on. Facing up in the post and even attacking slower bigs from the perimeter can become a way for him to use his handling ability and strength as a play finisher inside.

Livio RIBONI

Switzerland | 6’5 | Guard | Per Game Stats: 8.6 pts, 3.7 rebs, 1.7 asts

Credit: FIBA

Riboni is a great athlete with impressive physical tools. With a lean frame, his hang time does the job for him at the rim, challenging rim protectors coming off closeout attacks. Loves to play in transition, advancing the ball or filling the lane to get an easy look inside. Makes some shots from the perimeter on spot ups, but needs to work on a shot that doesn’t look all too comfortable and repeatable at the moment. Tries to be in constant movement, catching defenses by surprise with back cuts and quick paint attacks. That energy transfers to the defensive end, where he plays the passing lanes with long arms and quick reactions.

Areas of development: everything is on the run and exploring mistakes from the defense. Given his athletic tools and some moments of inspiration, he could develop into more of a creator, even if a secondary for his team. Someone who can go get a bucket going inside with long strides and the ability to finish with space to take off.

Kaloyan KOLEV

Bulgaria | 6’9 | Forward | Per Game Stats: 6.6 pts, 6.7 rebs, 0.9 asts

Kolev’s numbers don’t impress as consistency is key for him. But once you watch him play, you start to wonder what is ceiling actually is. Incredibly fluid at his size, he can handle the ball and try to find an opportunity inside coming from the perimeter or create from the low post. Keeps his balance as he goes through the defense and into contact, although the finish looks clunky at times. Reads the game when the defense collapses on him and finds a teammate on the move or spotting up outside. Has showed some willingness to come outside to shoot, with enough of a shooting motion to keep working on it, but very far from a finished product. Good moments on the defensive end with athletic plays at the basket as a help defender and some ability to come out to the perimeter at times and move laterally to stay in front of smaller players.

Areas of development: it’s the finishing, plain and simple. He already does the hard job of getting inside and keeping his composure against contact as a 6’9 player barreling in, only to leave points on the board. Working on his touch and even on his aggressiveness to force defenders to foul him should be of urgent matter for him.

Omri ORLAND

Israel | 6’2 | Guard | Per Game Stats: 16.9 pts, 7.0 rebs, 3.9 asts

One of, if not THE best passer in this year’s Division A, Orland is a wizard with the ball in his hands. Everything is done quickly, off the dribble and with accuracy. With one or two hands, he’ll get the ball to an open teammate, even the one the defense isn’t expecting, taking away coverages with a “simple” whip of the arm. Keeps the ball on a string as a ball handler and rarely commits turnovers when handling. Can get to the rim off pick and rolls and finishes before the help arrives. Has some range and won’t hesitate to take an open shot, however far away he is.

Areas of development: the decision making on some of his shots lack at times. Part of it is the high usage, but as good as he is as a passer and shot creator, not everything needs to be a direct assist or in most cases, a forced shot. Especially from the perimeter, where he can make from anywhere, but doesn’t need to take from everywhere.