In addition to Paul’s “10 players to watch in Kaunas” list on the FIBA website that you will find here https://bit.ly/2MQMo7p here are an extra 11 players that we will be keeping an eye on when action starts today at FIBAU16Europe. We will particularly be attentive to first-timers and their big debut on the international scene since some of the players included on those lists have already participated in prior FIBA competitions. Here is our selection.
Tesse Kapenga (Belgium, PF, 6’1, 2002)
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The newest exciting prospect coming from Belgium is Tesse Kapenga. The stretch 4 is very mobile, has a great feel for the game and displays nice range from behind the arc. A lot of Belgium’s hopes will be on her shoulders in Kaunas. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see her stand out at U16 level having already stepped out at senior level in Belgium’s 1st division with Dynamite Deerlijk, as well as at U19 level in European Youth Basketball League (EYBL) with her Antwerp school team (alongside Billie & Becky Massey, Marie Vervaet & Sarah Bell) with whom she claimed that League’s 2017-2018 title in Riga, Latvia back in May.
Mama Dembele (Spain, PG, 5’6, 2002)
(Foto: FEB)
Spain will be guided at this U16 European championship by an electric and highly percussive PG in Mama Dembele. Member of the “Segle XXI” project that plays in Spanish second division, she is a driving force, a fatigueless defender, she loves to push the ball as much as she can and to attack the basket at the first opportunity. Must work on her range as well as on delivering more assists as a reliable PG should. This European championship will be a good test for her and a strong tournament from her will certainly help Spain cement their natural podium ambition.
Gisela Sanchez (Spain, SF, 6’3, 2003)
(Foto: FCBQ)
One of the biggest hopes of the Spanish Federation comes in the shape of 2003-born, 6’3 SF Gisela Sanchez from Cataluna. Long, thin, mobile & talented, she adds herself to the long tradition of Spanish small forwards going from world star Alba Torrens to rising star Maria Conde. Sanchez is capable to run the floor, to shoot from the perimeter, to attack the basket, to finish in transition, to rebound thanks to her size. She is the archetype of the modern SF in the making. Much will depend on how she copes with getting stronger in order to stand contact and be fully efficient on the boards. One year younger than the rest of the group, she nevertheless already joined Spain’s elite youth program based in Cataluna “Segle XXI” (alongside Pueyo, Dembele, Puiggros, Garcia, Hermosa) where she is learning the tricks of senior basketball playing in the Spanish second division.
Louise Bussière (France, SG, 5’11, 2002)
(Foto: USO Mondeville)
A scoring machine out of USO Mondeville academy (Marine Johannes, Loreen Kerboeuf, Ewl Guennoc), Louise Bussiere is the newest product out of one of the best program in France behind the Centre Federal (CFBB). She has been nearly unstoppable this past season averaging 25ppg with her U17 team and winning the French Cup. While a very capable scorer she doesnt’t limitate her game to this sole aspect as her rebounds and steals stats are also consequent. In the last 3 games of the French Cup (QF/SF/Final) she posted impressive numbers: QF 16pts-13reb-6ass-7stl, SF 28pts-13reb-5ass-7stl, Final 12pts-12reb, leading her team to the title. Fearless and confident when it comes to pulling the ball up, she is ready to bring her versatile skills and deadly first step to the table in Kaunas.
Ilaria Panzera (Italy, PG/G, 5’11, 2002)
(Foto: FIBA)
It seems almost useless to introduce Ilaria Panzera to a watch-list at this point. This U16 European championship will be her third one. Last summer she led her country to the bronze medal while on an individual level making the All-Tournament Team. She also was part of the Italian U17 team that finished 5th at the FIBA U17 World Cup in Minsk last month. While she had a suspicious start of a tournament in Belarus, looking actually absent and unconcerned, she definitely reminded everyone what a class-act she is come the QF and 5-8 classification games. Against Australia in the QF, in a tight game for three quarters mainly thanks to her, she eventually launched her tournament delivering a great 14pts-6reb-7ass on 3/5FG3 followed by 13pts-3ass-6stl and 10pts-7reb-4ass in the next two games. She is looking much more confident at the PG position of late (4apg in Minsk) as she is surely transitioning from the SG/SF position to the #1 spot since last year. Alongside teammates Gilli & Natali she will be Italy’s go-to-player and will try to lead her team to an even better finish than last year.
Melek Uzunoglu (Turkey, PF, 6’2, 2002)
(Foto: player’s Twitter)
Turkey should be excited about Melek Uzunoglu a PF for the moment due to her size and long frame but who should/could in the future transition to the SF position as her mobility, feel for the game and court-vision allow. She still is very raw and in the making but she can count on the trust of her club Besiktas (KBSL & Eurocup) who included her to the senior’s team roster for practices and even gave her court-time at the European level on 4 occasions in Eurocup this season to accelerate her development. Kaunas will be a good test to see where she stands in her own age category though Turkey is feared to struggle in the competition.
Dorja Zala (Croatia, PF, 6’1, 2004)
While she might be the youngest player in the competion (2004-born), don’t exclude Zala from making an impact already at this edition. While it might be too early, just as it was the case for her 2003-born teammate Marta Ostojic in Bourges last year, Dora Zaja, who plays alongside Ostojic and Mühl at Tresnjevka 2009 might benefit from the existing and well-functionning chemistry with her teammate to produce similar numbers with the NT as with her club where she averages a fine double-double of 10ppg-11.7pg. Tall and still growing she has no problem to carry her body, she reads and understands the game very well and displays a strong connection in the paint with Ostojic. Tresnjevka 2009 finished runner-up at this year’s WABA U15.
Madlena Gerke (Latvia, SG, 5’10, 2003)
(Foto:FIBA)
Latvia is very excited about 2003-born Madlena Gerke and not only for her shooting prowess. The shooting guard is known for a high work ethic, her tough and intense defence, nice speed and interesting versatility. This season in Latvian-Estonian League where the Latvian U16 NT competes as a club she got counted for with 8ppg-4rpg-1.6apg-2.5spg. She will be key in helping Latvia maintain its fine form of late in international competition. All of its youth teams have fared well at European level over the last years (4th at U16 last summer, 4th last week at U18) and have qualified, just as their senior NT, to the U17 and U19 World Cups, with standouts prospects such as Kitija Laksa, Digna Strautmane or Aleksa Gulbe leading the way. After the FIBAU16Europe she is expected to join TTT Riga academy to continue her development.
Darya Goncharova (Russia, PF, 6’1, 2002)
(Foto: FIBA)
In the absence of Anna Ionova and Victoria Ashtakova on this year’s roster, Russia will certainly expect a lot from its frontcourt player Darya Goncharova. The PF has been litting it up the whole season at U17 level in Russian league with Dynamo Kursk’s academy averaging a massive double-double of 24.8ppg-15rpg. She is also the only 2002 player who got court-time at U18 level still with Dynamo Kursk giving her a precious edge once she is back to her own age category.
Jute Harcenko (Latvia, PF, 5’11, 2002)
(Foto: FIBA)
A shadow-worker who counts on her own to make things happen. Expect Jute Harcenko to be the player every team loves to have: someone who takes care of the precious intangibles: rebounds, put backs, smart spacing, dissuasion, hard defence, etc. Very athletic and versatile, she can play and defend up to 4 positions on the court and this aspect of her game is priceless. This season she averaged a solid 7.7ppg-6.3rpg-2apg-2.3spg in the Latvian-Estonian League and is expected to join TTT Riga academy from next season on just as Madlena Gerke.
Hana Mühl (Croatia, PG/SG, 5’7, 2003)
(Foto: Kosarkaski Savez Zagreba)
The younger sister of Nika Mühl seems to follow her sister’s footsteps as a very versatile player in the backcourt able to contribute in various stats categories. So far less of a reliable scorer than Nika, she will instead make sure all the intangibles such as boxing out, setting good screens, defending hard, passing and fighting are taken care of. Very athletic, she gives her all every second spent on the court displaying great passion and will. In U15 WABA league where played this season finishing runner-up alongside Marta Ostojic and Dorja Zala for the Croation side Tresnjevka 2009 she was to be found in all categories as her 11.6ppg-5.7rpg-3.3apg show.
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