HERAKLION, Crete– Parking has suddenly become a nightmare for the FIBA U19 world championships games involving Greece at the Sports Arena here.
Greek fans have discovered a talented team that can challenge the seemingly invincible United States and are filling the Sports Arena to watch their country play the feature games every night in this Industrial area complex.
Since there is limited police traffic presence, fans are parking in any spot they can find on the road l leading to the 5,2000 seat arena, creating massive gridilock the area and around the ticket booths.
The interest should only get bigger heading into the playoffs that begin today. The Greeks used a late rush to defeat Serbia, 69-60, , and clinch Pool D with a perfect 3-0 record. They are the one team here with a true rim protector– 7-1 center Giogious Papaigiannis. who had 10 points, six rebounds and five blocked shot,s, and they have discovered another potential scorer in 6-4 guard ‘Tyler Dorsey, who finally came into is own in international basketball when he scored all of his 10 explosive points in a key seven minute stretch in the fourth quarter, fueling an 8-0 run that gave the Greeks a 61-49 lead. There is a strong college feel to this team. Seven-foot forward Georgios Tsalmpouris played his freshman year at Iowa State. Dorsey is going to Oregon and Papagiannis will decide by the end of the summer.
While Papagiannis has a year of American high school training at the Westtown School under his belt, Dorsey actually is an American with dual citizenship, much like trey Lyles , who played for Canada, was two years ago. Dorsey became eligible to play when Greek officials discovered his mother Samia is from Greece.
Dorsey made a name for himself at Maranthia High School in Pasedena last year when he averaged 33.9 points and 109 rebounds with a season high 49 against . He is a volume scorer who was selected Gatorade Player of the Year in California..
Dorsey will attend the University of Oregon. Ironically, there is a good chance Dorsey could wind up playing against the coach he originally committed to playing for if Greece and the U.S. meet in an anticipated gold medal showdown this Sunday. Dorsey verballed to play for Sean Miller at Arizona for five months then changed his mind because he sensed there was a log jam at his position.
In the spring before his senior year, Arizona took a commitment from 2015 guard Justin Simon , a 6-5 guard with a 6-11 wing span. Dorsey thought the Cats were done recruiting his position But when the Arizona staff continued to pursue Isaiah Briscoe and Allonzo Trier, a par of McDonald’s All Americans with USA basketball credentials, Dorsey felt like he might be odd man out. When he was cut at the Team USA U18 team, where Miller was an assistant to Billy Donovan, and both Briscoe and Trier both made the team, Dorsey diplomatically decommitted, eventually resurfacing at Oregon in the same Pac-12 conference, in large part because of his long term relationship with ducks’ assistant Tony Stubblefield, who has known him since ninth grade. Dorsey chose the Ducks over Georgetown, Louisville, UConn and UNLV.
Dorsey was snubbed by the McDonald’s game, but when the Greek federation discovered his lineage, they jumped at the chance to upgrade their guard spot at this level. “My coach in Oregon, Dana Altman, helped me to come here. My mother is Greek, her whole family is, so i am 50% Greek. I will try to adapt to a different culture. Although I am a bit tired and trying to get used to the time difference, I really like and enjoy the whole experience. There are some differences when it comes to basketball as well. There is more movement without the ball and a stronger game structure. ”
Dorsey struggled with the game at first but is finally starting to come into his own, excellng against the Serbs. after a scoreless first three quarters. He in the final seven minutes. In a matter of seconds, Dorsey made two three throws after being fouled on an offensive rebound and finished a fast break off a steal with a strong dunk. One the next offensive possession, Dorsey got a three point play off a spin move layup. then, with 37 seconds left, he delivered the game clincher shot for a htree pointer from the deep corner to put Greece up 67-58..
Greece has already pushed the U.S. to the limit in an exhbition game that took place a day after the Americans arrived here. The jet lagged U.S. needed to outscore the Greeks, 32-21 in the fourth quarter to win 90-82. Forward Caleb Swanigan led the Americans wth 16 points, 10 in the fourth quarter. Guard Dimitris Stamatis scored 29 points, shooting 8 for 11 and makng 12 of 13 free throws. Papaigiannis had 10 and 5 and Dorsey came off the bench to shoot 3 for 5 and score 7 points. The Greeks are huge with three players who are 6-11 or taller
Even though Team USA is young, they have an unlimited ceiling getting the most out of three 17U prodigies– 6-10 Harry Giles, 6-7 Jsh Jackson and 6-8 Jayson tatum, who are generally considered the three brest talents in the class of 2016.
Canada, Turkey and Greece also finished undefeated in pool play. Team USA will play Argentina — the one time South American power that went winless in pool play– in the first game of the knock out round. Greece will play Tunisia. All 16 teams will participate.
