In the latest edition of ‘P.I. Pulse’, Pro Insight’s Jason Filippi compiles his scouting notes after spending multiple days evaluating the top prospects playing in ANGT Patras:
I recently ventured to Patras, Greece for another leg of the Adidas Next Generation Tournament, a top-notch event filled with talented young prospects from all over the world (note: in case you missed our ANGT Belgrade article, check it out here). It provided the opportunity to get updated in-person evaluations on aspiring college and pro players and write up detailed reports for the Pro Insight database. I’ve included a distilled version of those reports below for the purposes of this article. I’ve also included C-RAM scores for each prospect, courtesy of our stats partner Cerebro Sports (for 10% off your Cerebro subscription, use code PROINSIGHT22). For more detailed scouting reports — and intel — on these players, as well as reports on some of the other younger prospects I saw in Patras, subscribe to our database, here. With any questions or comments, shoot us an email: info@prospectiveinsight.com.
With that, here are my scouting takeaways after spending some time evaluating the top prospects from ANGT Patras:
Alexandros Samontourov (GRE) | 6-10 Big | DEKA Basketball Academy
C-RAM: 12.2 (Gold Badge)
This was my first close-up look at Samantourov and I have to say he was quite impressive! He is listed at 6-10 following a recent growth spurt (and according to sources he still hasn’t finished growing) and has a lanky 7-2 wingspan. He is very mobile, runs the court well and is a good athlete vertically. A modern big man who can play both inside and outside – he can shoot it from three-point range and is a very good shooter from the corners. He puts the ball on the deck well and does a nice job of taking advantage of favorable mismatches. He has excellent footwork and runs the court hard to finish plays in transition, also. Samontourov has a good overall feel for the game. He uses his length well on defense and is mobile enough to switch onto a smaller player based on what I have seen thus far. He possesses good instincts as a shot-blocker, too. Samontourov has interesting potential as a stretch big man for the pro level. He has played his whole career for the DEKA Basketball Academy in Thessaloniki, but he is expected to sign a long term deal with Panathinaikos Athens for next season. In my opinion, he was the best long-term prospect in this tournament (as well as one of the top international prospects born in 2005) and he is a big-time future NBA prospect.
Pacôme Dadiet (FRA) | 6-7 Wing | Paris
C-RAM: 8.4 (Bronze Badge)
Dadiet was one of the top players in the tournament and showed intriguing potential for higher levels of competition. He has decent size/length along with solid athleticism – he moves well and is quick off his feet. He needs to get stronger in the upper body, though. I liked his versatile all-round game – he has good ball skills and shows some potential as a secondary ball-handler. He is at his best in the open court (both as a handler and as a finisher) but will need to improve his half-court game for the pro level. He can score one-on-one, but doesn’t always finish strong enough. His jump shot is a work in progress as he is very inconsistent from range, at this stage. Dadiet is a good passer and an unselfish teammate. He seems to play in spurts – he looked a bit tentative at times and seemed flustered in the fourth quarter of the opening game loss to Stella Azzurra Rome when he made some costly turnovers, but overall he improved over the course of the tournament and became more assertive as his confidence grew. Dadiet comes off as being too much of a finesse player at times but I think he has the tools to shed this “soft” label and become a good defender at the pro level. He’s a plus-rebounder for a wing, especially on the offensive end. He still has significant margins of improvement in several areas, but could realistically become a “special” player down the road. A name to monitor closely in the future!
Illan Piétrus (FRA) | 6-3 Guard | Strasbourg
C-RAM: 6.8
Piétrus is the son of former Euroleague star Florent Piétrus (and the nephew of former NBA player Mickaël Piétrus). He definitely has some natural talent but he was very up-and-down throughout the tournament. He would often start off games great but then would fade in the second half. He has excellent size and length for his position (with a strong build for his age) and is a good athlete/leaper, too. He’s an adept slasher who can really get to the rim well – he draws a lot of fouls and gets to the free throw line often. He can create well off the dribble both for himself and for others but he often forces plays and can come off as selfish, at times. He is an NBA-caliber player in the open court (he can go the length of the court to score it) but he needs to improve in the half-court. Piétrus showed shaky decision making and turned the ball over a lot (he made some very costly mistakes in the final minutes of the loss to Stella Azzurra Rome when his team blew a double-digit fourth quarter lead). He can score effectively with pull-up jump shots, but his three-point shot is very unreliable. Piétrus showed nice potential on the defensive end, too – he can defend both guard spots at this level and did a nice job pressuring the ball. Despite all of my concerns he is a good prospect for both college and the pro level.
Miro Little (FIN) | 6-4 Guard | Helsinki Basketball Academy
C-RAM: 8.7 (Silver Badge)
Baylor commit Miro Little lived up to the hype and was one of the standout players in the tournament (led tournament in scoring and was second overall in rebounding). He has pretty average size but he is very strong and is a decent athlete, too. Little helped handle the ball and showed nice potential as a primary ball-handler – much better than I had expected. He can create off the dribble both for himself and for others. He’s a good one-on-one player and is more of a slasher than a shooter. Little uses more strength than quickness to get by his man. He is a crafty finisher around the basket and hit some tough contested shots throughout the week, proving that he can score amidst contact. He draws a lot of fouls and gets to the free throw line frequently, too. He can hit spot-up treys, but his perimeter shot is inconsistent at this time. He needs to improve his pull-up game in order to take his game to the next level. Little is a very good open court player both as a handler and as a finisher. He forced some plays and turned the ball over relatively frequently, but it is also true that he was often asked to do too much (his team really struggled whenever he was on bench). He plays with a lot of confidence and has a certain appealing flair to his game. He plays hard on both sides of the court, which should help him acclimate to the Big 12. It’s also worth noting that he’s a very good rebounder for a guard and plays bigger than his listed height. Little has the look of a high-level college player and worst-case long term, a very good European pro player!
Matteo Visintin (ITA) | 6-2 Guard | Stella Azzurra Rome
C-RAM: 10.9 (Gold Badge)
Matteo Visintin had a great tournament (he finished second in scoring, third in assists and second in steals) and was deservedly named MVP while leading his team to championship. He has just average physical tools but is a baller! He is more of a combo guard than a true playmaker but he handled the ball a lot in this tournament showing tangible improvements in his playmaking: he was assertive and showed improved decision-making as he played much more under control than in the past. He is more of a scorer than a shooter. He can score with floaters, and has a good mid-range pull-up (elevates well on shots), but he is still very streaky from three-point range. Visintin is a very good open court player both as a passer and as a finisher. He plays hard on both sides of the court with an impressive motor and is someone I’d consider a tough kid. He’s a pesky defender who pressures the ball well – he has quick hands and deflects a lot of passes. He’s another guy that plays bigger than his listed height. He may not have much upside left, but he is a very underrated prospect and would make a nice impact at a number of U.S. college programs.
Fabrizio Pugliatti (VEN) | 6-7 Guard | Stella Azzurra Rome
C-RAM: 7.8 (Bronze Badge)
Fabrizio Pugliatti hadn’t played particularly well the last couple times I saw him but I thought he played quite well in this tournament. In particular, I was happy to see the improvements in his offensive game: he played with increased confidence and looked to score more than in the past. Pugliatti has nice size for his position and is extremely versatile: he literally played positions 1-through-4 at one moment or another and showed intriguing potential even as a primary ball-handler. He can score one-on-one and does a nice job taking advantage of favorable mismatches (he can post up, too) but he doesn’t always finish well. He is more of a slasher than a shooter: his three-point shot is very erratic and he needs to improve his pull-up game. That said, he’s a good passer who shows nice court vision (does a great job finding big men cutting to the basket). Pugliatti is not as versatile on the defensive end – he can defend bigger players well but he needs to prove that he can handle smaller, quicker players at the pro level (he is very foul-prone). Ultimately, I think he is going to be a very nice pro player in Europe.
Mohamed Diawara (FRA) | 6-8 Forward | Paris
C-RAM: 7.2 (Bronze Badge)
Diawara surprised me a lot in this tournament. I have to say I wasn’t all that crazy about him when I saw him play last year, but he had some impressive moments in this tournament and looked like a very improved player. In particular, I was impressed with his ball skills as he came off as being much more skilled than he’s looked in the past. He has pretty average size for the position but he has long arms and a strong build, along with decent athleticism/mobility. Although more of a power forward, he showed some potential as a combo forward, here. He provides glimpses of iso scoring ability, but often tries to do too much and can force plays. He needs to learn to be more patient. Diawara can hit mid-range shots but he is not a consistent threat from deep range, just yet. He can put the ball on the deck in a straight line and showed the ability to handle it in the open court. He surprised me with his passing ability – good passer big-to-big – he showed nice court vision, here. He stood out as an outlet passer, too. Overall, Diawara brings a physical impact on both sides of the court. I like his defensive versatility as he’s shown the ability to switch up and down and guard multiple positions. He has a good motor, too – he projects as an energy guy off the bench at the pro level, if not more.
Emmanuel Innocenti (ITA) | 6-6 Wing | Stella Azzurra Rome
C-RAM: 8.0 (Bronze Badge)
His teammates F. Pugliatti and M. Visintin may receive most of the headlines, but Emmanuel Innocenti quietly had a solid tournament and was one of the keys to Stella Azzurra winning it all. Although he has just average size on the wing, he has long arms and is very strong for his age. He’s a good athlete/leaper, too. He is more of a 3 than a 2 at this point. His offensive game is still unrefined but he has shown noticeable improvements from last year. As of late, he’s been playing with more confidence and looks to score more aggressively. He can score in one-on-one situations, like to attack the rim, and can score through contact. He’s also comfortable posting up smaller wings. Innocenti is a very good open court player and an athletic finisher in transition. He’d benefit by improving his jump shot as he’s not a reliable threat from three-point range at this time. It’s worth noting that part of his on-court maturation has been as a passer, where he’s become very unselfish as a decision maker. He also crashes offensive glass hard and brings a lot of energy on both ends of the floor. Throughout this event, he showed nice versatility on the defensive end. He plays bigger than 6-6 and doesn’t mind physical play, at all. He can help pressure the ball well and turn his opponents over. He is an underrated prospect and I think that he could be a nice player for higher levels of competition if his jump shot improves.
Lucas Fresno (ARG) | 6-5 Guard | Stella Azzurra Rome
C-RAM: 7.7 (Bronze Badge)
Lucas Fresno showed significant improvements from last season and looks like a prospect to follow closely, moving forward. He brings good size/length to the backcourt and is a pretty good vertical athlete, too. He is more of a scorer than a shooter. Fresno moves well without the ball and is a good finisher off cuts to the basket (especially does a nice job leaking out to score on the fast-break). He has improved at putting the ball on the floor and can score vs. single coverage. Simply put, he needs to work on his jump shot. He is currently very streaky from three-point range and needs to improve his ability to shoot off the dribble, as well. Throughout the tournament, he showed to be a pretty good passer. His motor and interest level is evident on both sides of the court. Fresno defends his primary position (off guard) well enough for higher levels of competition and can help pressure the ball, too. He has some potential as a 3-and-D guy. I think he would make a very nice college player!
Moussa Doumbia (MLI) | 6-10 Big | Stella Azzurra Rome
C-RAM: 5.9
Moussa Doumbia had a pretty average tournament before finally playing well in the championship game. He has impressive tangible physical tools (strong, long and athletic) but he is still very raw. NBA hardware with just minor league software. He doesn’t seem to have improved much from last year and still makes a lot of mistakes, displaying just an average feel for the game. Doumbia is more of an old-school center. In multiple viewings thus far, he’s shown to be inside-only and doesn’t show any shooting range. He plays mostly in the low post and just powers his way to the rim. He’s a good screen-and-dive player who can score efficiently off lobs. His hands are just average as he repeatedly fumbles occasional passes inside. He is active on the offensive glass, doing a nice job converting on tip-ins. He brings a legitimate defensive presence (and this should translate to higher levels of competition). He can rebound and block shots, two traits that won’t ever go out of style. Additionally, he has the mobility to defend pick-and-roll well but he has just average court-sense and is often slow reacting to the ball. He definitely still has margins for improvement but he is developing at a slower rate than expected. He is a guy who would probably benefit a lot from playing college basketball in the states.
Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi (SWE) | 6-7 Forward | Promitheas
C-RAM: 7.1 (Bronze Badge)
Fasasi emerged as one of the surprise players of the tournament despite playing for the last-place team. He has just average size/length (looks shorter than listed) but he plays bigger. He’s a decent athlete/leaper and particularly quick off the ground. Fasasi is a versatile combo forward who showed some nice ball skills. He looks to score aggressively but he also tends to force some plays. He can score one-on-one and does a nice job taking advantage of favorable mismatches. He has some nice post-up moves but this may not translate well to higher levels of competition. He can score through contact. At this stage, his three-point shot can be described as erratic. He needs to improve his perimeter shooting – he has a very flat shot with a low release. He’s a good open court player who can bring the ball down the court himself and initiate a transition offense. Fasasi brings good defensive effort. He plays hard and doesn’t mind physical play. His game may not translate as well to the pro level but I think he would find ways to be effective at the D1 college level.
Ofri Naveh (ISR) | 6-7 Forward | Maccabi Tel Aviv
C-RAM: 10.6 (Gold Badge)
Naveh was another one of the surprise players of the tournament, leading Maccabi to the championship game (after an upset win over Barcelona). He has a very unorthodox style, but his game is very effective. Naveh has just average size/length on paper, but he plays bigger than his listed 6-7. He is a decent athlete/leaper who is quick off his feet, too. He plays more as a 4-5 than a 4-3 but he is extremely versatile. Naveh is a good one-on-one player who does a nice job of identifying and taking advantage of favorable mismatches. He can post-up or operate out of the high post. He crashes offensive glass hard and gets a lot of easy points on put-backs. Naveh is also a good finisher off basket cuts. He regularly beats slower bigs down the court to score in transition. He’s an above-average mover without the ball, overall. He can also pop out for occasional three-point shots but this is not a strength quite yet. He’s a tough kid who has an objectively great motor. He may be undersized to get away with playing the same way at pro level, but he definitely plays bigger and doesn’t mind physical play. He routinely contests shots aggressively. He can switch on to both bigger and smaller players effectively at this level, providing a ton of lineup versatility for his team. He would make a nice small-ball 4 man for the college level.
Teodor Simić (MKD) | 6-11 Big | Barcelona
C-RAM: 8.2 (Bronze Badge)
Teodor Simić picked up the slack for the absent James Nnaji (who was called up to be with the pro team the day before the start of this event) and had a nice tournament as the team’s top big man. He is playing with a lot more confidence now. Simić has a big body/frame but he is just an average athlete. He’s in the mold of a skilled big man – he played mostly inside in this tournament but he can face-up, too, and is a good high-post player who can pop out for occasional three-point shots. He has a nice variety of low-post scoring moves and displays good footwork. He can score with jump hooks and can finish with either hand around the basket. He creates separation well but plays below the rim and will have to prove that he can score inside against more athletic opponents at the pro level. He is a good passer from both the high and low post. He has good hands in general. Where Simić really needs to improve is on the defensive end. He takes up space in the paint and can defend the low post well but he struggles to defend away from the basket and hasn’t shown the ability to switch onto a smaller player. He is not much of a shot-blocker, either. He has some limitations (on defense) for the pro level, but he would make a nice college player, in my opinion.
Rafa Villar (SPA) | 6-3 Guard | Barcelona
C-RAM: 10.7 (Gold Badge)
Villar is a very improved player and was one of the top guards in this tournament (he led the event in assists and was second in steals). He has nice size/length and is a good athlete/leaper for a Euro guard. With the departure of guys like Michael Caicedo and Agustin Ubal, he looks to score more than in the past and is much more assertive in general. Villar is a very good slasher – he attacks the rim and can score amongst the trees in the paint. He draws a lot of fouls and gets to the free throw line frequently. He is a good pick-and-roll player and he can drive-and-kick well, too. He pushes the ball down court quickly in transition and regularly manufactures easy scoring opportunities for his team. The one thing that is holding him back is his jump shot – his three-point shot still looks very shaky to say the least. He is more of a spot-up shooter from distance and also needs to improve his pull-up game. On the other side of the ball, Villar was also one of the best backcourt defenders in the tournament. He has strong legs and pressures the ball well with quick hands. He’s also a good rebounder for a guard. Villar is a nice college prospect who could develop into a nice Euroleague-caliber player if he can make strides as a perimeter shooting threat.
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