Last weekend’s FIBA U18 European Championship final did not disappoint.
It was a clash between two basketball-rich countries, with Serbia beating Spain 81-71 to win their fifth U18 title. Let’s assess some of the skills, qualities and other takeaways from the final match of the tournament:
Topic Pick and Roll Game
From start to finish, Nikola Topic’s fingerprints were all over the game, en route to game-highs of 24 points and eight assists (three turnovers) and MVP honors. Most of his damage was done as a pick-and-roll manager, where he regularly managed to read the defense and then make the appropriate scoring or play decision.
Topic used ball screens to come down for rim finishes in traffic, including a few finishes around Mara’s NBA waist, slipped a screen into a floater and delivered an outstanding wraparound pass to a Bosnjakovic three ( my favorite game of the game).
At 6-foot-5, Topic is a big playmaker whose blend of pace, savvy, basketball IQ, playmaking and scoring screams NBA appeal. I don’t think anyone else in this tournament has increased his stock as much as Nikola Topic.
The sensation and passing vision of Aday Mara
Despite some questionable decisions, Mara’s passing feel and vision were exceptional, as usual. He effortlessly found cutters with precision and accuracy, highlighted by faking a handoff to Langarita and then delivering a pinpoint pass after bounce along the baseline that resulted in a shooting foul.
There should be no doubt that Mara’s passing feel and vision translates to both the collegiate and professional level. These are two clear NBA-ready skills that Mara needs to capitalize on alongside his 7-foot-3 frame.
In what will likely be a unique year at UCLA, I hope to see Mara be used more as a live dribble and short roll passer to better gauge his value as a potential playmaker and/or important connector.
Hugo off the ball
Off-ball players always catch my attention because of the mix of feel, basketball IQ, and effort it takes to be successful playing off-ball. Hugo Gonzalez possesses all of these qualities, manifested in his excellent cutting ability.
Gonzalez cuts with purpose and strength, with solid timing and an understanding of how to set up defenders to create/open cutting and passing lanes. Mara’s pass and Gonzalez’s cut formed a perfect combination that was in sync throughout the tournament.
A great reminder
Sometimes Mario Saint-Supery can be forgotten when evaluating Spain’s top NBA prospects, but his final performance was a definite reminder. Supery led Spain in scoring coming off the bench with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting (2-of-6 from three) as he helped keep the team in the game with his multi-point shooting. levels and its co-facilitation.
Mitar Bosnjakovic’s Skilled and Difficult Shooting Previews
Bosnjakovic dropped 21 points for Serbia, providing the punch needed alongside Topic to become champions. At 6-foot-5, his impressive moments of skillful and difficult shooting should catch the attention of evaluators.
It was especially these four moments that really stood out. A post-fadeaway jumper, great footwork on a stop-and-spin jumper, a right-to-left crossover pull-up three on Mara in competition and a closing attack on Mara in a contested reverse finish at the rim.
The plot of Lucas Langarita
Langarita, a 6-foot-5 point guard, had 12 points and dished out six assists (no turnovers) for Spain.
The point guard, with his combination of size, ball skills, throwable shot and playmaking, will always attract intrigue and attention. Langarita is becoming one of my favorite long-term Spanish prospects in the NBA.
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