The 7DAYS EuroCup Rising Star award acknowledges the best player aged 22 or under when the season officially starts - in this case, on July 1, 2021.
Midseason awards candidates: Rising Star
Article
5 Mins read
It has been a tight race this season, as there are very good candidates showcasing their skills all around the competition. Only one of them will be named the 2021-22 EuroCup Rising Star, joining a long list of winners that includes Bojan Dubljevic, the only player to win the awards twice, Kristaps Porzingis, Jonas Valanciunas, Dzanan Musa and Mateusz Ponitka, among others. Here are the main candidates to win the award this year.
Joel Parra, Joventut Badalona
A left-handed small forward with all-around skills, Parra, 21, is one of the reasons why Joventut has the EuroCup's best record (11-2). Parra leads all Rising Star eligible candidates in PIR (13.1) and scoring (11.5 ppg.), and is fully established in Joventut's rotation, leading his team in minutes per game with almost 24 per night. Parra is shooting the ball with good percentages (62.2% 2FG, 34.5% 3FG, 84.8% FT) and has also averaged 4.2 rebounds while scoring in double digits nine times in 13 games. He went for a season-high 18 points against Turk Telekom Ankara in Round 11.
Jaime Pradilla, Valencia Basket
Valencia started the season with many frontcourt injuries and Pradilla, 21, took advantage of the available minutes and made the most of his extended playing time, averaging 9.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and a PIR of 12.0 in 12 games. He leads the 2021-22 EuroCup in two-point shooting percentage, having downed 42 of 53 shots inside the arc (79.2%). He has also been effective from the foul line (81.0%). Pradilla attacks the rim whenever possible, but is a smooth low post player who can make mid-range jumpers with great effectiveness. He ranks seventh overall in PIR per 40 minutes (30.0), proving he is much more than just a low post scorer.
Nikolaos Rogkavopoulos, Promitheas Patras
Rogkavopoulos, 20, has cooled off a bit after a sensational start to the season, but remains one of Promitheas's top players this season. He had a PIR of 20 or higher in three of his first four EuroCup games - 20 against Valencia Basket, 28 against Gran Canaria and 21 against Frutti Extra Bursaspor. He ranks third among Rising Stars candidates in PIR (11.2 per game) and is first - and tied for 12th in the competition - in rebounds (6.0 rpg.). Rogkavopoulos is averaging 8.0 points and 1.5 assists, having made 36.0% of his three-point shots. He is playing more than 23 minutes per night and has surprised a lot of fans and experts in his first EuroCup season.
Alen Smailagic, Partizan NIS Belgrade
Smailagic, 21, has thrilled Partizan fans with his energy, reaching the Top 10 plays of the week often with his blocks and high-flying dunks. He is also playing an important role on a title contender, averaging 8.6 points on good shooting percentages (58.5% 2FG, 32.3% 3FG, 73.5% FT), 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks for an average PIR of 10.8 in almost 24 minutes per night. He posted a double-double (13 points, 12 rebounds) in Round 5 against Lietkabelis Panevezys and finished that game with a career-high PIR of 20 and scored in double digits four other times.
Hugo Benitez, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse
Benitez, 21, is in his second EuroCup season and has adjusted very well to the backup point guard role. He is averaging 5.9 points on 94.7% free throw shooting, 2.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals for an average PIR of 9.6 in 12 games. So far, Benitez has dished 4.56 assists per turnover, ranking him second in the EuroCup this season only behind two-time EuroCup champion Sam Van Rossom (4.60). His best game was a strong all-around performance (12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals) in Round 3 against Promitheas Patras, in which he showed hints of the player he could become very soon.