The EuroLeague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament has developed into one of the world's most prestigious stops for future stars in basketball. 

ANGT alumni: Nihad Dedovic, FC Bayern Munich

From 2003 onwards, more and more players have used the ANGT to showcase their talents at a young age and gain experience in international club competition.

One player who gave fans a taste of his future success in the ANGT is swingman Nihad Dedovic of FC Bayern Munich. Dedovic had recently turned 18 years old when he played his only two games in the ANGT for U18 FC Barcelona back in 2008 in Madrid, where the tournament was held in parallel with the 2008 EuroLeague Final Four.

Dedovic had already made his EuroLeague debut with Barcelona's senior team earlier that season, playing almost 6 minutes of a season-opening loss at Partizan Belgrade when he was still 17. He had 1 point and 2 rebounds in that game. At the ANGT in Madrid, Dedovic played the U18 team's last two games of four. He scored 27 against Lietuvos Rytas in his first outing, as Barcelona ran its record to 3-0 and reached the championship game against FMP Belgrade. In that final, Dedovic rang up a double-double of 29 points and 11 rebounds, but his team lost 70-80. His average of 26.5 points was the highest in that season's tournament.

Dedovic appeared in three games during the next EuroLeague season with Barcelona and also became a Spanish League champion before moving to Lottomatica Roma of Italy, where he aced his EuroLeague return in 2010-11, averaging 9.3 points as a 20-year-old starter playing alongside another rising star, Luigi Datome. Dedovic would pass through ALBA Berlin for another solid EuroLeague season before landing in his current home in Munich, where he had actually lived as a boy until age 7.

Dedovic carried his new club into the EuroLeague in 2013 and was a double-digit scorer in the competition for the next three years. After nine EuroLeague seasons overall, five of them with Bayern, he has career averages of 9.7 points and 2.9 rebounds through 124 EuroLeague games. Along with winning three German League titles together, Dedovic is the longest-serving player ever in a Bayern uniform and the current team captain, taking an iconic club to new heights in basketball.

ANGT alumni: Nihad Dedovic

angtalumni_Nihad Dedovic - ANGT FC Barcelona

The Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade first-place game was a mixed bag of emotions for Daniel Batcho of U18 CFBB Paris.

Injury taught ANGT Belgrade MVP that nothing is given

Sure, he was disappointed about losing the qualifying tournament title to U18 Partizan NIS Belgrade. At the same time, he was satisfied to have played so well as to be chosen tournament Most Valuable Player – especially considering where Batcho was just a year ago.

On Sunday in Belgrade, Batcho collected 24 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks for a performance index rating of 38 against Partizan, but CFBB ended up losing 79-67.

"I just tried to stay aggressive in the game," Batcho said afterward. "I knew I had to grab a lot of rebounds to help out my teammates."

"The toughest thing I have gone through in my life."

Batcho finished the four-game weekend averaging 14.8 points on 69.7% two-point shooting to go with 11.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and a performance index rating of 24.3. He was the tournament's best in both rebounds and PIR.

Seeing the 2.02-meter forward put up those numbers was even more welcome sight once you think back to August 15, 2018.

Batcho came into the quarterfinals of that summer's FIBA U16 European Championship averaging 10.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals. But just about 30 seconds into the game against Serbia, Batcho landed awkwardly on his left knee after making a layup. The diagnosis was a broken kneecap and Batcho had to sit out the entire 2018-19 season.

"It was the toughest thing I have gone through in my life," he says now. "It was a tough rehab, but we have a lot of great physical therapy people at INSEP and they were with me every day."

Batcho said not being able to play did actually help him, though, in his understanding of the game of basketball.

"It helped me see the game differently and watch more of it, the details. Something I didn't do before: watch more the screens and how to get the ball," Batcho says.

Most importantly, sitting out an entire season gave Batcho perspective on life.

"Nothing is given, everything is earned I have to eat well, sleep well and do everything well to show everything that I can do," he says.

The days, weeks and months of wondering if he could ever get back onto the court finally came to an end on September 28, 2019, when CFBB took on La Charite in a third-division game in France. Batcho played 13 minutes and collected 6 points and 5 rebounds.

"I was so happy, it was a big relief," he recalled.

Batcho has shown flashes of his ability this season as he tallied 7 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks versus Andrezieux; collected 21 points and 11 rebounds against Chartes; and picked up 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists versus GET Vosges. For the season, Batcho averaged 8.9 points and 6.7 rebounds in 24 minutes coming into the ANGT Belgrade.

"Nothing is given, everything is earned."

It was fitting that Batcho made his loud international re-entry in Belgrade. That fateful injury in August 2018 came in a quarterfinal game against Serbia, whose team then featured eight players who also played at ANGT Belgrade this weekend: Lazar Stefanovic and Luka Tarlac from Partizan; Luka Paunovic, Mihailo Musikic, Marko Andric and Ivan Pavicevic from U18 Mega Bemax Belgrade; and Nikola Manojlovic and Lazar Joksimovic from U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade.

His fateful game in 2018 had taken place in Novi Sad, Serbia, so Batcho knew how much a passion for basketball goes hand-in-hand with the talent of the country's players. That made him and his team were well aware of all they accomplished to reach the ANGT Belgrade first-place game, but also of the tough task they faced in taking on Partizan.

"We knew that it would be intense because they were playing at home," he said.

Having come all the way back to stand tall again in the country where injury first sidetracked him, Batcho has very clear what he will remember most from his comeback at ANGT Belgrade:

"The intensity – and also how you always have to be focused on the game."



Daniel Batcho was named the Most Valuable Player of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade despite U18 CFBB Paris losing in the first-place game to U18 Partizan NIS Belgrade.

CFBB Paris's Batcho chosen as ANGT Belgrade MVP

Batcho was outstanding against Partizan with 24 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks for a performance index rating of 38, but CFBB ended up losing 79-67. For the tournament, Batcho averaged 14.8 points on 69.7 percent two-point shooting, 11.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks for a PIR of 24.3. He led the tournament in PIR and rebounds and ranked fourth in both two-point shooting and blocks. He was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Nikola Radovanovic of Partizan, Luka Paunovic of U18 Mega Bemax Belgrade, Egor Sytnikov of U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and Nikola Manojlovic of U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade.

Radovanovic tallied 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in the first-place game and averaged 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and a PIR of 18.8 for the weekend. He was eighth in scoring, seventh in rebounds, second in free throw percentage (84.8%) and seventh in PIR. Paunovic, who helped Mega finish third, tallied 17.3 points on 71.4% two-point shooting and 50.0% on threes plus 6.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.8 steals and a PIR of 24.3. He finished tied for first in PIR, third in two-point shooting, fourth in scoring and three-pointers, sixth in assists and seventh in steals. Sytnikov collected 18.5 points on 72.2% two-pointers, 5.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists for a PIR of 18.8. The Russian guard finished tied for second in scoring and seventh in PIR. Zvezda's Manojlovic averaged 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists for a PIR of 15.5.

Eight teams from six countries will gather this weekend at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade seeking the fourth and final automatic berth for this season's ANGT Finals to be held in May at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Cologne, Germany. 

ANGT Belgrade: Players to watch 2020

The participating clubs are among the top in their respective countries and collectively bring an elite group of promising talents to the international stage - in some cases for the first time. Get familiar with a top performer from each team in preparation for an exciting weekend of basketball in the Serbian capital.

#### Emmanouil Kontoudis, U18 Panathinaikos OPAP Athens
Kontoudis will be playing in his second ANGT after averaging 6.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists at the ANGT Munich. The 1.90-meter guard can play both guard positions well and is a very good ball-handler who can create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Kontoudis has a high basketball IQ with excellent court vision and passing skills. He is also a strong and reliable on-ball defender.

#### Alen Malovcic, U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana
Malovcic is appearing in his second ANGT after collecting 9.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.3 steals last season in Belgrade. Last summer he guided Slovenia to third place at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2019 as he picked up 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 rebounds for the country’s first podium finish since 2002. The 1.99-meter small forward is playing this season in the Slovenian second division and collecting 15.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals. Malovcic is strong, good in one-on-one situations, a good defender and a great rebounder.

#### Nikola Manojlovic, U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade
Manojlovic will be playing his third ANGT season after he collected 4.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals at the ANGT Belgrade last year and then posted 6.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists at the ANGT Finals in Vitoria-Gasteiz. The 1.99-meter guard averaged 4.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals for Serbia at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2019. Manojlovic, who serves as the Zvezda captain, has a good motor and is strong. He is a good attacker of the basket and is good in transition. He is creative and able to make other players better. Manojlovic has a good three-point shot as well. He plays good defense, is smart and is always well-positioned. Manojlovic also has a good feel for rebounding - both offensively and defensively.

#### Mihailo Musikic, U18 Mega Bemax Belgrade
Musikic will be playing in his second ANGT after he tallied 7.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals at the ANGT Belgrade last season and then had 5.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 blocks at the ANGT Finals. The 2.11-meter center played for Serbia at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2018 and picked up 6.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks. He is a very intelligent player, with great understanding and ability to read the game and is also a good passing and shooting big man.

#### Nikola Radovanovic, U18 Partizan NIS Belgrade
Radovanovic will be making his ANGT debut in Belgrade. The 2.04-meter forward appeared at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019 and averaged 15.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals. Playing for Buducnost Bijeljina of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the 2003-born player also competed at the U16 European Youth Basketball League in the 2018-19 season and posted 33.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Radovanovic is a great shooter, who is very explosive and fast in the open court. He has a high level of competitiveness, good athleticism, and great ability to read the game and make steals.

#### Harel Rinski, U18 Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv
Rinski will be appearing in the ANGT competition for the second time though he did not play in any of Maccabi’s four games at ANGT Munich and played 14 minutes in his only game at the ANGT Finals last season, collecting 1 assist and 1 steal. The 1.97-meter shooting guard has played three games in Israel’s top flight, picking up 1 rebound in 5 minutes. Rinski played at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2018 and averaged 11.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steals. He has a very good shot from all ranges. Rinski is also a smart player who can play both guard positions.

#### Wojtek Tomaszewski, U18 Asseco Arka Gdynia
Tomaszewski will be playing his first ANGT since Arka is making its return to the competition for the first time since 2007-08. After playing at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2018, Division B, the 1.97-meter guard helped Poland to silver at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2019, Division B and a promotion to Division A by averaging 3.3 points and 1.4 rebounds. Tomaszewski has played this season in Poland’s second division, where he has averaged 3.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 10 minutes over eight games. His craftiness and IQ make him hard to guard. He is very dangerous at both ends of the court. Tomaszewski can guard multiple positions and loves to steal the ball. He is good at grabbing rebounds and speeding up his team in transition as a ball handler.

#### Yohan Traore, U18 CFBB Paris of France
Traore will be playing in his second ANGT after averaging 4.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals in Kaunas last season. The 2003-born forward helped France take second place at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019 with 8.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals. The 2.03-meter forward is averaging 7.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 0.8 steals in the French NMI third division this season. Traore is an excellent slasher and attacker of the basket with a good ability to finish at the rim. He is also a good defensive player with solid ball-handling.

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The biggest storylines going into the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade are whether host side U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade can start a new winning streak or U18 Mega Bemax Belgrade can take first place at the event in back-to-back years.

Zvezda goes for new streak at ANGT Belgrade

In addition to the 2014 continental champion Zvezda and Mega, the final ANGT qualifier includes two-time champion U18 CFBB Paris of France, U18 Partizan NIS Belgrade, U18 Asseco Arka Gdynia, U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, U18 Maccabi Fox Tel Aviv and U18 Panathinaikos OPAP Athens.

The eight teams are broken down into two groups of four teams and will play the other three opponents in their group. The top-placed finishers in each group will face off in the first-place game. The second-place finishers will play in the third-place game; the third-placed clubs for fifth place and the bottom teams in the seventh-place game. The victor of the first-place game will advance to the ANGT Finals at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in May in Cologne, Germany.

U18 Herbalife Gran Canaria, defending ANGT champion U18 Real Madrid and U18 Rytas Vilnius all have secured their tickets to Germany after winning the ANGT Valencia, ANGT Munich and ANGT Kaunas, respectively.

In Belgrade this weekend, Group A includes Zvezda, Maccabi, Panathinaikos and Partizan. Zvezda won this qualifying tournament each season from 2011 to 2018 but saw its 38-game ANGT Belgrade winning streak snapped in last season's first-place game, which Mega won 73-63. Zvezda, which later received a wild card for the ANGT Finals last season, had last surrendered a defeat at the ANGT Belgrade against U18 Beovuk 72 in the 2010-11 season. Maccabi returns to the Serbian capital for the first time since 2016-17, when it finished seventh. The Israeli powerhouse finished second at the ANGT Munich last season and was granted a wild card for the ANGT Finals. Panathinaikos will be appearing in its third qualifying event, for the first time in Belgrade. The Greek side went winless and finished eighth at ANGT Munich last season. Partizan returns to Belgrade after playing at the ANGT Munich last season, where it finished seventh.

Mega tops Group B, which also includes Arka, CFBB and Olimpija. Mega will have the confidence of taking first place in Belgrade last season and ending Zvezda's long run of dominance. Mega reached the ANGT Championship Game last season but lost to Real Madrid. That was Mega's second appearance in the championship game after losing to CFBB in 2017. Arka has not played in the competition since 2008 when the Polish side went 1-3 in Belgrade in the final season of a four-year run in the qualifiers. CFBB is one of five teams with two U18 continental titles (2010 and 2017). The others are U18 Zalgiris Kaunas, U18 FMP Belgrade, U18 Real Madrid and U18 Rytas Vilnius, while U18 CSKA Moscow collected three straight championships from 2004 to 2006. The French club will be playing in Belgrade after competing at the ANGT Kaunas for the last five seasons, taking third place last year in the Lithuania tournament. Olimpija will be playing in the competition for the 12th time in the last 13 seasons. Last year, the Slovenian team took fourth place at ANGT Belgrade.

The biggest storylines going into the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade are whether host side U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade can start a new winning streak or U18 Mega Bemax Belgrade can take first place at the event in back-to-back years. Or will another of the six teams competing claim the fourth ticket for the ANGT Finals?

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ANGT Kaunas MVP Azoulas Tubelis helped U18 Rytas Vilnius find redemption by defeating their archrival U18 Zalgiris Kaunas in the first-place game after losing the same game to the same club one year ago.

Tubelis rises to challenge against archenemy Zalgiris

Azoulas Tubelis already experienced what it felt like to lose to an archenemy in the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament. And he made sure that he and his U18 Rytas Vilnius teammates didn't feel that again in beating U18 Zalgiris Kaunas in the ANGT Kaunas first-place game.

Tubelis collected 25 points and 15 rebounds plus 12 fouls drawn for a performance index rating of 37 in Rytas's 63-84 victory over Zalgiris in the ANGT Kaunas first-place game to earn a ticket to the ANGT Finals, which will be Tubelis's third trip to the end-of-the-season highlight.

"The motivation was there because it was Zalgiris. You never need much extra motivation," said Tubelis, who was named MVP of the tournament.

"They knew us very well. We play them in the Lithuanian League and we made the adjustments at halftime and they worked."

Tubelis knows what it’s like facing Zalgiris in the ANGT Kaunas first-place game as he and Rytas lost at the same point last season - a 92-79 defeat in which he collected 15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 5 blocks and 8 fouls drawn for a PIR of 31. "There were so many people there and the support was amazing for Zalgiris. We were not as motivated as this time," said Tubelis, who was named to the All-Tournament Team last season as well.

The 2.06-meter forward was determined to not be denied this time around as he averaged 20.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks for a PIR of 34.5. He ranked fourth in scoring while leading the competition in PIR, rebounds and two-point shooting (66.7%) and placing third in blocks.

"He’s very, very talented. We have played on the same team for the last five years. I am really happy with how he is improving. His IQ is really good and he's really grown up," said Tubelis's teammate Augustas Marciulionis, who also garnered a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

Rytas is heading back to the ANGT Finals for an eighth time in 18 editions, including three of the last four. The club from the Lithuanian capital won the continental championship in 2012 and 2018. Tubelis was part of the 2018 title-winning team in Belgrade, where he collected 3 points, 1 rebound and 1 block in 10 minutes of Rytas's 76-71 thrilling victory over U18 Stellazzurra Rome.

"I remember only Sirvydis's last shot. He's insane," Tubelis said, referring to Deividas Sirvydis's three-pointer to give Rytas a 72-69 lead with 35 seconds to play. "I didn’t play that much two years ago, but the emotions from that game were amazing."

Tubelis has started taking the next step at the team level at Rytas, playing in five top division LKL games and averaging 3.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 7.4 minutes, including 11 points against Siauliai on February 1. On December 18, Tubelis also made his 7DAYS EuroCup debut; he played 12:55 minutes against Umana Reyer Venice in Round 10 of the regular season, though he missed his 2 field goal attempts and finished without points, though Tubelis managed to record 3 rebounds and 1 block.

Tubelis played in Rytas's two domestic league games before ANGT Kaunas and will undoubtedly start to gain more playing time with the senior team as he awaits a trip to Cologne, Germany, in May for the ANGT Finals at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

"We want to try to win the trophy again. There is no other way: only first place," Tubelis said.

Spoken like a true champion.

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Azoulas Tubelis claimed the MVP trophy at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Kaunas after guiding U18 Rytas Vilnius to a 63-84 victory over U18 Zalgiris Kaunas in the first-place game to earn a spot in the ANGT Finals.

Tubelis takes home MVP as Rytas takes first place

Tubelis was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Rytas teammate Augustas Marciulionis, Paulius Murauskas of Zalgiris, Cameron Hildreth of U18 Barking Abbey London and Victor Wembanyama of U18 Nanterre 92.

Tubelis tallied 25 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 12 fouls drawn for a performance index rating of 37 in the first-place game. For the tournament he averaged 20.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks for a PIR of 34.5. He ranked fourth in scoring, while leading the competition in PIR, rebounds and two-point shooting percent (66.7%) and placing third in blocks.

Marciulionis compiled 25 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in the first-place game to finish the tournament averaging 18.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.3 steals for a PIR of 23.5. He was seventh in scoring, second in assists and fifth in PIR. Murauskas struggled with foul trouble in the first-place game and was held to just 11 points and 6 rebounds. For the tournament, the 2004-born player tallied 15.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.3 steals for a PIR of 18.5. He ranked second in two-point shooting at 65.4% and was ninth in PIR.

Hildreth led the ANGT Kaunas in scoring at 25.8 points and steals at 4.0 per game and was second in PIR at 33.8 while finishing fourth in assists (4.3 apg) and tied for fifth in blocks (1.3 bpg). He also averaged 6.8 rebounds. Wembanyama helped Nanterre to two victories in its first appearance in the competition and he contributed 15.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 6.0 blocks for a PIR of 30.0. The 2004-born French player was first in blocks, second in rebounds, third in PIR and fourth in steals.



Davide Casarin is no stranger to expectations given his name. But the U18 Umana Reyer Venice prospect insists he is working hard to earn everything he gets. 

Regardless of name, Reyer prospect Casarin earning his way

Even though he will only turn 17 years of age in May and has more eyes and pressure on him, Casarin has played well for Reyer, collecting 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.7 steals per game through his team's first three games.

"It's always a great honor to be here and play against these teams that are absolutely stronger than the opponents against whom we play in Italy. These kinds of games push us to do better and try to improve," said Casarin, who has slumped a bit as well, hitting just 32.6 percent on two-point shots and 11.1% from long range while also committing 4.7 turnovers in nearly 33 minutes. "I try to play as normal as possible. I know that every day the pressure gets higher, but I try not to think about it. I try to go to the court always focused on what I have to do and always try to do my best."

In addition to being a year younger than the other players in Kaunas, Casarin also bears the weight of a big surname. His father Federico Casarin played 13 seasons in Italy's top two leagues and remained active until 2017 when he was 51 years old. After he retired Federico Casarin, was appointed Reyer club president. Davide’s brother Andrea also played the game.

"The relationship with my father is always the same outside of the gym. But when the games or practices start, I don’t think of him as my father but as president. He treats me like a normal player, a young player, but not like a son," Davide said.

Casarin has already made his way into Reyer’s senior team. On May 12, 2019, he made his Serie A debut against Brescia, playing 3 minutes and even making a basket for his first points in front of the home fans.

"I was excited just to be on the scoreboard before getting on the court. Then I tried my best to use my chance; thanks to my teammates who helped me," said Casarin, who also played two playoff games against Trento - all before turning 16.

Those games came after Casarin’s performance at the ANGT Belgrade, which earned him a spot in the Adidas U16 All-Star Game played at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Casarin has already gotten into six Serie A games this season, playing a total of 16 minutes and scoring 4 points with 1 rebound and 1 assist. He also has made his debut in the 7DAYS EuroCup, playing 1:50 minutes against Partizan NIS Belgrade in Round 1 of the Regular Season and then collecting 4 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block in 13:40 minutes against Rytas Vilnius in Round 10.

"It’s fantastic. I can compare myself with the best players in Europe. This gives me great motivation to work harder every day. I see these great players and try to get inspiration from them," he said.

Casarin came into this season with new drive and motivation after a strong summer wearing the Italy jersey. He played two years up at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2019 and averaged 8.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals in four games. And then he played a major role in helping Italy take third place at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019. He averaged 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals as Italy won its first U16 continental medal since 1991 and qualified for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup for the first time since 2014.

"Thanks to these two important European Championships, I gained a lot of confidence to play this season, which I knew would be really hard because I know I have a lot of competition,” Casarin said.

Casarin splits time with Reyer’s senior and U18 teams - often practicing with each team on the same day. He also has individual workouts and weight training besides games. Despite being only 16 years old, Casarin says he feels welcome in the Reyer senior team locker room. Because they speak the same language, he said he is most comfortable with his Italian teammates. But he also feels accepted by the foreign players.

"The Americans treat me really like a younger brother. They try to give me tips all the time," he said.

Still, there is that name that accompanies Casarin everywhere he goes. And that gives him even more drive to show he deserves the things he is getting.

"I have to earn everything by myself," he stressed. Becuase Casarin knows the weight of expectations and he is doing a his best to deal with them in a positive way so far.



Davide Casarin is no stranger to expectations given his name. But the U18 Umana Reyer Venice prospect insists he is working hard to earn everything he gets. Casarin arrived in Lithuania for the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Kaunas after being named to the All-Tournament Team at the ANGT Belgrade last season, when he collected 18.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.0 blocks despite being two years younger than the rest of the competition.

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Eight teams from six countries will compete at this weekend's Adidas Next Generation Tournament qualifying event in Kaunas, Lithuania, and they arrive with some of the best age 18-and-younger talents in Europe. 

ANGT Kaunas: Players to Watch

Here is a primer on some of the best-known among the many talents worth keeping an eye on.

#### Davide Casarin, U18 Umana Reyer Venice

Casarin will be participating in his second ANGT after being named to the All-Tournament Team at ANGT Belgrade last season, where he averaged 18.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.0 blocks despite being two years below the maximum age. The 1.97-meter point guard has played in two 7DAYS EuroCup games this season in which he tallied 2.0 points, 0.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 8 minutes per game. He also appeared in three EuroCup games last season. Casarin, whose father Federico Casarin is a former player and now the president of the Reyer club, played for Italy twice last summer at two age levels. He averaged 8.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2019 and then guided Italy to third place at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019 with 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals. Casarin can play both guard positions thanks to his strong body and his athletic skills that allow him to dominate opponents. He can create shots in multiple ways, but also can create for teammates with his great basketball IQ and passing skills. He is a smart defender on the ball, even against taller and stronger players.

#### Kriss Helmanis, U18 Joventut Badalona

Helmanis will be playing his second ANGT after posting 1.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks last season at ANGT Valencia. The 2.10-meter center from Latvia is in his second season in Joventut's youth ranks. He is averaging 2.5 points and 1.9 rebounds for Prat Joventut in the LEB Silver third division. He collected 6.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2018. Over the past two years, Helmanis's physical and technical skills have improved noticeably. He can use both hands to finish and has very good vision for an interior player to pass the ball and create for others.

#### Cameron Hildreth, U18 Barking Abbey London

Hildreth will be playing his first ANGT as the club returns to the competition for the first time since 2009-10. He has played twice for Great Britain internationally. He was worth 11.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2018, Division B and then averaged 3.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2019. The 1.95-meter guard is averaging 18.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 steals in the English second division D1. He is a pure shooter with a very high basketball IQ. Hildreth can score in a variety of ways and is getting better in creating for others.

#### Gustav Knudsen, U18 Casademont Zaragoza

Knudsen will be playing his second ANTG season after averaging 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals at ANGT Kaunas last season for DBA Copenhagen. Last summer, he helped Denmark finish third at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019, Division B and earn promotion to Division A, with 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks. The 2.03-meter guard joined Zaragoza last summer and has averaged 10 points on 41 percent three-pointers, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 23 minutes in the EBA league. Knudsen is the leader of his team with his great athletic ability. He can cover multiple positions in the game, plays great in the open court and shoots very well from three-point range. He is also a very good and aggressive defender and rebounds well at both ends of the court.

#### Paulius Murauskas, U18 Zalgiris Kaunas

Murauskas will be playing at his second ANGT despite being two years younger than most as a 2004-born player. The 2.02-meter forward collected 4 points and 3 rebounds in 5 minutes over two games at last year's ANGT Kaunas and then averaged 10.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks at the ANGT Finals. Murauskas played for Lithuania at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019 as a year younger than the maximum age and averaged 12.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He is getting consistent minutes in the Lithuanian second division this season against grown men. Murauskas has a great feel for the game, can score from the outside as well as from the inside. He plays face to the basket more, but he is a fighter and does damage under the basket as well.

#### David Mutaf, U18 Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Mutaf will be playing his third ANGT. Last season, he averaged 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists at ANGT Belgrade. The 1.98-meter guard helped Turkey finish third at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2018 when he collected 11.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Mutaf is an excellent shooter - both spot up and off the dribble. He has very good court vision. Mutaf, who is left-handed, is very effective at creative attacking to the left. His right hand has improved since last year and is getting better. Mutaf has good size for his position and is fast enough to defend quick guards.

#### Azoulas Tubelis, U18 Rytas Vilnius

Tubelis is playing in the ANGT for a third season after playing for Rytas at the ANGT Finals in 2018 and winning the U18 continental title. He helped that cause with averages of 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds. Last season Tubelis collected 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.8 blocks at ANGT Kaunas and then 22.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.7 blocks at the ANGT Finals. Tubelis, whose twin brother Tautvilas is also on the team, played two summers for Lithuania at the FIBA U16 European Championship. He averaged 14.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in 2018. Last summer Tubelis tallied 14.9 points, 12.6 rebounds and 3.4 blocks at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2019. The 2.06-meter forward made his 7DAYS EuroCup debut this season and has split time playing in the Lithuanian first and second divisions, averaging 3.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in five LKL top-flight games. He has an athletic body, long arms and can play any frontcourt position.

#### Victor Wembanyama, U18 Nanterre 92

Wembanyama will be playing in his first ANGT as Nanterre makes its debut in the competition. Wembanyama has already made a name in international basketball by helping France take second place at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019 with 9.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.3 steals and a tournament-best 5.3 blocks to earn a spot in the All-Star Five. The 2004-born center has played 3:07 minutes in two games in the 7DAYS EuroCup this season. Wembanyama, who towers over opponents at 2.19 meters, has a very good shot with three-point range. He has a good handle with the ball and a very good basketball IQ.



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