The Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Valencia qualifying event is the first chance to see this season's crop of future stars on the courts. Eight teams from three countries will compete for an automatic berth to this season's ANGT Finals to be held in May at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Cologne, Germany.
ANGT Valencia: Players to watch
Article
7 Mins read
The participating clubs 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 tournament.
Miguel Allen, U18 Joventut Badalona
Allen will be playing in the competition for the second time after collecting 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 blocks at the ANGT Kaunas last season. The 2.03-meter forward is mixing time this season in the Spanish third and fourth divisions, averaging 14.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in the lower league. The Tenerife native has lived in Badalona since he was 14 years old and trained with Joventut. Allen is versatile enough to play various positions thanks to his physical build and knowledge of the game. His great athletic ability allows him to run the court in offensive transition and be a constant threat on rebounds.
Freds Bagatskis, U18 Valencia Basket
Bagatskis will be competing at the ANGT for a second time after he averaged 9.8 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 36.0% on three-pointers at the ANGT Valencia last season. The 2.01-meter guard is the son of retired Latvian international scoring ace Ainars Bagatskis, who also coached the Latvian national team and currently is the head coach of BC Kyiv in Ukraine. Freds played for Latvia at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019, where he averaged 8.9 points and 1.4 rebounds. He is averaging 10.1 points on 38.3% three-point shooting and 1.7 rebounds this season in the Spanish fourth division. Bagatskis is a great offensive talent and a great shooter, who is very fast in both catch-and-shoot situations and running off screens.
Michael Caicedo, U18 FC Barcelona
Caicedo will be playing at the ANGT Valencia for the second time after he averaged 8.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.3 steals last season. The 2.00-meter shooting guard played a leading role for the Spanish team that won the title at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019 with 11.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. This is Caicedo's fourth year with the club, for which he is playing on the Barcelona B team this season. He takes responsibility on offense and has a good variety of finishes. Caicedo also brings energy and intensity to the team, including at the defensive end.
Kymany Houinsou, U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
Houinsou will be competing in his third ANGT Valencia despite still being a year younger as a 2004-born player. The 1.96-meter point guard averaged 4.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 2018-19 and then 8.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.0 steals last season. He has posted 9.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists in the French U21 league this season. Houinsou practices sometimes with ASVEL's senior squad and was on the bench in its EuroLeague game against Zalgiris Kaunas. He helped France finish second at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019 with 2.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals. Houinsou is tall with good size for his position and possesses good length, a high basketball IQ and excellent body control while driving to the basket. He has made progress with his shooting and is a good ball-handler, too.
Jean Montero, U18 Herbalife Gran Canaria
Montero will be playing in his second ANGT Valencia after winning the MVP award in guiding Gran Canaria to first place last season, in which he collected 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.8 steals. The 1.88-meter Dominican Republic guard is in his second season with Gran Canaria. He starred at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018 with 15.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 4.1 steals and has already debuted with the Dominican senior national team. Montero predominantly plays in the Spanish third division and is averaging 22.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals. He has also tallied 5 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist in 13 minutes in two Spanish League games as well as 4 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist in 9 minutes in three 7DAYS EuroCup contests. Montero has a great work ethic both on and off the court and is mature for his age. He is not afraid of big moments or taking a risk. Montero is a great scorer who can go to the basket or shoot with a high percentage. His speed makes him difficult to defend in transition. Montero is very intuitive on defense with fast hands and is a good rebounder because of his intuition and excellent vertical leaping ability.
Maxime Raynaud, U18 Nanterre 92
Raynaud is playing this season with Nanterre’s U21 team and has averaged 9.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.7 blocks. He has also suited up in the French U18 league where the 2.14-meter center posted 27 points and 16 rebounds. Raynaud helped France win the silver medal at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019 with 2.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists. He is a mobile and athletic big man who started basketball late after swimming at a high level and winning several French national championships. Raynaud has a strong physique with an excellent basketball IQ and good hands. He will be playing his first ANGT event.
Jeremy Sochan, U18 ratiopharm Ulm
Sochan was born in the United States, but spent his childhood with his Polish-born mother in England, where he also learned the game. He played high school basketball in the United States in 2019-20 before moving to Germany to join the Ulm organization. In the summer of 2019, Sochan was named MVP of the FIBA U16 European Championship Division B after he helped Poland finish first and earn promotion to Division A. He averaged 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.1 steals and 1.5 blocks at the event. This season, Sochan has been worth 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.8 blocks in Germany’s third division. The 2.04-meter forward has excellent athleticism and can finish at the basket. He also rebounds and passes well and can defend multiple positions as an all-around team player. Sochan will be playing in his first ANGT event.
Pablo Tamba, U18 Unicaja Malaga
Tamba will be playing in the ANGT Valencia a second time after he averaged 12.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 0.8 assists last season. The 2.00-meter guard was part of the Spanish team that won the title at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019 with 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds. He is averaging 13.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists this season in the Spanish fourth division. Tamba has an impressive physique that helps him to be a solid defender both on and off the ball. His one-on-one skills and his verticality to the basket make him a great offensive player.