Aday Mara, the young prodigy of Casademont Zaragoza, signed his best performance in the Liga Endesa in the valuable victory of his team over BAXI Manresa by 65-72. The 2.18-meter pivot and still 17 years old finished with 10 points (5/6 from the field, including three dunks), eight rebounds (three of them offensive), two blocks and a PIR of 18.. All of them are his best records in the competition and achieved in less than 16 minutes of play.
To put his statistics into perspective, it should be added that only Ricky Rubio, Luka Doncic, Usman Garuba, Carlos Alocn and James Nnaji had made a PIR of 18 or more under 18 years of age in the Endesa League since 1992. A list of illustrious young people of which the promising Mao player is now part.
His fantastic performance, moreover, did not come in any game, but rather helped his team achieve a victory that may be essential in the fight for permanence. Zaragoza overturned a 13-point deficit at the Nou Congost taking advantage of the bad second half of BAXI Manresa, who was only able to score 25 points after the break. Mara arrived at that intermission with six points, five rebounds and 11 valuation credits..
The earliest Spanish giant
So far this season, the youngster has played 11 games in the Endesa League. Debut against Cazoo Baskonia on October 16 and I already marked a milestone, well never a Spanish player of 2.13 meters (the seven feet that Americans look at so much) he had made his debut with his age in the competition. He did it at 17 years, six months and nine days. On the track he left samples of his talent with eight points, four rebounds and a PIR of 10 in 19:28 minutes of play.
María happens to be one of the great projects of Spanish basketball. To his height and size, he adds extraordinary mobility, remarkable knowledge of the game and great passing ability that makes him a generator for his teammates.. During the U17 World Cup last summer, when it exploded internationally, his ability to assist has already been compared to that of Nikola Jokic. Big words.
The U17 World Cup put him on the NBA agendas
The pivot was one of the sensations of the tournament held in Malaga in which the Spanish team took the silver. He averaged 12.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.9 blocks and a PIR of 16.4.. For the final against the United States he left the best: 16 points, seven rebounds and a PIR of 25. At the conclusion of the championship, his name was already on the NBA scouting agenda..
“It could be said that Maria was the most productive player of the tournamentaveraging 28.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.1 blocks, 3.5 assists and 1.9 steals per 40 minutes and shooting an excellent 70% from the field. Maria is exceptionally skilled for a player her age., making outstanding passes all over the court, from the mid and low post and from the perimeter. Pivots like Mara aren’t as trendy today as they used to be, but there are enough modern elements to his passing game and the generally high level of skill he displays to make him a go-to player. a serious NBA project as his career progresses”analyzed Jonathan Givony, specialist of ‘DraftExpress’ in young talents.
family of athletes
His father, Francisco Javier María, made his debut with the old CAI Zaragoza. He played five games between 1986 and 1988. Insiders of the stature of Fernando Arcega, Paco Zapata and Fran Murcia blocked his way in the Mao team and he had to emigrate to play in the extinct Primera B and Segunda. Y His mother is Geli Gómez, a historic volleyball player, who developed her career mainly in Tenerife and was international with the national team..
Aday, a soccer fan when he was younger, He started playing as a goalkeeper trying to emulate Iker Casillas. But at eight years old he was already 1.67 meters tall and seemed destined to be between baskets.. She is now the greatest promise of Spanish basketball. By size and by potential.
