We continue our journey by delving deeper into the knowledge of those players who showed off in the competition last year and whose growth and evolution in this sporting season is certainly worth following.
ERICK NEAL – USA – 178 CM – 1995 – SCORING POINT GUARD – ORADEA (ROMANIA): After the first three years in Turkey (starting in the second Turkish league and then winning the championship and moving up to the top flight), Poland and Aba Liga, first to arrive in Oradea in Romania, where last year he demonstrated excellent qualities that earned him reconfirmation (in the play-off to enter the BCL, 17 points in 34 minutes against Brindisi). He is a scorer point guard, who has more 3-point shots average points compared to 2-point shots. Very good at building a shot behind the ball but also in 1vs1 situations. The most interesting thing is that despite always looking for a high pace, he pays great attention to not losing the ball, therefore he doesn’t force situations, but above all he has shown great ability in reading the advantages that the defense grants, finding assists on the roll inside the area or maintaining the advantage by keeping the defender behind the ball after using the block. He certainly needs to grow in his use of the pull up shoot (given his stature) if he wants to level up and “hold” against more physical defenses. Defensively he is aggressive on the ball and has quick hands for steals.
ALTERIQUE GILBERT – USA – 183 CM – 1997 – COMBO GUARD SLASHER – RAPID (ROMANIA): Coming out of a prestigious college like Connecticut, although he finished his university career with a final year in Wichita, before arriving in Europe playing in Estonia , first at Parnu and then last season at Kalev, one of the surprise teams of Fiba Europe and which often draws excellent Americans. He signed for Rapid (Romania) demonstrating that he has not found admirers of a higher level, but in my opinion he is a player who could certainly figure well in our A2 (like many players in this competition). He is one of the few Americans who prefers attacking the rim and does not abuse the 3-point shot. Sometimes he started from the bench precisely to give that acceleration to the attack by exploiting his skills as a slasher to attack the rim mainly with his left hand using feints and changes of hand to create an advantage and finish with running shots. Even in proll situations his idea is to attack the big man off the dribble, even if sometimes he shoots 3-pointers behind the block. He doesn’t have a midrange pull up jumper and this can certainly be a limitation. He can score on 3-point shots, but he is very unfriendly… he can score or miss from the stripe, and this obviously, for a player like him, makes all the difference in the world given his characteristics.
DEONDRE BURNS – USA – 190 CM – 1997 – COMBO GUARD SCORER – GOETTINGEN (GERMANY): Another example of a player who grows year after year in the level of the championships played. He left Switzerland last year for Keravnos (Cyprus) and was then signed this summer by Goettingen in the German championship. This Combo Guard who wants to attack the rim by taking advantage of his change of pace and rhythm to create an advantage by finishing towards the left with a pull up jumper from the elbow, towards the right also to get to the rim by beating the defensive aids at speed. Same idea also in Proll’s situations, where he demonstrated that he has an excellent dribble-stopping and shooting ability (sometimes even from 3 points, but used much less…). The limit is that he could / should make more use of his speed to attack the rim and take the long counterbeat at speed, while sometimes he is satisfied with the shot. Even on the counterattack he could push to finish after coast to coast, but he often takes shots off the dribble without even trying to attack, trusting his shot.
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Article by Paolo Lepore
2023-10-12 20:14:33
#FIBA #Europe #scouting
