Danish big man Freese-Vilien moving forward after taking step back
COPENHAGEN (FIBA U18 European Championship 2017, Division B) - Emil Freese-Vilien enters the FIBA U18 European Championship 2017, Division B ready to move forward after taking a step back the last time the big man played for Denmark.
Freese-Vilien played a total of 25 minutes at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2015, Division B, going scoreless in the six games and pulling down just four rebounds. But the 6ft 9in (2.07m) Danish center is happy about the experience looking back.
"The limited playing time helped me develop. I got motivated to become better," the Copenhagen-native said. "Before that, I felt like everything was just handed to me mainly because of my height. So it was good for me to also have a small step back."
Freese-Vilien hasn't been in the game a long time, only picking up basketball when he was 14 years old.
"The limited playing time helped me develop. I got motivated to become better. Before that, I felt like everything was just handed to me mainly because of my height. So it was good for me to also have a small step back."Emil Freese-Vilien
"I played badminton for five years before I started playing basketball and I stopped when I found out that I had a bigger talent for basketball than badminton," said Freese-Vilien, who won't turn 18 years old until November.
When asked which players he follows in the game, Freese-Vilien answered: "I haven't looked up to a specific player, but I looked up to tall, long players that are able to spread the floor."
Denmark do not have a long tradition of success in basketball, only playing at Division A at the U18 level for one year in 2012. But that is changing, Freese-Vilien said.
"Basketball is growing fast in Denmark, more and more people are starting to play," he said. "We need to strengthen our clubs since that is where we spend most of our time."
