REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - After two years without a Basketball Without Borders Europe camp, 20 girl campers across the continent got the fantastic opportunity to learn from NBA and WNBA players and coaches in Milan.

European basketball can be rest assured that some high level talent is coming up through the youth ranks. Who has the brightest future? What about a Top 5 of prospects who participated in the camp?

 
Before we start, let’s put in a decent-sized disclaimer, I am not a scout, but solely a journalist who covers youth hoops. So, that being said … let’s move to the Top 5 girls campers from the 2022 Basketball Without Borders Europe camp

5 - Annika Soltau - Germany

 
Germany sent a pair of 6-foot-4 players with Soltau and Paula Huber-Saffer - who will be playing this summer at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2022, where Germany make their maiden appearance. Soltau was a massive part of getting Germany to the global stage as she collected 17.4 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.6 blocks at the FIBA U16 Women's European Challenger 2021, where Germany finished second in their Challenger atop a five-team tiebreaker.

Soltau showcased in Milan many of the tools that make her one of Germany's top young talents in a quickly improving youth national team system. She has great length which allows her to be a good shotblocker - both as a helper or on players driving against her to the basket - but she also can handle the ball very well for a player her size. Soltau seems equally comfortable inside and outside the paint - able to drive past bigger and smaller players from the perimeter while also possessing an array of post moves and the ability to finish with both hands. She also is a solid passer, equally on the move or in the post passing out of a double team.

4 - Dominika Paurova - Czech Republic

 
Paurova has a fantastic motor and is a relentless attacker of the basket, looking to drive whenever possible and she can finish with both hands. The 6-foot-0 guard has great speed, immediately a passing target on the break as she can outpace almost everyone. Paurova is very active on defense with good anticipation of the ball on steals. She also has a nice hesitation dribble which allows her to get past defenders sticking too close to her.

Paurova does not really have much of a three-point shot - though she makes up for it with her drive to the rim. She already has a lot of international experience, averaging 16.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2021 - playing three years younger - and also collecting 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds at the FIBA U20 Women's European Challengers 2021.

3 - Elena Buenavida - Spain

 
Spain have been living the "good life" with Buenavida - the guard's surname translates to good life - as she made a big jump in age group by playing at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2021 and averaging 8.4 points on 58.5 percent shooting, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.6 steals despite being just 17 years old. The 5-foot-11 guard played this season with Barcelona's Segle XXI in the third division LF2 and collected 14.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals.

Buenavida is a natural scorer who can also playmake for her teammates with her solid passing ability. She is a good rebounder with good instincts around the basket. Buenavida is a decent long range shooter who also uses her quick hands to get steals. She will be leaving Europe for the 2022-23 season as she will play at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) starting in the fall.

2 - Leila Lacan - France

 
Lacan was named Most Valuable Player of the camp as she helped her team to the girls championship. The 6-foot-0 point guard was another of the campers who played at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2021, where she collected 6.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.0 steals as a player two years younger. It was Lacan's second time playing for France after having reached the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U16 Women's European Championship 2019 when she collected 9.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals despite being a year younger.

Lacan has spent the last two years with INSEP in the French second division LF2 and will move next season to Angers - Union Feminine Basket 49 in the top flight LFB. Lacan excels as a playmaker but she can also drive to the basket and score for herself. Her shooting from the outside is improving but not there yet. She uses her quick hands to get to a lot of steals. Lacan will undoubtedly make her way into the French women's senior national team in the not so distant future.

1 - Dominique Malonga - France

 
Malonga is one of the future stars of the game in Europe. She has great size at 6-foot-6 and can dunk with some ease. The center helped France win their FIBA U16 Women's European Challenger last summer, averaging 19.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 2.8 blocks to get France to the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2022. Malonga is expected to be a major leader on the team given that she actually was in the rotation for Lyon ASVEL and played in seven EuroCup Women games, picking up 6.0 points and 5.0 rebounds.

Malonga has great length and athleticism but can also handle the ball and runs very smoothly - also getting out on the break. She has some excellent footwork which makes her very tough to defend around the basket. Malonga is a decent free throw shooter but has not yet looked at all to taking her game outside. She is dangerous enough around the basket and in transition. But fans should mark the name down because she will be a superstar in the very near future.

FIBA
David Hein

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

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