REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - It's the end of the year and once again it's time for FIBA Europe to put out the vote for the Young Men's Player of the Year. And Croatia's Dario Saric is my choice to win the award and become the third player to go at least back-to-back in winning the honor.

First off, let's give the 10 names being considered for the 10th FIBA Europe Young Men’s Player - Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dragan Bender, Federico Mussini, Sviatoslav Myhailiuk, Jusuf Nurkic, Cedi Osman, Stefan Peno, Domantas Sabonis, Saric and Aleksandar Vezenkov. 

If you look at that list and wonder how can Saric still be listed on there, well, that adds to the amazement of the Croatian sensation, who doesn't turn 21 years until April 8. This will actually be the fifth time the all-around talent is included in the FIBA Europe vote. He won in 2013, was second to Jonas Valanciunas in 2012, fourth to Valanciunas in 2011 and sixth to Jan Vesely in 2010 - the last for his accomplishments during his age 16 year.

Voting runs until January 16 on the FIBA Europe website, and expect Saric to join Valanciunas and Ricky Rubio later in January as the only repeat FIBA Europe Young Men's POY winners. Rubio claimed the title in 2007, 2008 and 2009 with Rudy Fernandez taking the trophy in 2006 and Nikos Zisis winning the inaugural honor in 2005.

It's been quite a 2014 for the Sibenik native.

In February he was named the 2013 FIBA Europe Young Men's Player of the Year winner. In late April, Saric was named the Final Four MVP for leading Cibona Zagreb to the 2014 Adriatic League championship.

On June 24, Saric signed a new contract with Turkish powers Anadolu Efes Istanbul for two years plus an option for a third. And just two days later, the Orlando Magic drafted him 12th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft only to immediately trade him to the Philadelphia 76ers for Elfrid Payton.

At the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Saric helped Croatia to take second place in the group stage with a 3-2 record before losing to eventual third-place finishers France in the Round of 16. It was actually Saric's third summer with the Croatian senior national team and he definitely showed additional leadership, finishing second in points and rebounds, third in assists and first in steals.

After the World Cup, Saric stepped up from the club competition to the Euroleague level and showed he more than belongs. He won the Euroleague's MVP award for November as he stepped up when big man Nenad Krstic went down injured. By averaging 15.5 points and 7.75 rebounds over the four-game stretch, Saric became the youngest Euroleague MVP of the month in the award's history at 20 years and 7 months, surpassing Nikola Mirotic's mark in December 2011 of 20 years and 10 months old.

Those kinds of performances would get Saric votes in the FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year. And Saric will move into the Men's category next year as the Young Men’s POY age limit is 20 years.

That leaves Saric's Anadolu Efes teammate Osman with good chances for next year's award. The 19-year-old Turkish talent definitely deserves consideration for the 2014 Young Men's POY award as he won the MVP award in leading Turkey to the title at the U20 European Championship, including scoring 20 points in the Final. Despite being just 19 years old, Osman then won a spot with the Turkish senior national team and averaged 2.3 points and 1.0 rebounds at the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

Osman also has stepped up at the club level for Anadolu Efes, with five games in double figure scoring and four more with at least eight points in his 17 games between the Euroleague and Turkish TBL.

But, that's not enough to fend off Saric.

As far as hardware goes, the top candidate would be 17-year-old Peno, who guided Serbia to second place at the U18 European Championship as an underclass player. Then just days later he boarded a plane to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the FIBA U17 World Championship, where he helped Serbia finish third.

Barcelona also rewarded Peno for his hard work and development earlier in December by allowing him to make his Spanish Liga Endesa league debut - at just 17 years.

But 2014 is the year of Saric - again.

David Hein

FIBA

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