Why Bernard Faure is a bad guest and Hayes is the next French talent named Killian

REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - The FIBA U16 European Championship 2017 showed a number of things, but two of them are that French coach Bernard Faure is a bad guest and that Killian Hayes gives France another star talent with that first name.

France stoically moved through the U16 championship in undefeated manner, twice needing big fourth quarter comebacks in the group stage before barely fending off eventually relegated Sweden and fifth-placed finishers Turkey in the first two round of the Knockout Phase. A blowout of Croatia in the Semi-Finals was followed by a thrilling Final in which the French survived a valiant battle by Montenegro 75-68 to claim their third U16 crown following 2004 and 2014.

France bent a number of times but never broke, and in the end broke the hearts of the home fans in Podgorica as hosts Montenegro's amazing run came up just short.

Montenegro's journey to the Final would be tough for any team in the world. After knocking off the reigning champions Spain in the Group Phase in thrilling fashion, Montenegro couldn't return to that level a day later in losing to Latvia - sending the hosts to the half of the bracket with some of the big nations in the game.

No problem, as it turns out, as All-Star Five team members Stefan Vlahovic and Bojan Tomasevic as well as the fantastic Jovan Kljajic got Montenegro past Italy and Lithuania to reach the Semi-Finals - the first time in the country's history that they placed in the top four of a top-flight international tournament. A day off was followed by Montenegro knocking off Serbia to reach the Final - a feat which garnered a video message of good luck from the players' idols in the Montenegro senior national team.

The final task would not be easy - as history has often shown.

The host country has reached the FIBA U16 European Championship Final on eight occasions - Italy in 1971; Greece in 1975 and 1991; Spain in 2006; Lithuania in 2009 and 2015; the Czech Republic in 2011; and Latvia in 2014. But all of them lost, other than the Spanish in 2006. And only a Herculean effort by Ricky Rubio brought Spain the crown in front of the home fans. Rubio put together one of his first truly magical performances in a thrilling double-overtime victory over Russia in the Final, collecting nearly a quadruple-double with 51 points, 24 rebounds, 12 assists and seven steals. He also nailed an improbable three-point heave at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.

But Montenegro apparently didn't get the message that if you're going to host a FIBA U16 European Championship you don't want to invite Bernard Faure to the party.

Okay, there was no actual message regarding the French coach, but you might not want to bring up Faure's name to the Latvian 1998-born generation. Rodions Kurucs, Kristers Zoriks and Roberts Blumbergs were just like the players of the Montenegro team - having already made history by reaching the Final of the FIBA U16 European Championship 2014 for the country's best-ever result. And Latvia were hoping to hoist the trophy in front of their home fans in Riga. But Faure guided the likes of Killian Tillie, Bathiste  Tchouaffe and Frank Ntilikina to the 2014 title in the Latvian capital.

History was all set up in Podgorica. Montenegro already had captured their best-ever result, and the Final was in the country's capital. Faure even admitted afterwards that he was thinking back to Riga before the showdown with Montenegro.

"It was just like Latvia. I had a dream before the Semi-Finals of playing Montenegro," Faure said. "And then before the Final, I thought, yes, maybe it could happen."

There was another parallel between Riga and Podgorica - Killian Hayes.

Hayes' namesake Killian Tillie had a monster double-double in the the FIBA U16 European Championship 2014 Final with 25 points and 18 rebounds to go with five steals and three assists. And the power forward was named MVP of the tournament. Hayes was the clear leader for France in Podgorica and also came up huge in the Final with 21 points, eight rebounds and two assists in being named the MVP of the tournament.

"What can I say, Killians are the best," joked Hayes afterwards as he led France in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals in the tournament.

ESPN Report breaking down French guard Killian Hayes along with some of the other top prospects at the U16 Euros https://t.co/V3tA1JsjLG pic.twitter.com/lTyfHzNhQh

— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) August 22, 2017

The son of an American professional basketball player who played in France for many years, Hayes has emerged as another budding France star talent with the first name. Hayes was able to take over the game all tournament when his team needed him most. And if he continues to develop Hayes could give Tillie a running for the Killian with the brightest future in France.

For future reference, if France ever star a youngster named Killian at the FIBA U16 European Championship and Bernard Faure is the coach. Watch out. Consider yourself fore-warned.

David Hein

FIBA

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