Talented Vorackova providing hope for Czech Republic

Sopron (FIBA U18 Women's European Championship 2017) - Veronika Vorackova's breathtaking talent could spur the Czech Republic to surprising heights at the FIBA U18 Women's European Championship in Sopron. The recently turned 18-year-old was a dominant force in her team's convincing 73-57 victory over a highly-rated Slovenia on Day 1.  

Vorackova instigated the victory with a confident start to the game, where she scored 11 first-quarter points to fuel the Czech Republic's big early lead. She cooled down slightly after that but still finished with the impressive stat line of 15 points, 13 rebounds and 2 steals.

However, not even those striking statistics do justice to Vorackova, whose potential appears boundless. She is the prototypical modern player blessed with an all-round skillset. Rangy and athletic, Vorackova can run the floor and has impressive playmaking skills. Perhaps most pleasing, Vorackova is a workhorse and relishes competing testament to her domination on the boards against Slovenia.

Listed at 5ft 9in (1.75m), Vorackova appears to still be growing and is probably a few inches taller. She's also officially deemed as a shooting guard but it would be unwise to categorize Vorackova, who can genuinely play multiple positions.

Against Slovenia, Vorackova showed several post moves in a tantalizing snapshot of what may lie ahead. Of course, she still needs to get physically stronger but there is plenty of upside in her game fueling excitement for a budding superstar within Czech Republic women's basketball.

Right now, a modest Vorackova believes she still has a lot of work to do. "I just want to keep improving and there are many areas I want to get better, particularly in three-point shooting," she says. "At the moment, I like to drive to the basket and I think my defense is good but I want to be better in other parts of the game."

In a major acknowledgement of her emergence, Vorackova recently played in FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 on home soil, her one appearance coming against eventual champions, Spain.

The youngster relished being part of the major tournament. "It was an amazing experience, great that they took me and I learned a lot," she says. "I would like to continue to play for the national team but I don't have any major goals right now except to keep improving."

Czech Republic U18 coach Ken Scalabroni says Vorackova's rapid improvement can be attributed to playing in EuroLeague Women for ZVVZ USK Prague. "In her club she's in a really competitive environment playing against really good players," he says. "Every practice for her is like a EuroLeague Women game. It helps her when she plays with us."

Scalabroni says his star player is a defensive force but needs to polish her offensive skills. "Her defensive game is better than her offensive game," he says. "It is something that is improving. She's a really interesting player, who is going to be a hope for the national team and her club in the future."

Scalabroni believes Vorackova has the dedication to keep striving to greater heights. "Young players have to stay hungry to get better," he says. "But she has a good work ethic, so she will go as far she wants."

The Czech Republic will be looking to cause another upset when they play Russia on Day 2.

 FIBA