HERAKLION (Greece) - Italy returned to the top at Heraklion, winning their first U20 crown since 2013. While it was definitely a team effort, Francesco Ferrari was the player who stood out the most on the Azzurri roster.
The 19-year-old forward had already been a solid scoring option for his team in previous events, especially at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket in 2023, where he averaged 16.9 points and 9.3 rebounds while shooting 53.7 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from three.
As solid as those numbers were, Ferrari certainly took a (rather unexpected) leap this summer, becoming not just Italy’s top offensive option, but also its most productive player and, eventually, the MVP of the tournament.
In this Player Spotlight, we go over Ferrari’s standout play in Heraklion to understand how he was able to propel Italy to the top, and to project what we can expect from him in the future.
Offense
One of the first things that stand out when watching Ferrari is his combination of size and fluidity. Listed at 2.04m (6ft 8in), Ferrari moves and handles the ball more like a wing than a traditional frontcourt player, creating mismatches for opposing defenders: he’s too quick and fluid for opposing frontcourt players, but he’s too big and physical when opposing guards try to defend him.
With his mix of size, coordination, and speed with the ball in his hands, Ferrari thrives in the open court, where he uses long strides and subtle changes of direction to get downhill. He’s not necessarily someone who is able to blow by opponents off a standstill, but he knows how to avoid defenders on his way to the rim with his polished footwork and quick dribble moves.
His ability to consistently find the open space is something he also utilizes to score with his back to the basket. Italy frequently had him catching the ball in the mid-post and the short corner, where he was able to use fakes and spin moves to get defenders off their spots and score around the basket.
This is where his versatility as a finisher, one of the defining aspects of his game, really shines. While he doesn’t have the physical power to finish through contact, he shows the ability to convert difficult layups and floaters with his touch, flexibility, and ability to extend around the basket. This made him a solid target for Italy as a transition and dunker-spot finisher.
The post-up jumpers were also an intriguing weapon that he put on display at Heraklion. While it’s not the most efficient shot in basketball, he was able to solve situations and make something out of nothing late in the shot clock by posting up opponents and drilling turnaround and fadeaway jumpers.
While his scoring touch is a gift, it’s also tied to one of his areas for improvement on offense, as Ferrari tends to rely on tough, contested looks around the rim due to his struggles to create separation against opponents. This makes his half-court drives often result in contact-heavy finishes or post-ups rather than easy layups.
One of the areas in which his adeptness at playing through contact comes in handy is the offensive glass. As a rebounder, Ferrari shows a strong motor and good instincts. He averaged 2.0 offensive boards per game in the tournament, using his long arms and timing to crash the glass and generate second-chance opportunities.
When it comes to his shooting profile, while the numbers in this particular tournament aren’t auspicious (he converted 29.0 percent of his three-pointers during the competition), he showed impressive flashes from the perimeter. He has a two-motion shot with a noticeable wind-up, but his mechanics are consistent and he shows good balance and overall touch on the jumper.
The aspect that stood out with the jumper is how he was able to rise to the occasion and step up the big moments. Ferrari shot 43 percent from three during fourth quarters in the tournament and he was especially efficient in the key games, going 6-for-12 on three-pointers during the final two games.
Defense
On the defensive end, Ferrari brings value with his length, mobility, and fundamentals. While you wouldn’t call him an explosive player laterally, he moves well enough to stay in front of wings on the perimeter, creating misses and turnovers when he covers drivers.
Ferrari’s length plays a major role in his defensive impact. He’s able to bother shots at the rim as an on-ball defender by simply raising his arms, but the biggest impact comes when contesting jump shots on the perimeter. He consistently makes his presence felt with precise, disciplined closeouts, showing excellent technique to stay in front of shooters, not falling for pump fakes, and being in a great position to turn his hips, slide laterally, and recover if opponents attack the closeout.
That same length is also a major factor in his defensive playmaking. Ferrari is able to disrupt ball-handlers with quick, timely swipes at the ball, and he’s also able to make an impact with his help defense in the paint, contesting and blocking shots from the weak side with his long arms.
Outlook
Ferrari was a surprising but deserved MVP in Heraklion. He was the most productive player for the title team, displaying a combination of size, fluidity, polished interior scoring, and defensive impact that few players showcased at the tournament.
Ferrari is not a finished product: no one is at 19 years old. While there are areas for improvement ahead of him (such as the ability to create separation so he doesn’t have to rely on tough baskets in the paint, or being more consistent as a shooter), his ability to create mismatches, score at the rim, and, especially, show up when it really matters are all impressive aspects that make it easy to project him as an impactful and versatile player who will contribute in multiple areas of the floor at the next level of competition.
FIBA