BELGRADE (Serbia) - After finishing in 13th place at last year's FIBA U18 EuroBasket, Spain bounced back in a major way in this year's edition of the tournament, winning their sixth U18 title.
It was a balanced squad with multiple standout players whose games complemented each other perfectly, including the athleticism and defensive playmaking of Gildas Gimenez, the efficient scoring from sixth-man Diego Niebla, and the versatile shot-making from Guillermo Del Pino, which was on full display in the dramatic buzzer-beater that gave Spain the win against France in the Final.
Ian Platteeuw was the player who gave Spain that dose of special talent that every winning team needs. With his unique profile as a 2.14m (7ft 0in) center who can play on the perimeter and make creative passes reminiscent of some of Spain's greatest passing big men.
In this Player Spotlight, we'll look at Platteeuw, his MVP performance at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket, and what his play in Belgrade can tell us about his future at the college and professional levels.
Player Profile
The first thing that stands out about Platteeuw is his rare level of fluidity for a player with his towering size. The 17-year-old center is extremely comfortable putting the ball on the floor, using his combination of size, body control, and fluid handles to bring the ball up the court and initiate drives. While he doesn't possess the elite burst or a quick first step to blow by opponents, he can simply overpower them with his sheer size on his way to the basket.
This elite mix of size and fluidity also makes Platteeuw a threat to create his own shot in the paint. He operates with tremendous poise on the block and shows truly elite footwork for his age, being able to use fakes, pivots, and spin moves to get defenders off balance and find the open space. His ball-handling ability also comes into play here, as he's comfortable dribbling the ball in traffic to establish better position inside.
While Platteeuw's lack of elite vertical explosiveness can limit his ability to finish plays above the rim, and his frame is not developed to a point where he can just power through bigger defenders, he compensates with his touch against contact and his versatility as a finisher, being able to convert tough, off-balance layups, hooks, floaters, and push shots with efficiency.
Without the ball in his hands, Platteeuw doesn't contribute as a traditional lob-catching center, but he still makes his presence felt. His off-ball movement is impeccable, consistently finding the open space for offensive rebounds and making himself available for passes in the dunker spot or as a roll man.
Platteeuw was the leading playmaker for Spain in Belgrade, posting twice as many assists as turnovers, a testament to how his offensive skillset extends beyond just scoring. The Davidson commit plays with an unselfish approach to the game, consistently scanning the floor and showing the timing, vision, and reactiveness to find open teammates. He capitalizes on the gravity he creates as a scorer, consistently kicking the ball out to teammates in the perimeter when he draws help defenders in drives or post-ups.
The 17-year-old also shows the ability to make advanced reads and deliveries, operating as a passer with the same smoothness that he displays as an interior scorer. He uses his size to see and deliver the ball over the top of the defense, threading passes through traffic, finding cutters and throwing no-look or behind-the-back dimes that catch defenders off-guard.
On a similar note to his offense, Platteeuw doesn't play like a traditional center on defense and faces some of the same limitations due to his lack of elite vertical explosiveness. He's not an elite rim protector and struggles to recover at the rim when opponents create separation. His best defensive moments in the paint are when he contests shots from a standstill, rather than rotating as a help defender or chasing down opponents.
The Joventut Badalona product does, however, offer some intriguing fluidity as a perimeter defender. While he lacks elite lateral quickness, and can have trouble turning his hips if he gets attacked off the dribble, he moves his feet with above-average coordination for his size. He's capable of containing opponents in switches and using his size to bother smaller guards and contest their shots.
Outlook
Platteeuw was one of the most talented players in Belgrade and showcased a unique combination of size, self-creation ability, and feel for the game. With more and more teams utilizing their bigs as stationary playmakers from the post — players who can find cutters or shooters coming off screens, but are also able to call their own number if no pass is available — it's easy to envision Platteeuw making an impact in that role.
While he certainly doesn't fit the mold of a modern-day explosive big man who protects the rim and catches lobs, Platteeuw's combination of size, elite footwork, touch around the basket, and passing vision makes him a natural fit for this new era of centers.
FIBA