RUS - Ice runs in Karasev's veins

MOSCOW (PBL/FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - There have been plenty of signs of late that Sergey Karasev is going to be a very special player for Russia, just like his father Vasily was.

The young Karasev is a budding star, just 18 years of age.

He owns a bronze medal from this year's FIBA U19 World Championship in Riga and has a key role with Russian outfit Triumph Lyubertsy, who play in the PBL, the Baltic League and the EuroChallenge.

Karasev is on the fast track to success.

The evidence is there.

In Riga, he averaged 15.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

He poured in 17 points in both the Quarter-Final upset of the United States and the medal-clinching victory over Argentina.

Chosen to play at the U18 All-Star Game during EuroBasket 2011 in Kaunas, Karasev loved every minute of the experience.

He oozes with flair.

Karasev even took part in the dunking contest with Russia national team coach David Blatt serving as one of the judges.

It was a big moment, especially considering that the day before, Karasev had spoken of his admiration for Blatt.

"I love their (Russia's) basketball because David Blatt has good tactics and has done a very good job," he had said.

Karasev is concentrating right now on making his mark in the professional game with Triumph, where his father is an assistant coach.

In six EuroChallenge games with the team, he has averaged 10 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals per contest.

In his last three games, he's been even better.

In a victory over ETHA, Karasev poured in 15 points and then last week against Olin Edirne, he scored 21.

On Tuesday night came the biggest sign yet that Karasev is destined for stardom by taking, and making a game-winning three-ball.

With Triumph just seconds away from slipping to their first defeat in the EuroChallenge at Okapi Aalstar in Belgium, Karasev buried the shot that punched the team's ticket for the Last 16 of the EuroChallenge.

The youngster is so good and so confident that his Lithuanian coach at Triumph, Valdemaras Chomicius, a world champion with the former USSR in 1982 and an Olympic gold medal winner in 1988, said: "A three-pointer by Karasev in the last seconds - it was a logical decision because Sergey is one of our best shooters from long range."

Next summer's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament may come too soon for Karasev, but it's easy to picture him running up and down the floor in a Russia shirt soon.

If it doesn't happen next year, then maybe he'll don the senior team shirt at EuroBasket 2013 in Slovenia, the 2014 FIBA World Championship in Spain or the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.

FIBA