SWE – The rise of a star in Scandinavia

BRNO (EuroLeague Women) - Back in the spring of 2008, when the EuroLeague Women Final Four was being staged in Brno, the Czech Republic, a teenager two months shy of her 16th birthday was watching the games.
 
Her name was Farhiya Abdi.
 
Abdi said at the time her favorite players were Lauren Jackson and Diana Taurasi, a couple of basketball icons that were in the process of leading Sparta&K Moscow Region to their second straight European title that weekend.
 
Now, just over three years later, Abdi is 19 and one of the most exciting young talents in Europe.
 
And, she is back at Frisco Brno only this time as a player for coach Jan Bobrovsky and his assistant, Milan Veverka.
 
Jackson and Taurasi would have been impressed earlier this month because Abdi had a stunning 29-point, 17-rebound performance for Brno against USK Prague.
 
Although her team lost the Czech league encounter 86-82 to their rivals, Bobrovsky's side served notice it won't be pushed around this season.
 
There was excitement for Brno, and even more back in Stockholm.
 
The Swedish Basketball Federation is keeping close tabs on Abdi and it looks like they have a player who could be special.
 
"It's great news for us," Sweden coach Lars Johansson said to FIBA.com.
 
"Everyone has been talking about Louice Halvarsson and Frida Eldebrink for quite some years but now we have an even younger player making her breakthrough and I think that's important for the long-term development (program) that we can see because it shows it's not a fluke, that more players are coming to the highest level for us.”
 
There is plenty to like about Abdi.
 
"First of all, for being so young, she is a pretty complete offensive player," Johansson said.
 
"She can shoot three-pointers, she can shoot off the dribble. She can post up.
 
"The second thing would be her work ethic.
 
"She has been the last three years working really hard on her physique.
 
"Even though she's had some injuries the last few years, she's still worked really hard on her physique.
 
"And I think that's really paying off, now.
 
"I think the past 15 months, she took huge leaps in her development."
 
This summer, Abdi played for Sweden at the U20 European Championship Division B in Ohrid, FYR of Macedonia, and averaged 17.3 points and 5.3 rebounds as her country won the title.
 
She then played for Sweden in China at the World University Games.
 
"I think that was good for her," Johansson said.
 
"She had only five days of preparation. She wasn't at her best, but I think it was good for her to have a couple of games with the team before the qualifications for next summer because she will of course be a major part of the team."
 
That Swedish team will try to qualify for the EuroBasket Women 2013 in France.
 
"She's still under-20 but will for sure be a major part of our team next summer," Johansson said.
 
For now, Sweden and Brno can only hope that Abdi continues to work hard and get better.
 
"To be honest, I could never dream of her dominating a game like that," Johansson said.
 
"I know that she could play in that type of competition, but those types of statistics, 29 points and 17 rebounds, is totally dominating.
 
“To be able to do that so quickly is amazing."
 
Since that time, Abdi has continued to shine in the Czech Republic top flight but the EuroLeague Women has been a struggle for Brno.
 
The team has lost its first three games, falling to Sparta&K, BLMA (Montpellier) and this week to Cras Basket Taranto.
 
Brno only trailed by two against Taranto but ended up losing, 66-59.
 
Abdi played all 40 minutes and scored 14 points.
 
She is averaging 12 points in the competition.
 
FIBA