REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - The 2022 Basketball Without Borders Europe camp just showcased some of the best young talent on the continent. And man, some of the prospects who graced the courts in Milan really have bright futures.

So, who has the brightest future? What about a Top 10 of prospects who participated in the camp? Before we start, let’s put in a decent-sized disclaimer, I am not a scout, but solely a journalist who covers youth hoops.

So, that being said … let’s move to the Top 10 boys campers from the 2022 Basketball Without Borders Europe camp

10 - Jan Vide - Slovenia

It kind of felt like Vide had been freed of his shackles and he was given the green light offensively - an area he was limited at Spanish giants Real Madrid, where as a year younger player he was more the fifth scoring option on the junior team. The 6-foot-4 guard, who helped Slovenia last summer surprisingly qualify for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup for the first time, showed he can definitely score the ball - pouring in all 19 of his team's points in one of the games in Milan. And Vide did that in a variety of ways: jumpers over players, drives to the rim and beyond the three-point line. The 2022-23 season will be a strong indicator of his mettle and class as Real Madrid graduate the likes of Urban Klavzar, Eli Ndiaye, Henri Veesaar, Baba Miller and Sediq Garuba.

9 - Andreas Holst - Denmark

Sticking with non-Spaniards at giant Spanish clubs … Holst spent his first season at Barcelona and showed why Denmark can happy about having another talent to help them make the jump internationally. Holst possesses a nice frame at 6-foot-9 and good athleticism. He likes to live out on the wing offensively with decent long range shooting and also can drive a bit to the lane. Defensively he uses his length well as a rim protector and his decent quickness helps on switches when he defends smaller quicker players. Danish fans can dream about a nice senior national team long term with Iffe Lundberg, Shavon Shields, Gustav Knudsen and Holst leading the way.

8 - Ruben Prey - Portugal

Let the theme continue … Prey is a Portuguese big man playing at Joventut Badalona. The team from the Spanish suburbs defeated Real Madrid for the Spanish U18 domestic championship this year and Prey played a big part in that with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks. The 6-foot-10 Prey showed in Milan what he can do - score around the back, from outside and on the break as well while also being a strong rebounder with a good sense for offensive boards. He also excels as a rim protector. Prey has Portuguese fans excited about the FIBA U20 European Championship 2022 as the country will finally debut in Division A in the age class after winning the Division B in 2019 but not getting a chance to play the competition in the last two summers. Prey will eventually make an enticing trio in the Portuguese senior national team with Neemias Queeta and Rafael Lisboa.

7 - Alexandros Samodurov - Greece

Samodurov is considered one of the most talented youngsters to come out of Greece in some time with Panathinaikos Athens this March locking up the 6-foot-11 prospect for five seasons. Samodurov has a great all-around skill-set - an ability to finish around the rim and also shoot a bit from outside. He is a solid rebounder and also uses his good length to defend the basket. Samodurov hails from Thessaloniki and was mentored there by former FIBA EuroBasket 2005 champion and FIBA Basketball World Cup 2006 silver medallist Nikos Hatzivrettas. Samodurov has yet to play a FIBA event and will likely be a major part of Greece's team at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2022.

6 - Tidjane Salaun - France

Warning … this list is now being taken over by French and Spanish players. And the first one is Salaun. The first Frenchman, who came out of nowhere for many observers at BWB Europe camp, is a 6-foot-8 forward that moved from the famed academy INSEP to Cholet and played in the French U21 league. He was not chosen for any of the ANGT select teams but was rewarded for a solid season with an invitation to the BWB Europe camp. Salaun has a solid frame with good length and strength which helps him as a good rebounder and shot intimidator. He can also take his game outside and can pass from various spots on the floor. He also has a good motor and can finish around and above the rim. Salaun was in the mix for the FIBA U16 European Challengers 2021 but did not make the final team. It seems like he is a lock for a loaded France team at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022.

5 - Izan Almansa - Spain

Now the first Spaniard, and that is Almansa, who was returning to Europe after spending last season with Overtime Elite in the United States. Almansa does not look like many Spanish talents: a 6-foot-10 big man with a strong athletic frame - coming also from his American father. Almansa grew up in the Murcia system before a short stint with Real Madrid. Being in the United States at Overtime definitely helped him get used to playing against elite athleticism and how he can use his fundamentals to his advantage. He is strong around the rim, both scoring and rebounding. He works well with a good passing guard - he and Sergio De Larrea dominated with the pick-and-roll for alley-oops. Almansa also is an excellent rim protector and likes to get out and run. He will be a leader on Spain’s team at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022 in Spain.

4 - Aday Mara - Spain

The next Spaniard … Mara was not an unknown coming to the camp - having already played twice at the ANGT and even making his FIBA Europe Cup debut with Zaragoza this season and playing six games in the Spanish LEB Gold second division. The 7-foot-2 center has not yet played for Spain as the country did not play at the FIBA U16 European Challengers last summer. Mara clearly has the height and length to be a solid rim protector and is beginning to venture outside a little. Mara is not very good free throw shooter but one trait he does possess is excellent passing. With him and his rim protection, rebounding and passing ability in the middle, Spain are loaded and should challenge for the U17 World Cup title.

3 - Pacome Dadiet - France

France’s second member of this list - and someone numerous observers might have topping the rankings - is Dadiet, who moved from ASVEL Villeurbanne this past off-season to Paris Basketball and played at the ANGT twice on selection teams. The 6-foot-5 guard was also part of France's team at the FIBA U16 European Challengers 2021 that qualified for the U17 World Cup. Dadiet is a great athlete with all the skills a team would want: great drive to the basket, solid shooting, defensive instincts on the wing and as a rim protector. One issue from the BWB Europe camp, Dadiet did not really do a good job getting his teammates involved - assist stats were not kept at the camp though it could be confirmed by 10 assists in 220 minutes in the ANGT this season. Dadiet undoubtedly will be a key to France’s chances at the U17 World Cup.

2 - Mohamed Diawara - France

The other Frenchman to participate in the camp - and the only one to win the boys championship and also take home the MVP, Diawara was outstanding the whole camp. The 6-foot-8 forward can handle the ball and makes solid decisions while also possessing a good drive to the rim and outside shot. Diawara, who moved from INSEP to Paris in the off-season, was a real lock-down defender - multiple times over the course of the camp also against Dadiet, which made for some fun showdowns. Diawara’s ability to handle the ball at his size will be a deadly factor for France at the U17 World Cup.

1 - Sergio De Larrea - Spain

But the top player at the camp was De Larrea, who was flat out a joy to watch with his elite vision as a passer. And 6-foot-5 point guards don’t grow on trees. De Larrea teammates must be ready at all times because he will find them before they are even open - both in the half-court or in transition as he threw a number of full court assists after a rebound. De Larrea and Izan Almansa excelled with the pick-and-roll ending in alley-oops. He also can shoot from long range. But the Valencia playmaker also can defend - though his size makes it sometimes difficult to stay in front of small quick guards. De Larrea of course will be pulling the strings for hosts Spain at the U17 World Cup and as one can see by this list, he will have some great players around him.

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FIBA
David Hein

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

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