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How did the most noteworthy NBA draft prospects do at the FIBA under-20 European Championship in Crete? Mike Schmitz reports on multiple international and college players with pro intrigue.
HERAKLION, Crete -- Hanging from an Heraklion Arena rim draped in a blue and white Greek flag, Vasilis Charalampopoulos signed off on his 71-game, seven-year FIBA youth career in style, winning his second U20 European title and MVP award in as many years.
The 20-year-old, 6-foot-8 forward led Greece to an undefeated 7-0 record while reminding NBA scouts why he has been so valuable in national-team settings since he first took the floor for the Greeks as a 14-year-old in 2011.
The Charalampopoulos-led under-20 team is 14-1 in the past two years, and the Egaleo native's passion, toughness, IQ, shot-making and versatility are huge reasons for that. One year after winning the B Division title, thanks to per-40-minute averages of 22.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists, Charalampopoulos yet again hoisted championship and MVP trophies, this time against the highest level of competition with his fellow countrymen in the stands.
Prior to this year's under-20 tournament, Charalampopoulos had lost some steam as an NBA prospect. His role with Greek power Panathinaikos has been nearly identical each of the past three seasons, with him playing only 10-14 minutes per game, and his development had stalled. But in Heraklion at a U20 tournament lacking in high-level prospects, Charalampopoulos' winning pedigree (26-5 FIBA youth record since 2015) shined through.
Charalampopoulos' per-40-minute stats
Event GP PTS REB AST BLK 2P% PER
2016 FIBA U20 B 8 22.8 9.8 3.7 0.7 .619 31.4
2017 FIBA U20 A 7 19.4 7.9 5.4 0.8 .486 27.7
A below-average athlete with a boxy frame and very little muscle definition, Charalampopoulos has a men's league MVP look to him, rather than the profile of an NBA prospect. But when you get past some of the physical limitations, which certainly hinder his upside at the next level, there's a lot to like.
Charalampopoulos is a fiery competitor, as evidenced by the fact that he more than welcomed the idea of playing the 5 for long stretches in Crete. Greece was actually far and away at its best when he manned the center position. At a strong yet somewhat doughy 6-foot-8, Charalampopoulos showed enough grit to hold his own on the defensive glass and in the paint, which gave Greece a massive advantage on the offensive end. The floor was spaced, closeouts were longer, and Charalampopoulos was able to spot shoot, make plays versus scrambling defenders and even operate in the post, predominantly as a facilitator.
Although there are real questions about how his game will translate to the NBA level, the way the league is going benefits a guy such as Charalampopoulos. Players who can pass, dribble and shoot are finding ways to stick. Charalampopoulos could have been described as a "tweener" a few years back, but now he looks like a natural fit as a second-unit 4 that teams can pick-and-pop to space or even operate in 4-5 ball screens at times.
He isn't a great half-court scorer, but he does a little bit of everything and is capable enough from 3 to keep defenses honest. A lifetime 32.7 percent 3-shooter (343 attempts), he has made 25 of 60 (41.6 percent) 3s in the past two U20 tournaments, and his vision -- 5.4 assists per 40 minutes in Crete -- pairs well with his improving jumper.
His offensive fit is becoming clearer as the NBA shifts its focus, but his defensive transition is still a big question. Charalampopoulos isn't a guy who's going to switch ball screens regularly or be anything more than adequate at the NBA level. Although instinctual, competitive and a very willing rebounder, he isn't overly rangy or quick, and he'll have to get by on smarts and feel on that end of the floor. Charalampopoulos might never play big (or any) minutes in the NBA, but the under-20s gave the tough-minded forward the stage to further prove why he could be an attractive second-round draft-and-stash option come June 2018.
Charalampopoulos, who extended his Panathinaikos contract to 2024, will play on loan next season with PAOK Thessaloniki, which is led by his youth coach, Ilias Papatheodorou. He'll have the platform to play big minutes, produce in the Greek League and continue to work on his body while hopefully turning into a knockdown shooter. There's nothing sexy about his game, but Charalampopoulos is gritty, unselfish, a winner and an instant-energy fan favorite.
Up-and-down tournament for NCAA Euros Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Sr., G, Kansas
One of the tournament's better-known prospects, Mykhailiuk had an up-and-down showing as the leader of a Ukraine team that lacked high-level talent. With the third-highest usage rate in Crete, Mykhailiuk was asked to shoulder the load for Ukraine, a much different role than fans are accustomed to seeing at Kansas, where 49 percent of his offense came via spot-ups last season, according to Synergy Sports.
The 6-foot-8 guard's talent was certainly on display for stretches, as he led the tournament in scoring and showed he has some untapped versatility. That has often been the case for him at the FIBA level dating to 2012, when he debuted at the under-16 European Championship. A significant 38.2 percent of his offense came by way of pick-and-roll and isolations this year in Heraklion, compared to 6.3 percent last year in Lawrence.
Mykhailiuk proved that he can get to midrange pull-ups out of pick-and-roll, finish with an occasional floater in the paint and hit the roll man comfortably (5.0 assists per 40 minutes). Mykhailiuk still projects as more of a catch-and-shoot, quick-action operator at the pro level, but playing a little more on the ball at Kansas should allow him to impact the game in more ways than he has shown in the past.
That said, Mykhailiuk showed his warts as a decision-maker when tasked with shouldering a heavier load. He finished the tournament with the third-most turnovers per 40 minutes (6.7), shot 44 percent from 2 and 32.7 percent from 3 and had some struggles finding a healthy blend between scoring and playmaking as the primary option. A 39.8 percent shooter at Kansas last season, providing consistency from beyond the arc will also have to be Mykhailiuk's main value-add early in his pro career. With solid feet and an improved frame but a negative wingspan, the Kansas guard doesn't project as a multi-positional defender. He'll have to rely on feel and competitiveness on that end. He is a lifetime 34 percent 3-point shooter (673 attempts), so finding more ways to impact the game on both ends of the floor will be key for Mykhailiuk when his jumper isn't falling.
He might not have moved the needle much in Crete, but Mykhailiuk -- who will be the youngest senior in the NCAA at age 20 -- showcased some of the natural talent that made him a sought-after collegiate prospect at the ripe age of 16. With Josh Jackson and Frank Mason in the NBA and a new-look Kansas team in place, Mykhailiuk figures to have a longer leash next season, which should lead to more confident play and an eventual 2018 draft selection.
Moritz Wagner, Jr., F, Michigan
One of the NCAA's March darlings last year, Michigan big man Moritz Wagner showed both sides of the coin for the German under-20 team, scoring 32 points in 20 minutes on one occasion and going 2-for-13 in 24 minutes on another. Thanks to a monster final game against Iceland, Wagner finished with the tournament's second-best PER (37.5) and scored 31.8 points per 40 minutes in seven games. At 6-foot-11, Wagner is an ultra-aggressive scorer with touch out to 3, skill in the mid-post and footwork inside the paint. Although often too emotional on the court and interested in barking at the officials, Wagner plays with passion and can score from several different spots, especially when he's at the 5.
Despite his scoring instincts and assertive style, Wagner has a few glaring weaknesses that NBA teams will want to see him clean up. He's a score-first player, often looking off teammates and forcing the issue inside, as evidenced by his 1.4 assist-to-3.9 turnover per-40-minute ratio. Being able to read and react as a skilled big man is key at the NBA level, and addressing his so-so vision and decision-making should be a main priority at Michigan next year.
He also leaves much to be desired on the defensive end and on the defensive glass. He has quick hands and instincts defensively, as seen by the 5.1 steals per 40 minutes he collected, but Wagner is much happier to swipe at the ball than move his feet and contest. His effort and instincts on the defensive glass also can improve, as he has been a notoriously below-average defensive rebounder at almost every stage of his career. Becoming a more disciplined defender and rebounder will give coaches a reason to ride with some of Wagner's offensive peaks and valleys that come with his style of play.
With D.J. Wilson and Derrick Walton both gone, it's Wagner's team in Ann Arbor. If he's able to build on the momentum from last year's late surge and is willing to be stashed overseas using his German passport if necessary, Wagner could be an option in the second round for a team looking for a scoring big.
Omer Yurtseven, So., C, NC State
Fresh off of a tough freshman season at NC State, the Turkish center was extremely productive at the under-20s, scoring 22.1 points and grabbing 14.8 rebounds per 40 minutes while barely breaking a sweat.
Yurtseven is as naturally gifted of a big man that competed in Heraklion. He's polished in the post with turnarounds, jump hooks and push shots and instinctual on the glass, with soft hands and a solid reach. Not a very explosive athlete, he often operates in slow motion, though, and still needs an uptick in intensity on the defensive side of the ball. He has instincts and talent but is often too casual in his approach.
Yurtseven isn't an ideal fit in the modern NBA, given some of his defensive shortcomings and lack of consistent floor spacing, and scouts will want to see him play with regular energy and assertiveness in Raleigh to feel comfortable selecting him in the second round of the 2018 NBA draft. With a new coaching staff in place, Yurtseven does figure to have a bounce-back year in a more featured role under coach Kevin Keatts.
Although he still has some areas to improve, Yurtseven showed NBA scouts that he's a much better player than he was able to display at NC State last season. Like Wagner, if Yurtseven is willing to use his Turkish passport to stash overseas, he'll certainly get looks in the second round in 2018.
Naturalized citizens produce in Division B FIBA rules allow national teams to carry a maximum of one naturalized citizen on the roster, and countries such as Azerbaijan and Armenia are historically easier to penetrate than your typical basketball powerhouses. These two college players stood out on international squads in Division B in Oradea, Romania.
Jordan Davis, Jr., G, Northern Colorado
Playing for the Azerbaijan under-20 team, explosive Northern Colorado guard Jordan Davis took advantage of a featured role, leading the tournament's B Division in scoring despite finishing with a 1-5 record. Fresh off a 19.4 PPG season in the Big Sky Conference, Davis used the U20s to gain some additional exposure overseas while giving himself future flexibility at the pro level, given his newly acquired Azerbaijani passport.
As a player, Davis is a quick and aggressive 6-foot-2 combo guard who can break down a defense without a ball screen or pull up off the dribble, sporting an improved perimeter jumper (he shot 34 percent from 3 in Romania).
Davis, an under-recruited Las Vegas native, has a competitive edge and underdog mentality that helps him play bigger than his measurements suggest. He rebounds well at his position (10.4 per 40 minutes) and could very well enter the NBA draft discussion as a change-of-pace guard after his senior season at Northern Colorado.
More inefficient scorer than playmaker (1.0 assists per 40 minutes), Davis needs to improve his decision-making and find more ways to balance bucket-getting and facilitating, but his choice to take a nontraditional path and join the Azerbaijani national program appears to be paying dividends already.
Steven Enoch, Jr., F, Louisville
Enoch, who recently transferred to Louisville after two underwhelming seasons at Connecticut, joined the Armenian under-20 team last summer and really impressed during his second go-around, finishing third in PER, second in scoring and first in rebounds per 40 minutes in the B Division. One of the most physically impressive prospects in the tournament, at 6-foot-10, 245 pounds, Enoch appears to have added quite a bit of skill to his game, operating more as a perimeter threat than he has in the past and knocking down 8-of-21 3s at a 38.1 percent clip.
Light on his feet with a great frame and above-average length, Enoch has the physical base to be a plus-defender, though his overall focus and motor hold him back a bit in that regard. Although seeing Enoch expand his game and succeed in a featured role is encouraging, he doesn't figure to be a focal point at Louisville or beyond, so he'll have to find a way to do the little things, defend and make good decisions offensively to carve out a role. All in all, Enoch was one of the most impressive NBA prospects in Oradea.
Other U20 A & B Euro Prospects to Track: Jurij Macura, Karim Jallow, Santiago Yusta, Vanja Marinkovic, Laurynas Birutis, Tryggvi Hlinason, Elie Okobo, Simon Birgander, Elhadji Diawara, David Okeke, Goga Bitadze, Leo Cizmic, Tim Lambrecht, Yovel Zoosman, Borisa Simanic, Veners Kohs, Amine Noua
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