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These promising EuroCup youngsters have already arrived!

These promising EuroCup youngsters have already arrived!

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6 January 20232 Mins read

These promising EuroCup youngsters have already arrived!

In the first half of the 2022-23 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season, some young players established themselves as budding stars. It is hard to recall a EuroCup season in which so many young players did so well. Not all of them are eligible for the EuroCup Rising Star award, but here is a list of players aged 23 or younger who have stood out: some taking a step forwards, others making an impact in their EuroCup debuts.

Onuralp Bitim, Frutti Extra Bursaspor

Bitim already proved his value last season, helping Bursaspor go all the way to the EuroCup Championship Game. Full of confidence and energy, Bitim is an all-around swingman able to read the passing lanes for steals, ignite the crowd with explosive dunks, or pull the trigger with unlimited range. At age 23, he is the competition's third-best scorer (18.4 ppg.) and leads the 2022-23 EuroCup in fouls drawn at 6.6 per night. Bitim also ranks fifth in PIR at 18.9 per game. The sky is the limit for him, as he is taking giant steps forward each season.

Khalifa Diop, Gran Canaria

Last season's EuroCup Rising Star Trophy winner has a chance to win the award again, an honor that only EuroCup legend Bojan Dubljevic has achieved in the past. Diop is seeing more playing time this season, 20 minutes per night, and is making the most out of it, averaging 10.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks for a PIR average of 11.4. He ranks 12th in two-point shooting percentage (70.6%) and his free throw accuracy has gone from 53.7% last season to 70.4%. Diop loves playing above the rim, and his signature high-flying blocks and alley-oop dunks keep thrilling Gran Canaria fans.

Yago Dos Santos, ratiopharm Ulm

At age 23, Dos Santos is having a big impact in the competition with several outstanding performances. He had 26 points, 10 assists, 8 fouls drawn and a PIR of 39 in a spectacular 105-106 road win against Prometey Slobozhanske in Round 6. He also got 18 points, 9 assists and a PIR of 20 in a 110-98 Round 8 victory against Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse. Dos Santos ranks 12th in assists (4.9) and averages 12.0 points on solid shooting (62.5% 2FG, 40.9% 3FG, 88.9% FT) for a PIR of 15.8. This is his first season in Europe, so there is plenty of room for improvement, too.

Jaylen Hoard, Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv

Hoard is another EuroCup newcomer who has surprised fans and experts alike due to his effectiveness and energy. He has hit 31 of 39 two-point shots until now, ranking fifth overall (79.5%). He also ranks sixth in offensive rebounds (2.3) and eighth in PIR (18.3). After missing three games due to injury, Hoard returned against Gran Canaria in Round 9, getting 14 points on 7-for-7 shooting and a PIR of 20. He minimizes mistakes like few other players in competition history. Hoard has just turnovers this season after almost 110 minutes on court!

Ismael Kamagate, Paris Basketball

A center with long arms, a great willingness to play physically in the paint, and a good feel for the game, Kamagate has been all over the place so far this season. He is tied for first place in blocked shots (2.0 bpg.), ranks second in rebounds (9.3 rpg.) and is scoring with unprecedented efficiency. Simply put, no other player in competition history playing more than six games in any EuroCup season had as high a two-point rate (83.0%) while taking as many shot attempts (5.2 per game). Kamagate is trying to make history by leading Paris as deep as possible in the 2022-23 EuroCup.

Juan Nunez, ratiopharm Ulm

At age 20, Nunez is one of the most-watched guard prospects anywhere due to his clutch play and great ability to pass the ball. He has shown hints of the player can be become in the 2022-23 EuroCup, averaging 7.1 points, 4.6 assists, 1.1 steals and a PIR of 8.7 in less than 21 minutes per night. Ulm features three of the most exciting young guards in the competition: Nunez, Dos Santos and Fedor Zugic. Nunez has to improve his three-point shooting (23.5% 3FG) to become a bigger threat at all levels, but it should only be a matter of time before he becomes a top-class playmaker.

Joel Parra, Joventut Badalona

Parra is already one of the main pillars in Joventut's roster due to his combination of size, talent, energy and history with the club, which he joined at age 5. Parra is averaging 11.2 points while shooting 50.0% on three-pointers and 88% from the foul line. With his 4.6 rebounds per game, he has an average PIR of 14.0. In the last two games, Parra was just sensational, boosting his numbers up to 19.5 points scored on 70.0% three-pointers and 100% free throws, 4.5 rebounds and a PIR of 21.0. Parra is set to keep improving as the season goes on as Joventut looks for a better playoffs run this time around.