Talent is good to have, but possessing a strong character and making yourself into a well-rounded, educated individual is even more vital to having success in basketball. 

Blatt, Osman give EB ANGT players lessons about character

Those were the messages the future stars of European basketball learned at the 2017 Euroleague Basketball ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Players Educational Session.

The players from the eight teams at the EB ANGT were given the opportunity at the session to learn life lessons from former Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion head coach David Blatt of Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul and Cedi Osman from EuroLeague side Anadolu Efes Istanbul.

"Character is the most important thing I learned – to have confidence, to study and to have character," U18 CFBB point guard Sofiane Briki said. "It was a big opportunity to learn from Osman and his experience. I really learned a lot." U18 FC Barcelona Lassa guard Arnas Velicka called Blatt's messages "inspiring".

"Coach Blatt’s talk was really motivational and inspiring," Velicka said.

"We need to work hard every day and just be a good person - not only on the basketball court but off the court too. It was very inspiring."

Blatt and Osman were invited to talk to the EB ANGT players at the annual educational session. And the former Maccabi head coach Blatt enjoyed the gathering as much as the players did.

"After this talk that we all had together I feel better than I do after most wins. Because it’s very meaningful and very important when you get a chance to interact and to learn from other people and to have some impact on kids’ lives. It means a lot to me," Blatt said.

The Darussafaka coach’s biggest messages were having character and being educated. Blatt was aware that many of the players on hand did not understand everything he was saying. But that made his point that much more important. "There is nothing more important for your career if you want to get to a high level than to learn English. To communicate wherever you go," Blatt told the session.

"Before you take your next shot, get your next rebound, or open your phone and play all those dumb games you play, I want you to get an application to teach you words. Learn them in your free time instead of playing games. You’re going to need it."

He talked about the players having coaches from other countries in the future, teammates from multiple countries and living in other countries. And the main communication avenue is the English language.

"English is critical and you need to take it seriously," he said.

Blatt also said that a player having good character is crucial.

"Your reputation is what people think you are. Your character is who you really are inside."

Have heart and desire and a strong work ethic, urged the coach. And reach for a book instead of a smartphone.

"Understand you have to educate yourself. Your life is not only about basketball. Your mind must become more than just the basket and the ball," said Blatt.

Osman told the players of his tough beginnings in the game as he moved from FYROM to Bosnia and Herzegovina and then to Turkey.

"I always played to win. And then playing in the second division in Turkey, I didn’t lose my faith. You need to believe in yourself and always give your best," said Osman, who played at the EB ANGT in 2011-12.

The 22-year-old also told the players to start taking care of their bodies. And the Anadolu guard added that his approach is team first: "I am always thinking about how to help my team. The team is always first."

The third speaker in the session was Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Brand and Communication Director for Euroleague Basketball, who talked to the players about how to better understand what it means to be and become a professional.

"When you come to the EuroLeague and its clubs, what you find is a totally different world than what you know beforehand," Ferrer said.

"You have to do your job – the game on the court and off the court. … Our job is to grow the business and the fan base, and you play a special role."

Blatt finished the session off with a task for the players: "I suggest everybody here make five new friends, and not players from your country."

He said that is a major help in character building.

Six former winners have come to Istanbul looking to have their names engraved on the trophy as the 2016-17 EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT champions in this historic 15th edition of the annual under-18 showcase event.

EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT preview

U18 FC Barcelona Lassa is the reigning champion and the Spanish giant is hoping to become the first repeat winner since U18 FMP went back-to-back in 2008 and 2009. Seven different teams have won the crown in the seven years since FMP last hoisted the hardware – and all seven of them had won the title for the first time in club history.

That is just one of the many storylines as the ANGT Finals tip off on Thursday, May 18 at Ahmet Comert Arena, adjacent to the Sinan Erdem Dome – site of this weekend’s Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four as well as the ANGT Championship Game.

The breakdown of round-robin play has Barcelona playing in a Group A with three other past continental champs: U18 CSKA Moscow, which has won a record three titles as well as the only three-peat from 2004 to 2006; U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade, which has reached the title game in each of the past three years and won it in 2014; and 2010 winner U18 CFBB Paris. Barcelona and Zvezda are two of the four ANGT Qualifiers winners; Barcelona won the title at ANGT L’Hospitalet and Zvezda claimed victory at ANGT Belgrade.

Group B has two former ANGT trophy-holders in U18 Zalgiris Kaunas, the ANGT Kaunas winner, which won the inaugural tournament in 2003 and added a second title in 2007; and U18 Real Madrid, which won its first crown in 2015 and enters the ANGT Finals as winner of the ANGT Coin event. The other two teams in the group are the only ones to have not planted a flag at the summit of European junior basketball. U18 Mega Bemax Belgrade is making its second ANGT Finals appearance after reaching the final at ANGT Belgrade; while U18 Fenerbahce Istanbul is the host club and also reached the championship game in 2012.

Istanbul could witness one club taking home two trophies for just the third time as three of the teams in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four also have sides in the ANGT Finals – CSKA, Madrid and Fenerbahce. CSKA and Madrid have both won the EuroLeague-ANGT double; CSKA accomplished it in 2006 and Madrid in 2015.

While every game in the group stage will be hotly-contested, perhaps the most intriguing game could be the last one in Group A when Zvezda takes on Barcelona in a repeat of last year’s title game – and a battle that will include a number of key players back from the fateful day in Berlin. There are also several enticing potential championship game matchups, including Barcelona versus Madrid in a battle of Spanish powers; the Belgrade derby between Zvezda and Mega; and CFBB against Zalgiris, which would be a repeat of the ANGT Kaunas final.

The ANGT Championship Game hours before the EuroLeague title game could also be a precursor for the same game later in the evening as CSKA could match up against either Fenerbahce or Madrid in both finals.

andrija-marjanovic-u18-fc-barcelona-lassa-angt-hospitalet-2017-jt16-photo-paco-largo.jpg

The EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT started as an invitation-only competition designed to assist teams in developing young talents. 

Next generation of stars shines in 15 years of U18 tournament development

As it celebrates its 15th anniversary later this month at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Istanbul, the ANGT has turned into the premier youth club tournament in the world thanks to great performances from some of Europe's top future stars.

Since starting in 2003, the ANGT has grown in size from eight teams at one venue to 32 who now participate on five different stages, all hoping to hoist the trophy as Europe's best 18-and-under club. The event has grown in stature, too, such that clubs are working harder than ever to develop U18 teams with the hope of winning this annual tournament.

Ten different teams have won the event, while three of them having done so multiple times: U18 CSKA Moscow (2004, 2005, 2006), U18 Zalgiris Kaunas (2003, 2007) and U18 FMP Belgrade (2008, 2009). Seven different sides have claimed the crown in the seven ANGTs since FMP's repeat win in 2009, showing that the competition has become stronger and better balanced.

A number of superstars have graced the courts of the ANGT over its 15 years. Luigi Datome owns the record for the highest performance index rating in the finals, with 54 in 2005, scoring 38 points in that same game. In the qualifiers, Nikola Mirotic and Dragan Bender hold records with an 84 index rating and 43 points scored, respectively. Dario Saric registered a triple-double of 19 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in the 2011 championship game, leading U18 Zagreb to the title. Other former ANGT stars who have since left their mark on the European game include Bogdan Bogdanovic, Alessandro Gentile, Mario Hezonja, Mantas Kalnietis, Jonas Maciulus. Milan Macvan, Donatas Motiejunas, Cedi Osman, Alexey Shved, Jonas Valanciunas and Ante Zizic, to name a few.

Several players have been both ANGT and EuroLeague champions. Maciulis won the original ANGT in 2003 with U18 Zalgiris Kaunas and the EuroLeague 12 years later, in 2015, with Real Madrid. Current EuroLeague champion Nikita Kurbanov is one of three players, along with Shved and Vasily Zavoruev, to have won both titles wearing CSKA Moscow's colors each time. Madrid's Luka Doncic has a chance to join that list at the Final Four after having won the 2015 ANGT with Madrid as MVP.

The qualifiers were started in 2007-08 when an existing event at L'Hospitalet was incorporated and a new tournament was created in Belgrade. Rome was added in 2008-09 and a fourth qualifier the following season in London. Kaunas replaced London for the 2011-12 campaign and has served as one of the quartet of qualifiers since then. The 2016-17 season saw another change, with Coin, Spain replacing Rome as one of the hosts.

The tournament has also exposed fans to players from outside Europe. Team China was invited three times to the finals between 2011 and 2013, providing spectators a chance to see future Chinese national team stars Guo Ailun and Wang Zhelin. Team Brazil was given a wild card for the 2014 Finals in Milan.

Perhaps the biggest change in the tournament has been its increased professionalism. A major factor in that has been the event gaining a title sponsor with the subsequent brand association and hands-on contribution from that company. Nike came on board commencing in the 2006-07 campaign and the name of the event changed to Nike International Junior Tournament. Adidas took over as title sponsor prior for the 2014-15 season and the competition was re-branded as the EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT.

The U18 Tournament has come a long way since 2003 and is now bigger and more popular than it's ever been. Fifteen years of the competition are just about complete, and the future bodes well for the next generation of stars shining today.

The EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT started as an invitation-only competition designed to assist teams in developing young talents.

zalgiris-kaunas-junior-champion-2003.jpeg

Sweden does not have a long history of star basketball players, but the Scandinavian country has seen a couple of its top young talents make an impact in Spain and U18 Real Madrid’s Melwin Pantzar is the latest.

Madrid's Pantzar excited about doing big things for Sweden in Spain

Despite being just 16 years old at the time of the tournament, Pantzar played a major role in Madrid winning the EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Qualifying Tournament Coin.

Madrid, which had won the ANGT Qualifying Tournament L’Hospitalet the last two seasons, came to Coin as the heavy favorite. And Pantzar, who averaged 7.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game, helped the 2015 continental champion live up to the pressure.

"We felt a lot of pressure because we are Real Madrid. We are supposed to win all kinds of tournaments. So we felt a lot of pressure, but it didn’t affect us that much. We just played our game," said Pantzar, who had 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in the championship game against U18 Unicaja Malaga.

Plying his trade in Spain and for Madrid in particular is a big deal for the Valsta native, who turned 17 years old in April. "It's crazy," Pantzar said about what it means to be playing for the club. "It's one of the biggest things you can do in life."

The 1.90-meter guard’s road to Madrid started in February 2016 when he played a tournament on tryout with Italian club Stellazzurra Basketball Academy Rome in Hungary and faced Madrid. The Spanish giants snatched Pantzar up from AIK Basket Solna in the summer and brought him into the youth system.

Pantzar joined a growing line of Swedes who have moved to Spain early in their career. Markus Eriksson went to Manresa in 2010 as a 16-year-old, signed with FC Barcelona Lassa the next season and still plays with the club. Ludde Hakanson went to Barcelona from Sweden at 15 years of age and still plays in Spain with Montakit Fuenlabrada. Vilgot Larsson was 17 years old when he went to Joventut Badalona in 2015. And last year Barcelona also picked up 15-year-old Swedish center Erik Kall.

"There aren't too many of us Swedes over here, but I’m glad to be one of them," Pantzar said. "For Swedish basketball it means a lot because Sweden is not a big basketball country. So it means a lot."

Pantzar already made his debut with the Swedish youth national teams; he competed at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2016 and averaged 7.6 points, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals, not to mention 12.0 rebounds – as a point guard.

Pantzar also learned plenty from the tournament in Coin. The victory meant a lot to the team, but there is still work to do. "Coin was very important for us, but now we have Istanbul and we are looking forward to it," Pantzar said. "We are going there to win. That's our only focus."

Madrid has been drawn into Group B with host U18 Fenerbahce Istanbul, U18 Mega Bemax Belgrade and U18 Zalgiris Kaunas. If Madrid can grab the title, Pantzar will actually have done one better than a Swedish compatriot. Hakanson went to the ANGT Championship Game in 2013 with Barcelona, but lost to U18 Divina Seguros Joventut Badalona.

A Real Madrid win in 2017 would give Sweden a European youth club champion among its ranks. Not bad for a country still on the rise.



melwin-pantzar-u18-real-madrid-angt-coin-2017-jt16-photo-antonio-ordonez-7ltg3l9934f6h94j.jpg

Turkish fans are known for their enthusiastic support of their teams. And Baris Yeniay hopes he can control his emotions when playing in front of his home fans for U18 Fenerbahce Istanbul at the EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Finals.

Yeniay hopes to keep control playing in front of Fener fans

"Fenerbahce has a really good fan support and I hope they also come and support us in this tournament. I am sure that they will enjoy it," said Yeniay, who is expected to be one of the team’s leaders at the ANGT Finals in Istanbul. "It's an honor to play in front of Fenerbahce fans. I hope I won't get excited too much. I can't wait to play in front of Fenerbahce fans."

Fenerbahce will be taking on U18 Zalgiris Kaunas, U18 Real Madrid and U18 Mega Bemax Belgrade in Group B at Ahmet Comert Arena, which is adjacent to Sinan Erdem Dome, site of the 2017 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

Yeniay collected 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals at the ANGT Qualifier Kaunas, where Fenerbahce struggled to sixth place with two wins in four games. Yeniay admitted that he didn’t have his nerves under control in the first game in Lithuania. "The first game I wasn't really able to do what I wanted to, because I was excited a little bit too much," said Yeniay, who had 4 points and 3 turnovers in Fenerbahce’s opening game loss to U18 CFBB Paris.

He and the rest of the team stepped up their play in the second game. Yeniay recorded 19 points and 8 rebounds in a win over U18 Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt. And he collected 23 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in Fenerbahce’s victory over U18 Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius.

"In the second day of the tournament I was more concentrated and I hustled well, so I played better like my other teammates. We couldn't make it to final and we were sad as a team, so I think that is why we lost against (Canarias Basketball Academy Las Palmas)," said Yeniay, who had just 3 points and 4 rebounds in a loss in the fifth place game. "In general, this tournament was very beneficial for me," the Istanbul native said.

Yeniay was playing at his second ANGT after he averaged 1.3 points 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 17 minutes per game at ANGT Kaunas last season. "Last year I learned that European basketball is faster and harder than I thought. I learned that I have to be tough on the court and play smarter at both ends," Yeniay said.

The 1.98 meter guard, who turns 18 years old on May 8, has been playing basketball since he was 8, when his father introduced him to the game. "Swimming was the first sport I did, and I swam two years before I started basketball. I was bored of swimming so I started basketball," Yeniay revealed.

While he is happy he chose basketball over swimming, Yeniay actually would pick another sport over hoops if you gave him a choice of video games. "I am very good at playing video games, especially FIFA," he said. "Actually I like playing both (basketball and soccer), but I like FIFA more. And Manchester United is my favorite."

Playing the game on a video console may be fun, but the best part of basketball, according to Yeniay, is: "How you feel after you win a game."

Fenerbahce got two wins in Kaunas and the team will have extra support with the fans in Istanbul. "We have the home-court advantage, and we want to do our best at the ANGT Finals. I hope we win the tournament."

Fenerbahce will be playing at the ANGT Finals for the fourth time and its top showing so far was reaching the 2012 ANGT Championship Game, which it lost to U18 Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius. Yeniay and his teammates will have even better chances if they can keep their nerves in check in front of their home fans.

baris-yeniay-u18-fenerbahce-istanbul-angt-kaunas-2017-jt16-photo-linas-zemgulis-zalgiris-kaunas.jpeg

Zoran Paunovic knew exactly what it would take to get onto the court for U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade.

Paunovic's recipe for playing time for Zvezda is defense

It was his stellar defense that ended up earning him playing time – and eventually a spot on the All-Tournament Team at the EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Qualifier Belgrade. Paunovic hopes to build upon his strong showing in Belgrade and use his defense to play at the ANGT Finals in Istanbul.

“I didn’t expect coach to give me such a big chance and that type of trust. I tried to play my best level, especially on defense, because I know that is a recipe to keep me in the game,” said Paunovic, who averaged 11.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.5 steals in 17:34 minutes coming off the bench for Zvezda in the Belgrade tournament in February. “I am glad that I earned the chance from my coach and in the end to play very good in the final.”

Paunovic’s 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks in the ANGT Belgrade championship game earned him a performance index rating of 19 and an average PIR for the tournament of 17.5. His PIR per 40 minutes was 39.84, which was the highest of any player in Belgrade.

“[Being named to The All-Tournament Team] means a lot for me, especially because I am one year younger,” said Paunovic, who turns 17 years of age in July. “I didn’t expect that. I only tried to help my team to win this tournament. When I was playing, I didn’t think about earning some individual trophy. I just wanted to win with my team.”

Winning is definitely part of the history for Zvezda, which has reached the ANGT Finals for a record seventh straight time. The Belgrade team is also heading to Istanbul on a three-year streak of reaching the ANGT Championship Game after winning in 2014 and losing to U18 Real Madrid in the 2015 title game and to U18 FC Barcelona Lassa at that stage last season.

Paunovic has seen that success; this is his third season with the club - albeit his first campaign in the ANGT competition. “I am very happy to earn a spot in the final tournament in Istanbul. Our club has a very strong system working with the younger teams and juniors and 16-year-old players. When I was a kid, and I watched this tournament, of course that was my goal, to play in this type of tournament and to earn a spot in the Final Four tournament,” said the Nis native, who joined Zvezda from KK Konstantin Nis in 2014.This is not Paunovic’s first experience on the big stage. He played for Serbia last summer at the FIBA U16 European Championship and was the team’s second-leading scorer with 14.6 points to go along with 4.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Paunovic and his Serbian teammates did experience their share of disappointment at that tournament, losing to Finland and Greece in the group stage and then to Montenegro in the Round of 16 before a final defeat versus Germany to finish 10th among 16 teams.

He is looking for a more positive experience in Istanbul, where Zvezda has been drawn into Group A along with reigning continental champion U18 FC Barcelona Lassa, 2010 winner U18 CFBB Paris and three-time champ U18 CSKA Moscow. The Serbian team knows it will need to play tough defense to be successful in Istanbul. However, Paunovic seems comfortable with that. “That is our trademark,” he said.

Paunovic will now experience an ANGT Finals for the first time after watching and learning from past leaders such as Aleksandar Aranitovic, Borisa Simanic and Aleksa Radanov from the strong 1998 generation and current 1999 leaders Aleksa Uskokovic and Stefan Momirov.

“I realized from them that defense is the key because that is part of our system. Playing good defense is my chance to be on the team and to be better every day,” Paunovic said. “This is logical and the philosophy of the whole system: When I play well on defense, I will be better with my teammates and my offense will be better.”

Paunovic may be playing in the ANGT for the first time, but he has already figured out what it takes to get on the court and be a factor for U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade.

Zoran Paunovic knew exactly what it would take to get onto the court for U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade. 

zoran-paunovic-u18-crvena-zvezda-mts-belgrade-angt-belgrade-2017-jt16.jpg

It's very common to hear of rising stars in the basketball world who games were groomed by their basketball-playing fathers or brothers. But Joel Ayayi's early days of playing with his older sister are what helped him become a high-level talent.

CFBB's Ayayi learns from big sister

His older sister Valeriane Ayayi is one of the best players in French basketball and helped the French national team reach the semifinals at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

“I was very proud to see her in the Olympics,” said Ayayi, who will be playing at his first EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Finals next month with U18 CFBB Paris. “She has always been my role model because I was always following her everywhere she was going. I’m very excited for her. I hope she continues like that and continues to get better.”

When asked how Valeriane, who is almost six years older, helps him in his game, Ayayi said: “After every game she sends me texts about how I played. When I was a child we were playing a lot of one-on-one. She was always helping me in getting better on my dribble and my shot.”

The younger Ayayi is excited about CFBB getting a wild card for Istanbul, where the team hopes to win its first ANGT title since 2010. “It’s big-time news. We are very excited. I think we could play a major role in this championship. I think we could win it,” he said. “We have to be focused on playing together and defend hard. If we play hard defense, we can get out in transition for easy baskets.”

Ayayi played a strong part in CFBB reaching the final of the ANGT Qualifier Kaunas, where they lost to host U18 Zalgiris Kaunas 62-57 after cutting a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to 1 point. “The final was very tough, but we learned a lot. And now we know how to win a tough game like that for the next stage,” said Ayayi, who averaged 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists, including 19 points in the title game.

The 1.93-meter Ayayi, who was one of five of the younger 2000-born players on the CFBB team in Kaunas, had already gone through a tough losing experience before. He and the French team lost to Croatia in the quarterfinals of the FIBA U16 European Championship 2016 and ended up finishing sixth. “We are very disappointed in our performance. We were looking forward to a title or at least a medal. We lost in the quarterfinals, in a tough game, because we didn’t play our game,” the Bordeaux native said. “But it was a good experience because now we know. You have to elevate your level in big games.”

Over the mid-term Ayayi is looking to improve his jump shot as well as his ball-handling and court vision. He said he really enjoyed watching the Real Madrid team last season. “I liked Sergio Rodriguez and Sergio Llull when they were both with Real Madrid. That was a great team to watch with their court vision. They are real floor generals. And to watch their passing qualities,” Ayayi said.

Even though Ayayi pays close attention and tries to learn by watching those players as well as the top French players around the world, the player he watches and learns from the most is his big sister, Valeriane, who continues to look out for him, too.



Sagarejo is not known for its basketball. In fact the city in eastern Georgia of about 12,000 residents is home to some of the world’s top freestyle wrestlers. Yet, U18 Mega Bemax Belgrade big man Goga Bitadze also calls Sagarejo home. 

Bitadze goes from land of wrestlers to talent-developing Mega

The 2.11-meter big man is a major reason why Mega reached the ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Qualifying Tournament Belgrade championship game and was awarded a wild card for the ANGT Finals in Istanbul at next month’s Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

“It’s really a big thing for Mega. We have a really talented team and we will do our best and I hope everyone will be healthy again,” said Bitadze, who averaged 16.5 points, 12 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.8 blocks in Mega’s run to the final in Belgrade. “It means a lot for this team, a lot.”

Basketball means a lot to Bitadze’s home country Georgia too - a country of around 4 million people. “We have a guy who was drafted with the number five pick in the NBA Draft (Nikoloz Tskitishvili to Denver in 2002) and a guy who plays for the Golden State Warriors and is a starter (Zaza Pachulia). We also have guys who are on leading teams in EuroLeague, Liga Endesa and other competitions. And we made four straight FIBA EuroBaskets and played well in those,” Bitadze said. “So I think that’s a lot for such a small country.”

Located about 60 kilometers east of the Georgian capital Tbilisi, Sagarejo, however, isn’t as well known for its basketball. “One of the best things about Sagarejo is that it’s such a beautiful region. There are a lot of mountains, and a lot of good sportsmen have grown up in this region. There are such warm and hospitable people and the food is good too.”

Sagarejo native Levan Tediashvili is a two-time Olympic freestyle gold medalist and four-time world champion and Arsen Mekokishvili won the freestyle wrestling Olympic gold in 1952. Bitadze did not grow up watching basketball, but his height led him to the game when he was 6 years old. “I was so active and tall, so my parents decided to let me try basketball,” Bitadze said. “No one influenced me because I wasn’t watching basketball a lot, but then I started loving basketball and watching it.”

Bitadze said he mainly liked fellow Georgian Tornike Shengelia, now playing for Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz, as well as Shaquille O’Neal and Pau Gasol from the NBA. “Shengalia because I liked to watch this big athlete move so quickly, while the other two dominated the game in the NBA,” Bitadze said.

Bitadze starred at the FIBA U16 European Championship Division B 2015 for Georgia with 14.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks and then began hitting radars further west in Europe while he played for Vita Tbilisi in the VTB League in the 2015-16 season. And he landed with Mega in December 2015.

“There was a good league in Georgia and a good club, but I saw that Mega was really a good team for young players and I saw some guys were getting drafted in the NBA (from Mega), so I thought that I could be one of these guys someday,” he said. “The Serbian league and everything about basketball is so well run and that’s why I came here.”

Bitadze played his first ANGT qualifier late in 2015 after just a couple of weeks with Mega and averaged 7.8 points and 4.0 rebounds as Mega won the ANGT Rome title. He was worth 4.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks at the ANGT Finals in Berlin. Those numbers jumped drastically in Belgrade in late February.

“It was a little easier because I understood my coaching staff and teammates a lot more and I put in a lot of hard work with my team and I improved myself. So hard work pays off,” said Bitadze, who had three double-doubles at ANGT Belgrade, including 21 points and 18 rebounds in the final against U18 Crvena Zvezda MTS Belgrade. The big man was named to the ANGT Belgrade All-Tournament Team.

“It’s a really great experience to play against these great players, to challenge them and to learn some things from them,” he said. “My role is to get an advantage in the paint and lead the team in tough moments, to make my teammates better, and to motivate the team.”

Bitadze has also been averaging 10.6 points per game in the Serbian KLS league on loan at Smederevo as a 17-year-old. He has also posted 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 rebounds.

“I just try to do my best every game, to be ready to play against older guys than me, and to be a competitor,” Bitadze said. “I’m working on getting my body ready for some of the better leagues and working on my post game as well as trying to get my shot better and use my height advantage.”

Bitadze and his teammates learned a valuable lesson in the ANGT Belgrade final - losing 74-61 after Zvezda jumped out to a 25-2 lead after eight minutes: “I learned that one quarter can change the whole game.” Just like he is doing his best to help change the face of basketball in Georgia.

goga-bitadze-u18-mega-bemax-belgrade-angt-belgrade-2017-jt16-7mxtyd9tbme9xq7r.jpeg

U18 CSKA Moscow is the record three-time champion of the ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT. But the Russian powerhouse is back at the ANGT Finals for the first time since 2007 thanks in large part to an ex-swimmer with a good connection to Alexey Shved.

U18 CSKA's Khomenko switched swimming for basketball after meeting Shveds

Alexander Khomenko collected 14.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.3 steals as CSKA finished third at the ANGT Qualifying Tournament Kaunas.

CSKA, which won three straight continental titles from 2004 to 2006, was then awarded a wild card for the ANG Finals, taking place May 18 to 21 at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Istanbul.

"Ten years is a long time. It means a lot for our club and we are happy that we got a wild card," said Khomenko, who was playing in his second ANGT tournament after having averaged 4.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists at ANGT Rome in 2015-16.

"We are looking forward to the unique opportunity to fight for the win in Istanbul. It will be hard but it's a great experience for all of us."

Khomenko and CSKA are drawn into Group A along with U18 Crvena Zvevda MTS Belgrade, reigning champions U18 FC Barcelona Lassa and U18 CFBB Paris. The 1.90-meter guard is hoping to double down on his experience and watch the CSKA senior team, if they reach the Final Four.

"I hope we will manage to watch the games of Final Four where I hope CSKA will participate. I know that we will have our own schedule and no time to walk around and relax, but to support our main team is important," he said.

Basketball used to mean a lot less to Khomenko, who actually grew up swimming and participating four years in the water. Khomenko did not start to play basketball until the first grade in Belgorod.

One of the big basketball names in Belgorod is Alexey Shved, whose father Victor Shved was Khomenko's first coach.

"Victor Shved's wife came to our school to look for newcomers for the basketball school. So she invited me to come and to try playing basketball. Frankly speaking, I didn't want to go there at first. But my mother insisted. She said, 'You should try it, maybe you will like it.' And I did."

And after his four years of swimming it was time to move onto basketball.

"I tried to combine it with basketball but then it was necessary to choose one. I chose basketball," Khomenko said.

Khomenko and Shved were able to build up a pretty strong bond.

"Alexey visits Belgorod every summer. And his father always set Alexey as an example, showing us his early games in CSKA," Khomenko said.

About the relationship with the former EuroLeague champion and current Khimki star, Khomenko added: "We communicate in Belgorod, where Alexey comes to practice and I have vacations in summer. Me and some other local players practice with him. We help each other to progress.

"Last time, Alexey showed me his drills, gave some advice to try some things on the court. It was also interesting to listen to his stories about the NBA."

Khomenko has grown into one of the leaders of the CSKA team along with Aleksandr Ershov and Yury Umrikhin.

"We always do a lot of work on the court, but as a team we are always together. We help each other all the time. If one player makes mistakes or his shots fall out, then the other one is ready to support him," Khomenko said.

When asked what CSKA must do to be successful in the ANGT Finals, Khomenko added: "We need to play really good on defense, do not worry about our opponents and be ourselves. 'One for all, all for one' - just like with the senior team."

alexander-khomenko-u18-cska-moscow-angt-kaunas-2017-jt16-photo-linas-zemgulis-zalgiris-kaunas-7jiondbnvkdllc4n.jpeg