U18 CSKA Moscow guard Aleksandr Ershov was named the MVP of the EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Qualifying Tournament - Kaunas on Saturday. 

Ershov of U18 CSKA named MVP in Kaunas

Ershov helped CSKA to third place and finished the tournament with a bang as he poured in 37 points against U18 Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius in the third place game to go with 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Ershov led the tournament in scoring (24 points per game), three-point percentage (57 percent), free throw percentage (95 percent) and index rating (22.00). He also averaged 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals over four games.

Joining Ershov on the All-Tournament Team were Grantas Vasiliauskas of title-winning U18 Zalgiris Kaunas, Isaac Bonga of U18 Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt, Ivan Fevrier of U18 CFBB Paris and Yauhen Massalski of U18 Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius. Massalski was not on hand to accept the award with his teammate Domantas Vilys accepting it on his behalf.

all-tournament-team-angt-kaunas-2017-jt16-photo-linas-zemgulis-zalgiris-kaunas.jpg

The U18 Fenerbahce Istanbul star is still trying to keep his emotions under control at the EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Kaunas.

Experienced Duran aims to control his emotions

This isn’t the first time playing on a major stage either at the club or national team level for Ahmet Duran.

Duran first popped onto ANGT radars three years ago as a 15-year-old from Afyonkarahisar in the middle of the mountainous countryside in Turkey at the 2014-15 ANGT Kaunas. Duran probably didn’t know better and just played his game and showed he could dominate in certain aspects, combining for 22 points and 26 rebounds in his first two ANGT games three years ago.

Back then he was also a big body - but a bit undersized for the low post - with a touch for the game, good footwork and a feel for passing. Duran has improved all of those parts of his game and put together an All-Tournament Team-worthy showing this season with 17 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 steals for Fenerbahce.

“I have been playing here for three years and I really work hard. I practice with the Fenerbahce senior team so it helps me a lot to play here. This tournament has helped me become a better player,” said Duran, who will turn 18 years old on January 28.

Duran’s skill set also includes some solid dribbling and driving skills and the 2.06m big man can also shoot a bit from long range. One trait that is also evident though is Duran’s inability to control his emotions. Whether it’s throwing the ball high in the air in disappointment or separating himself from teammates at times in timeouts or other outbursts of frustration on the court, Duran’s emotion control game is still a work in progress.

But he knows and recognizes that.

“Outside the court I am really an enjoyable and funny guy, but on the court it’s always different,” Duran says with a laugh and smile while talking with his Fenerbahce teammate serving as his interpreter.

“Even though I try to stay under control I get frustrated some times and there is nothing i can do about it. I just try to keep going.”

Duran showed enough leadership skills to help Fenerbahce to a 2-1 record in Group A, including a 69-68 victory over U18 Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius in the final group game, which kept Lietuvos Rytas from reaching the Kaunas final against U18 Zalgiris Kaunas.

“We always go to the court to win the game. We didn’t want two Lithuanian teams to play in the final. So the win means a lot to us,” said Duran, who knew that he and Fenerbahce would have needed a 47-point victory over Lietuvos Rytas to advance to the title game.

Duran arrived at Fenerbahce three years ago from Afyonkarahisar, which has a population of about 200,000 and located about 250 kilometers south-west of Ankara. Since then Duran has been playing at one big youth competition after another. In addition to three ANGT Kaunas events, Duran has played at two FIBA U16 European Championships, including a third place finish in 2015; and last year played at the FIBA U17 World Championship and the FIBA U18 European Championship.

The U17 Worlds last summer in Zaragoza was probably Duran’s biggest moment in his career as the tournament debutant Turkey knocked off Spain in the semifinals and ended up with the silver medal as it played against the United States in the final.

“Having the silver medal at the World Championship was really important for us. The biggest memory was the last second win over Spain,” said Duran, who averaged 10 points, 12 rebounds and 2.4 assists in the game.

When asked what he took away from the U17 World Championship, Duran said: “The most important thing I learned was to stay calm on the court even though I still can’t all the time.”

His game is getting better and better but Duran is still trying to work on that part of his total package.

ahmet-can-duran-u18-fenerbahce-istanbul-angt-kaunas-2017-jt16-photo-linas-zemgulis-zalgiris-kaunas-7ji7ubtil8xu3d6f.jpeg

Isaac Bonga already has a loud game with a tantalizing mix of skills. But the U18 Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt point guard is looking to step up leadership-wise at the EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Kaunas.

Leadership, taking responsibility atop Bonga's development list

Bonga has been Frankfurt's top player in Kaunas, averaging 12.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.5 steals and 1.5 blocks through two games in Group A – albeit two losses.

"I have to be a leader," said the 2.03-meter 17-year-old. "It's a young group and I am also young, but I am one of the older guys here. I want to be a role model for the other guys. And to be the guy to whom the guys look up and say they want to be like me."

After he missed two major national team tournaments in 2016 with injuries, Bonga was one of the biggest names people were looking forward to seeing in Kaunas. Now healthy, Bonga is flashing the tools that make him one of the top prospects of his generation in all of Europe.

This is the second time ANGT fans have seen Bonga, whose parents were both born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He helped U18 Brose Bamberg reach the semifinals of the 2015-16 ANGT Torneig de Bàsquet Junior Ciutat de L'Hospitalet, where he was named to the All-Tournament Team by averaging 12.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals.

"Last year helped me a lot. I was one of the good players but we also had Moritz Sanders and Arnoldas Kulboka. Now I have good young guys and I have to take responsibility now," said Bonga, who had 16 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in the opening day 65-94 loss against U18 Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius.

That defeat made Bonga realize even more that he needed to be more of a leader: "Sometimes, if things aren't going well, I just have to take the ball and say guys I'm going to do something now. Just be a leader."

Bonga started in the sport when he was 7 years old, playing street ball in Neuwied. He moved to the local club at 9 years old and last season was sharing time with fourth division side Koblenz and the youth teams of Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt.

Bonga has sports in his family. His 20-year-old older brother Tarsis Bonga plays in the youth ranks for German football power Bayer Leverkusen. And Isaac said his younger brother, the 2005-born Joshua, is already wowing observers, playing in a U16 league.

Bonga's father came to Germany from the Democratic Republic of Congo about 20 years with the original intent of heading on to Canada. He ended up staying in Frankfurt and moved to Koblenz, where he lives with Isaac's mother, who is also from DR Congo. Bonga said his oldest brother still lives in Africa.

Bonga, who is a big fan of Dwyane Wade, signed a four-year deal with Frankfurt last off-season because of the chances the club offers.

The 2.03-meter guard already made his debut in the German BBL league, playing the last 29 seconds of Frankfurt's game in late September at Brose Bamberg in front of nearly 7,000 fans. He has played four times for Frankfurt in the top flight, but not since early November. Instead he is playing in the U19 NBBL league and the third division ProB.

The game in Bamberg was an early reward from the Frankfurt coaching staff for Bonga's work in training camp. Bonga was excited about playing a high level after he missed the 2016 Albert Schweitzer Tournament in April because of an injury. And then in December, Bonga was hit in the thigh and ended up missing the FIBA U18 European Championship 2016.

Bonga was only cleared to play on Friday before the ANGT Kaunas started. When asked how he felt being able to finally play again in a high level tournament, Bonga said: "I am really happy because I was really angry about not being able to play. But now it's time for me to be a leader."

isaac-bonga-u18-fraport-skyliners-frankfurt-angt-kaunas-2017-jt16-photo-linas-zemgulis-zalgiris-kaunas.jpeg

The field for ANGT Kaunas boasts clubs from seven different countries and talents from many more. 

ANGT Kaunas Players to Watch 2017

Those that love watching tomorrow’s stars today are thrilled that on the heels of last weekend’s first qualifying event in the 2016-17 Euroleague Basketball ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT series, the second, the ANGT Kaunas, begins on Friday in Lithuania. The opening event, the Torneig de Bàsquet Junior Ciutat de L’Hospitalet in Spain, featured many of the top talents from the Iberian Peninsula. Here’s a primer on some of the players to watch from the eight teams in action this weekend.

### U18 CBA Las Palmas: Li Shengzhe

Li will be making his ANGT debut. The 2.09-meter center has yet to play for the Chinese youth national team. The Shanghai native has been in the CBA program for three years now and has developed nicely. Weighing 118kg, Li has a great back-to-the-basket game and a good feel for how to deal with opponents. He is a very hard worker and possesses a great personality. Li still must work on his confidence and become more assertive defensively, though the tools to be a very good defender and rebounder are there.

### U18 CFBB Paris: Yves Pons

Pons will be making his ANGT debut. He has played twice for the French national team in the past. He averaged 3.8 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists in helping France to the title at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2014 despite being a year younger than the competition. This past summer, Pons averaged 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.3 blocks at the FIBA U17 World Championship 2016. He missed two and a half months this season with an injury and is slowly rounding into form since coming back at the beginning of December and he may be limited in his impact in Kaunas. But the Port-au-Prince, Haiti, native has the potential to be one of the most-athletic players on the court. He is a physical beast who is extremely explosive when driving to the basket and is one of the most exciting finishers in the game. He plays above the rim at both ends - possessing a strong sense of blocking shots from the help side in addition to attacking the basket on offense. Pons is also a very good rebounder and uses his quickness and long arms to get a lot of steals. The left-handed player still needs to improve on his attacking skills and he must learn to create for others. Pons also needs to work on his shot. There are also questions as to his natural position 1.97 meters with a lack of some perimeter offensive skills.

### U18 CSKA Moscow: Aleksandr Ershov

Ershov will be playing his second ANGT tournament after averaging 3.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists at the ANGT Rome last season - despite being two years younger than the rest of the competition. The 1.95-meter wing also played for the Russian youth national team and averaged 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals as Russia won the title at the FIBA U16 European Championship Division B to earn promotion to Division A. Despite being only 16 years old, Ershov is currently playing for CSKA’s second team, which is a U21 squad. And the youngster is averaging 6.1 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in nearly 12 minutes a game. The Krasnoyarsk native has a phenomenally quick first step and is a very good shooter from both mid and long range. Ershov also has a good vertical leap and dunks easily. He still lacks aggressiveness on defense and spends most of his energy on offense.

### U18 Fenerbahce Istanbul: Ahmet Can Duran

Duran heads to Kaunas for his third ANGT. He averaged 7.3 points and 7.5 rebounds in Kaunas in 2015 as a 15-year-old and then collected 17.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.0 blocks last season at Kaunas for Fenerbahce. The 2.06-meter center also has become a staple for the Turkish youth national teams. He collected 12.0 points and 12.1 rebounds as Turkey grabbed third place at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2015 and then picked up 10.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists as the Turks reached the final in their FIBA U17 World Championship debut this summer. He followed that up with 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2016 in December. The Afyonkarahisar native has good court vision and excellent post moves. Despite lacking athleticism, Duran's basketball IQ enables him to be a difference-maker on the court. And despite his size, Duran's excellent hands and good sense of positioning makes him a good rebounder. Duran, who has been practicing with the Fenerbahce professional team this season, still needs to improve his conditioning to be successful at the next level. He also must improve his mid-range shot and free throw percentage.

### U18 Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt: Isaac Bonga

Bonga will be playing in his second ANGT after starring for Brose Bamberg last season at the ANGT L'Hospitalet, where he was named to the All-Tournament Team with 12.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals a game – despite not really knowing his teammates, since he was on loan to Bamberg for the tournament. The 2.03-meter guard also has played for Germany's youth national teams and averaged 8.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2015. He was due to be one of Germany's leaders at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2016 in December, but missed the tournament with a thigh injury. Bonga has already made his German BBL debut at 16 years of age with Frankfurt. The Koblenz native is one of Germany's biggest prospects. He has the potential to become an extraordinary guard. He has tremendous length and wingspan and could be a great rebounder at his position. Bonga also can play and defend multiple positions.

### U18 Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius: Domantas Vilys

Vilys is playing at his second ANGT after he averaged 0.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists for Lietuvos Rytas last season at the ANGT Finals in Berlin. The 1.89-meter guard, who turns 17 years old on the day the ANGT Kaunas tips off, has already made his debut with the Lithuanian youth national teams. This past summer he scored 2.7 points and had 1.3 assists as Lithuania grabbed third place at the FIBA U17 World Championship 2016. The native of Kupiskio Rajonas also averaged 11 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in helping Lithuania to a second placed finish at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2016. Vilys is quick and energetic and works hard. He has good smarts for a point guard his age, running the floor well while also possessing a good pull-up jumper. Vilys still must improve on his one-on-one defense and dribbling to the left side.

### U18 VEF Riga: Francis Lacis

Lacis will be playing at his first ANGT. The 1.98-meter forward has played for the Latvian youth national team, with whom he averaged 4.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2015. The Riga native is a wingman who can also play the power forward position. He possesses a decent spot-up jumper. Lacis has excellent athleticism and finishes well on the fast break. He also does a good job attacking the offensive glass. Lacis still must work on his pick-and-roll game and shooting off the dribble.

### U18 Zalgiris Kaunas: Ignas Sargiunas

Sargiunas will be playing his second ANGT after averaging 8.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.6 steals last season for Zalgiris, including 11.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 2.3 steals at the ANGT Finals. Sargiunas is also a leader for the Lithuanian youth national teams. After guiding Lithuania to the final of the FIBA U16 European Championship 2015 with 8.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists, the 1.93-meter guard averaged 13.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in helping Lithuania to a third place finish at the FIBA U17 World Championship. He then averaged 2.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in getting Lithuania to the final of the FIBA U18 European Championship 2016, earning qualification to this summer's FIBA U19 World Championship. The Kaunas native works hard and is a fighter who specializes in three-point shooting, but he's been adding a drive to the basket to his game. Sargiunas never gives up and isn't afraid of big shots. His defense is solid and he gives effort at that end of the court. He has played shooting guard mostly, but the club is trying to help him with his point guard skills too. Sargiunas needs to learn to control the team in order to not be too one dimensional, but instead more versatile.



ahmet-can-duran-u18-fenerbahce-istanbul-angt-kaunas-2016.jpeg

ignas-sargiunas-u18-zalgiris-kaunas-angt-kaunas-2016.jpeg

The biggest question going into the second stop on the 2016-17 EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT circuit is if anybody can beat ANGT Kaunas host U18 Zalgiris Kaunas. 

ANGT Kaunas preview: Zalgiris is the team to beat

The two-time U18 European champion Zalgiris has won the last four qualifying tournaments at Zalgirio Arena and has never lost while building up a 16-0 record at the Kaunas qualifiers in 2011-12, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16. The field in Kaunas from January 12 to 14 also includes three-time ANGT champion U18 CSKA Moscow, 2012 winner U18 Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius and 2010 champ U18 CFBB Paris, which won the title under the name U18 INSEP Paris. Also playing are 2012 ANGT finalist U18 Fenerbahce Istanbul, U18 VEF Riga, U18 Canarias Basketball Academy Las Palmas and U18 Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt.

The teams will play round-robin games in two groups with the group winners squaring off in the final on Saturday January 14. The winner of that game books its ticket to the ANGT Finals at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Istanbul from May 18 to 21, where they will join U18 FC Barcelona Lassa, which won the first qualifier ANGT Torneig de Bàsquet Junior Ciutat de L’Hospitalet.

Group A is topped by Lietuvos Rytas, which lost to Zalgiris in the 2015-16 Kaunas final and was awarded a wild card for the ANGT Finals in Berlin. Lietuvos Rytas lost out to VEF Riga in the Kaunas group stages the previous two seasons. In 2012-13, the Vilnius club knocked off Zalgiris in the final when the qualifying event was played in Siauliai and not Kaunas. In 2011-12, Lietuvos Rytas won the L'Hospitalet tournament en route to the ANGT title. CFBB finished third and fourth at the ANGT Kaunas in the last two seasons after falling to U18 Crvena Zvezda Belgrade in the ANGT Belgrade final in 2013-14. Fenerbahce went winless in Kaunas last season after finishing fourth there in 2014-15. In 2013-14, the Turkish club took fifth place in L'Hospitalet a season after losing in the ANGT Rome final. Fraport Skyliners will be making its ANGT debut.

Host and three-time ANGT Kaunas reigning champion Zalgiris tops Group B. Zalgiris has won 12 straight qualifying tournament games and 19 of the last 20 in the last five seasons - the only defeat being at the final in Siauliai in 2012-13. Zalgiris also has reached 12 of the 14 ANGT Finals to date and was continental champion of the first one, in 2003, and the fifth, in 2007. CSKA Moscow is the record champion with three crowns but its last title came in 2006 and its last appearance in the ANGT Finals was in 2007. CSKA finished sixth at ANGT Rome last season after not winning a game in Kaunas in 2014-15. The Russian club was 1-2 in Kaunas a season earlier after taking third place in Siauliai in 2012-13. VEF Riga went 1-2 last season in Kaunas after reaching the ANGT Kaunas final in 2013-14 and 2014-15 - both times losing to Zalgiris. After four straight ANGT Kaunas events of facing Lietuvos Rytas in the group stage, this season the Latvian side VEF will be in the opposite group with Zalgiris. CBA meanwhile is back in the competition after not playing last season. In 2014-15, the Spanish club finished fifth in Belgrade after a last-place showing in Belgrade a season before. CBA went 2-2 in Kaunas in 2011-12.

After the ANGT Kaunas, the competition takes a break until the ANGT Coin from February 10 to 12 in southern Spain. The final automatic berth in the ANGT Finals will be handed out at the ANGT Belgrade from February 24 to 26.

u18-zalgiris-kaunas-champ-angt-kaunas-2016-jt15.jpg

By helping U18 FC Barcelona Lassa beat U18 Divina Seguros Joventut Badalona in the 2016-17 ANGT Torneig de Bàsquet Junior Ciutat de L'Hospitalet final, Martinez has provided a bit of family revenge.

ANGT L'Hospitalet MVP gets brotherly revenge with win over Joventut

Sergi Martinez remembers the title game of the 2013 Euroleague Basketball ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Finals.

Martinez's older brother, David Martinez, was on the Barcelona team that faced Joventut in the 2013 ANGT finale in London and lost 82-59 in its second title bout after 2008's loss against U18 FMP.

David Martinez, who is three years older than Sergi, picked up 5 points, 1 rebounds and 2 assists, but it was not enough. And the younger brother felt just as bad.

"I remember exactly that game. I was with my mother and I said that if I play against Joventut that I would beat them. I will do it for my brother. And that is exactly what happened," Sergi Martinez said.

Martinez collected 4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in the ANGT L'Hospitalet final and ended up claiming MVP of the tournament for averaging 12.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals over the five-game weekend.

"It's really special for me to be MVP of this tournament," said Martinez, who had already left his mark with Barcelona last season. "It's a really good competition against really good players. This feeling is so good."

Despite playing a year younger, Martinez was one of the club's leaders at the ANGT Finals in Berlin last spring and picked up 17 points and 7 rebounds as Barcelona knocked off U18 Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade 90-82 in the title game to finally give the two-time Euroleague champion its first ANGT crown.

And that title actually came after a getting a wild card because Barcelona had lost to then-reigning continental champion Real Madrid in the ANGT L'Hospitalet final for the second straight season.

"I feel so good because last year I had a bad memory about the final we lost against Madrid. This year we played like a team, shared the ball, did everything we were supposed to and that helped us win," Martinez said. "But playing bad in the final helped us to be more motivated in Berlin and win the title."

Martinez piggy-backed the ANGT championship by playing extremely well at the FIBA U17 World Championship 2016 in the summer in Zaragoza, Spain, earning a spot on the All-Star Five as he collected 19.9 points and 12.9 rebounds.

But there was a bit of heartache for Martinez as Spain lost to Turkey in overtime in the semifinals and then also was defeated by Lithuania in the showdown for the third spot on the podium, leaving Martinez and Spain empty-handed in fourth place.

"That helped me improve my game and showed I need to train harder every day and be more intelligent and do what coach says. That made me better."

Barcelona head coach Alfred Julbe said it's a dream coaching Martinez.

"It's so easy to coach him. You don't have to say much. You say some things he needs to do and he does it," said Julbe, who coached Martinez in his first season with the Barcelona junior team in 2015-16 after making the jump from the club's cadets.

One of the predominant traits of Martinez's game is his versatility to play inside or outside and help out in a number of positions.

That came from Martinez playing football as a youngster until he was 9 years old.

"Football helped me with my sense of movement and footwork," said Martinez.

And actually Barcelona and its basketball fans have the older Martinez brother to thank that Sergi is racing up and down the hardwood scoring baskets and not on the football pitch hitting in goals.

"When my brother went to Barca, I went to watch the games and I liked it," said Sergi Martinez, who had played football for six years. When asked what David Martinez, who is currently playing with Spanish EBA side Barbera, told him before Sunday's L'Hospitalet final, Sergi said:

"He told me to be the best player you can be and play like you know, play with patience and play hard."

Sergi Martinez did just that while also getting a bit of family revenge on his way back to the ANGT Finals.

sergi-martinez-u18-fc-barcelona-lassa-angt-hospitalet-2017-jt16-photo-paco-largo.jpeg

U18 FC Barcelona Lassa forward Sergi Martinez was named the MVP of the Euroleague Basketball ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Qualifying Tournament - Torneig de Bàsquet Junior Ciutat de L’Hospitalet on Sunday. 

Martinez of U18 Barcelona named MVP in L'Hospitalet

Martinez collected 4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals to help Barcelona to a 74-58 victory over U18 Divina Seguros Joventut Badalona in the title game. Martinez averaged 12.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals in the five games in the tournament.

Joining Martinez on the All-Tournament Team were Pedro Barros of finalist Joventut, Pablo Fontanet of host team U18 Torrons Vicens L’Hospitalet, Toni Nakic of U18 Cedevita Zagreb and Georgios Kalaitzakis of U18 Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens. Kalaitzakis was unable to collect his award and Panathinakos captain Kostas Koufopoulos accepted it for him.

best-five-angt-hospitalet-2017-jt16-photo-paco-largo.jpeg

Spain has a rich history with Brazilian players coming over early in their careers and having major success.

Spain's history with Brazilians brings Barros to Joventut

And that is a major reason why Pedro Barros landed in España and is starring with U18 Divina Seguros Joventut Badalona at the first Euroleague Basketball ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT qualifying event.

Barros is flashing his excellent all-around game for Joventut, which won Group B of the ANGT Torneig de Bàsquet Junior Ciutat de L'Hospitalet with a 3-0 record. Barros has played a major role in that success, averaging 11.7 points, 4.3 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals a game for a PIR of 18.3 - second best in the tournament.

All that despite still being a year younger than the rest of the competition as the 2000-born guard doesn't turn 17 years until late in August.

And this is actually Barros' second ANGT as he collected 9.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals at ANGT L'Hospitalet in January 2016.

"That was a good experience. Now I am adjusted to the level of the tournament - more than last year. I wasn't acclimated. I was two years younger and my physique wasn't the best. I feel better now," Barros said.

"I feel more comfortable playing. I feel more comfortable with my team, too. I am more adapted to the team. I think it's a big difference from the first to the second year."

This is Barros's third season with Joventut. Spain's long tradition of developing young players, including many Brazilians, was the reason the Vitoria, Brazil native landed in Badalona. Barros came to Spain in 2013 for a visit and played in a tournament and then returned for good in September 2014.

"I came here because Spain is one of the best places for younger talent. And Joventut is one of the best here, too," said Barros, who was accompanied by his father for the first three months as a 14-year-old when he arrived.

"In the beginning it was very difficult. I was younger and felt the difficulties - with the language, the culture, the school, the game, the style. The basketball is a lot different than the Americas style. But I believe difficulties make you better," Barros said.

Barros said he started playing basketball at eight years of age "in a little club in Vitoria, just chilling."

He said he grew up watching Brazilian star and former EuroLeague champion Anderson Varejao, who arrived in Spain to play for Barcelona when Barros was just 2 years old in 2002.

"Anderson Varejao is my idol. He's from my city too and the same club. So he's my idol."

Barros knew if he worked hard he could have a chance for something great in Spain. It has worked after all for fellow Brazilians Varejao, Marcelinho Huertas, who started his European career with Joventut in 2004, Tiago Splitter, Lucas Nogueira, Raul Neto, Augusto Lima and 2016 ANGT L'Hospitalet MVP Felipe dos Anjos of Real Madrid.

Barros returned to South America the summer following his first season in Spain to play for the Brazilian national team at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship 2015 in Argentina. Despite being a year younger than the competition there, Barros collected 6.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.4 steals a game.

"When I went there I felt the difference that I had played the Americas style and the Spanish style. I was better at reading the game than I was before because they work on that a lot in Spain," said Barros, who only had one week of practice with the Brazilian team before the tournament.

Barros' big game came against Mexico in the 5-8 classification as he collected 16 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. He ended up helping Brazil to fifth place in that tournament.

Barros took that added confidence of playing on an international national team level into his second season with Joventut and had a very strong ANGT L'Hospitalet campaign last January. He collected 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals against U18 Real Madrid and his compatriot Felipe dos Anjos. And Barros added 12 points and 9 rebounds in the fifth place game.

With the national team experience and one year of the ANGT under his belt, Barros thinks his level is closer to that of the other players in the L'Hospitalet tournament.

"I improved my game and I think I can compete with my physicalness and skills. From last year to this year my level has grown up a lot. I'm closer to the other guys now," he said.

Barros's loud game has him well on his way to becoming another Brazilian in Spain for youngsters back home to take as a role model.

Georgios Kalaitzakis is like many young Greek basketball players who have grown up watching and idolizing the likes of Theo Papaloukas and Dimitris Diamantidis. 

Kalaitzakis draws from battles in practice with idol Diamantidis

Just like them, the 17-year-old Kalaitzakis wants to become a point guard who leads his teams to success, as he is trying to do this weekend for U18 Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens at the first Euroleague Basketball ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT quailfying event.

Kalaitzakis is one of his team's top leaders at the ANGT Torneig de Bàsquet Junior Ciutat de L'Hospitalet, where the six-time EuroLeague champion is making its debut in the competition.

"Panathinaikos is a big club. For us it's the first time to be here and it's a big thing for us to play here. All of the guys want to play in this great tournament," said Kalaitzakis, who was the Greens' leading scorer in the opening game, though his 24 points were not enough in a loss to U18 Cedevita Zagreb.

"It was my first game in this tournament. I tried to be aggressive in the first half and I played well and made some threes," said Kalaitzakis, who hit for 18 points in the first 20 minutes. "But in the second half I didn't have the same mentality and aggressiveness."

The Heraklion native flashed a dynamic skill-set that earned him a spot on the Greek team at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2016 in December, when he played with Vasileos Christidis and Michail Lountzis, who helped Greece win the U18 continental title in 2015.

"Those guys are great players and great guys. They won the U18 tournament in Volos (in 2015). They really helped me a lot. I was a year younger than them, so I tried to give my best when I was subbed into the game," said Kalaitzakis, who averaged 6.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists in about 15 minutes.

It was his second national team tournament after he played in the FIBA U16 European Championship 2015. But more importantly, the U18 tournament in Samsun bookended an eventful 2016 for Kalaitzakis, who turned 18 years old on January 2, 2017.

On February 18, 2016, the 1.98m guard celebrated his debut in the Greek League, playing 2 minutes against Arkadikos and picking up 3 points as he nailed a three-pointer and drew 1 foul.

"It was my first game in the league and I played thanks to the help of maybe the best player in the EuroLeague in Diamantidis. He helped me get into the game," said Kalaitzakis, who got to experience Diamantidis in practices during the legend's final season with Panathinaikos. "It really meant a lot."

Kalaitzakis was 12 years old when he started playing basketball in a small club in Heraklion on Crete. His favorite players to watch were Diamantidis and Papaloukas.

"They were point guards and I want to be a point guard. Also a two guard. I just want to get better every day," Kalaitzakis said.

Kalaitzakis grew up playing the game with his twin brother Panos Kalaitzakis, who plays with Greek side Aris Thessaloniki and got a chance to make his first-division debut this past December against Kymis.

"He's on the first team and plays more two-three, and I play more one-two. He's also a good player. I help him and he helps me," Kalaitzakis said. "He plays more without the ball and I play with the ball. That is the biggest difference. He's a big body, playing guard at 1.98 meters."

Georgios Kalaitzakis, who moved to Panathinaikos from Aris in 2016, says he still has a lot of things to do to improve his own game.

"I am working on my jump shot and my three-pointers. A lot of things. Also, I am trying to be more aggressive on defense and offense," he said.

Kalaitzakis' idol Diamanditis has retired from the game, meaning those battles in practice are over. But the 18-year-old now is close to getting those battles in games, starting with his leadership role at the ANGT L'Hospitalet.

georgios-kalaitzakis-u18-panathinaikos-superfoods-athens-angt-hospitalet-2017-jt16-photo-paco-largo.jpeg