Eurotrip 10/28/15: European Prospects to Watch

A round up of some of the younger talent in Europe with a focus on players in Spain, whether they are potential future draft picks, players whose rights are held by an NBA team and some who just might be good enough to make the jump.

*Ed’s note: T.P. Stockton will be providing weekly coverage of European prospects for The Lottery Mafia.

Without further ado let us begin with Juan ‘Juancho’ Hernangómez a Spanish power forward who plays for CB Estudiantes, one of the most historic teams in Spain. Estudiantes are based in Madrid, but are going through a rough patch. Although the side has never been relegated from the top Spanish division, they only avoided relegation in 2012 as the team to replace them in the league didn’t have the documentation required to play in the ACB. Their seasons since have been marginally better, and this one has been no different as they’ve lost all three games of the season thus far.

Despite his sides misfortunes, Hernangómez has impressed. The 20 year old scored 14 points (granted eight of them were free throws, but he did shoot 100% from the line) and seven rebounds in only 13 minutes at the weekend, and scored 11 points with another seven rebounds the week before.

If the name Hernangómez seems familiar to lottery buffs, it’s because his older brother Guillermo ‘Willy’ Hernangómez was selected in the second round of the 2015 NBA draft with the 35^th pick by the 76ers before they traded him to the Knicks for two future picks and cash considerations. The center stands at six feet, 10 inches and currently plays for Real Madrid who he performed well for at the weekend, scoring 12 points in 14 minutes with five rebounds, not to mention putting away 11 points in 12 minutes in the Euroleague last week.

Hernangómez isn’t quite as catchy as Gasol, and both brothers have a long way to go before showing that they are ready for the NBA let alone becoming household names. Willy is one to watch for Knicks fans while any Lottery teams should keep an eye on Juancho’s progress.

Willy’s Real Madrid team mate Luka Dončić is only 16 but is already seeing some minutes in the Euroleague and is showing some flair in the Spanish ACB where he had seven points and two rebounds in 11 minutes at the weekend and 10 points and four rebounds the week before. While this was against weaker competition, it’s not a bad performance for the 16 year old guard, and minutes in both the ACB and Euroleague should speed along his already impressive progress. A little on the young side, the Slovenian turns 17 in February, but he is certainly one to watch out for. Here he is with an impressive save and three in the Euroleague.

Luka Doncic sobre una pierna. ¡JUGÓN! pic.twitter.com/1HA2CnqyrQ

— EJDN (@juegodenaismith) October 22, 2015

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsIn the Eurocup 21 year old draft auto-eligible Dejan Todorović had 14 points in 16 minutes for Dominion Blibao Basket in a win over the German side Bonn last week. Some good numbers but after being disciplined for taking part in an in game brawl at a Basque derby match last season, Todorović will have to be consistent throughout the season to hold the attention of scouts state side. In the ACB he hasn’t been getting the minutes or numbers to do so thus far, but if the Serbian small forward can give a repeat performance in the Eurocup this week that would be expected to change. Boriša Simanić, another youngster at just 17 years old scored 10 points alongside four rebounds and two blocks for for Red Star Belgrade in a defeat last week against Real Madrid. The Serbian impressed in his début in the Euroleague and I would hope we see more from the power forward this week. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x70qnOuGHhI?rel=0]

Dragan Bender, a 17 year old 7 foot plus Croatian power forward with 9 points in his two Euroleague appearances this Season for Maccabi Tel Aviv already has hype with videos and articles of him doing the rounds throughout the summer. Already being touted as 2016’s Kristaps Porzingis by some and the next big thing by his own club. The hype all seems a bit much for now, since he isn’t even 18, but it’ll be interesting to see him during the season. The highlight video from Maccabi doesn’t really say much taking the competition into account. I’ll wait for a Euroleague breakout game before getting too excited… although who doesn’t love some fast break points: 

Drangan Bender ’97 – Maccabi Tel Avi Euroleague pic.twitter.com/f399HRLmKr — BPlayerAdvisor (@bplayeradvisor) October 23, 2015

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Another to watch this season is Tomáš Satoranský who is rumoured to be joining the Wizards for the 2016-17 season. The Czech guard was drafted 32^nd by Washington back in 2012 and has one year left on his contract in Barcelona. He’s yet to stun this season in either the Euroleague or the ACB, but it’s early days and the team as a whole in Barcelona has yet to hit its stride as they adjust to a roster shake up that had seven new players join the squad. Not to mention having a few young guns in Marc Garcia and Emir Sulejmanović on their B team looking to break into the squad.

The highlight of last week belongs to Mindgaus Kuzminskas who would rival the Greek Freak on the podium for names that give commentators trouble. The Lithuanian small forward went undrafted in 2011 and has played in Europe ever since, joining his current team Unicaja Malaga in 2013. He scored his career high last week against Euroleague Powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv with 23 points. Why would NBA teams be interested in someone who went undrafted almost five years ago? Well the 26 year old improved his stats in Unicaja after seeing increased minutes last season and is rumoured to be looking to join an NBA team next summer. At this point it’s nothing more than hot air and as is the case with most players in this round up, there’s a long season ahead of them to see if they’re ready to make the leap across the Atlantic.