The FIBA Under-18 European Championship Division A is in the books, with Serbia clinching its first title since 2009 by beating Spain in the final game. Dozens of NBA scouts and college coaches congregated in the steamy Hant Arena to take in the proceedings.
After nine days of play in Bratislava, Slovakia, let's take a look at the top 10 draft prospects, led by an incoming college freshman.
The 1999-born European class is considered a fairly weak group by NBA standards, and it didn't help the prestige of the event by losing out on many of the elite prospects such as Luka Doncic, Dzanan Musa, Jaylen Hoard and others due to a variety of reasons.
NBA scouts assembled in Slovakia had a difficult time pointing to even one player at this event who is a sure-fire first-round pick or even a longtime NBA player, which is unprecedented considering no less than 33 players participating at the U18 As have been drafted in the first round in the past 10 years.
For a league that is increasingly reliant on foreign talent, this has to be considered somewhat of a concern coming off a 2017 NBA draft in which only three international players were picked in the first round, the lowest figure since 2010.
This group blended together quite a bit in Bratislava, making it very difficult to rank and parse out exactly who the elite prospects are.
1. Olivier Sarr | C | France/Wake Forest
Playing his first games in nearly a year after sitting out the season due to lingering knee issues caused by a severely late growth spurt, Sarr didn't have a dominant showing. But he displayed why he's easy to pencil into a future NBA rotation with his excellent physical tools and coveted skill set.
Now standing around 7 feet tall with a lanky frame that should fill out nicely over time, Sarr is an extremely long and mobile athlete who covers ground exceptionally and plays with impressive energy. He grew up as a guard but sprouted up in the past two years. Sarr retains some of the skills he possessed as a perimeter player, flashing passing ability and a nice-looking shooting stroke -- even from beyond the 3-point line -- that can likely be harnessed into a weapon in time.
Sarr's combination of soft hands, athleticism, length and improved motor are requisite skills from new-age big men in the NBA, even if his underdeveloped frame suggests it will take at least a few years before he'll be able to put that to use at the professional level. He impressed running rim to rim intensely while garnering 2.6 blocks, 1.8 steals and 12 rebounds per 40,
Sarr will get to work with one of the top big-man coaches in all of college basketball in Danny Manning, playing in a Wake Forest rotation that lost both incumbent starters in John Collins and Dinos Mitoglou to the professional ranks. He'll be tested early in the ultra-competitive ACC, but has the talent to emerge as an intriguing NBA prospect down the road.
2. Marko Simonovic | PF/C | Montenegro/Siena [A2 Italy]
Having played in Division B last year and being hidden below the radar in Italy's obscure U18 and U20 youth divisions, Simonovic was a fairly unknown commodity for NBA scouts going into this event.
That changed quickly once NBA scouts were able to see just how high his skill level is for a 6-11 big man. He knocked down 10 of 18 3-point attempts in eight games, shot an outstanding 68 percent from 2-point range, regularly pushed the ball up the floor off the defensive glass and showed impressive ballhandling skills, passing acumen and finishing touch off the glass.
Simonovic's ability to pick-and-pop, find the short-roll man on the move, slip screens or hit pull-up jumpers gave his team unlimited solutions in the pick-and-roll, something that has to be considered extremely attractive in today's game.
He also showed glimpses of being able to step out onto the perimeter defensively, giving him a really nice package of versatility teams increasingly covet from their big men.
On the downside, Simonovic still has a ways to go before he'll be able to put all these skills together in a consistent way against grown men. His motor, awareness and consistency really fluctuated from game to game, especially against the better competition he matched up with in Bratislava. He was terrorized in the post by the far more physical 7-footer Berke Atar in a telling matchup with Turkey, being unable to put a body on him in the post. He's somewhat stuck between the 4 and 5 defensively at the moment and could stand to get a little tougher both physically and mentally, which is likely partially a product of his lack of experience playing at this level.
Simonovic recently signed a two-year contract with Siena in Italy's second division, which will be a nice step up in competition. With Siena, he tested against professionals in a league that isn't considered too stringent for a somewhat skinny 18-year-old to earn minutes. NBA scouts should continue to monitor his progress, as he has very intriguing qualities that could be harnessed into an impressive package over time.
3. Berke Atar | C | Turkey/Banvit (TBL)
Atar emerged as arguably the most skilled post-player at this event, scoring 22.7 points per 40 minutes and shooting 61 percent from the field while getting to the free throw line 8.9 times. He lost steam toward the end, putting up his two worst games of the tournament in the semifinals and third-place game, but he still impressed with the progress he has made with his physical development and skill level.
Atar moves extremely well for a 7-footer, gliding up and down the floor fluidly. He can get deep post position almost at will at this level and showcased polished footwork and body control, slithering around defenders and finishing with nifty scoop shots and hooks using either hand. He gravitates toward the ball coming off the offensive glass and corrals rebounds at a strong rate thanks to his instincts and soft hands. The game comes very easily for Atar, which is both a blessing and a curse, as he has a reputation for not always playing up to his talent level, something he seems to be making progress with over the past year or so.
The NBA game has been gradually moving away from traditional post-players in Atar's mold, so he will be challenged to develop his pick-and-roll defense, become a better passer, improve his motor and possibly add some range outside of the paint, which would make his transition to the pro game easier. Atar was being recruited by a number of high-level NCAA programs but elected to re-sign with Turkish league finalists Banvit and should have a role there next season in the EuroCup and TBL, where NBA teams will continue to monitor his progress.
4. Filip Petrusev | PF | Serbia/Montverde Academy (U.S.)
Petrusev was utilized in a backup role but nonetheless flashed intriguing two-way potential for U18 champions Serbia. He sat out all of this past season with a stress fracture and played up a year as a 2000-born prospect.
Fluid and agile for a 6-11 big man, Petrusev covers ground extremely well, particularly on the defensive end, where he impressed with his ability to step out onto the perimeter and recover for well-timed blocks. He also has a high skill level offensively, with polished footwork, soft touch, developing ballhandling ability and shooting range extending out to the 3-point line. He needs to continue to get stronger, tougher and more explosive around the basket, but it's difficult to find players his size who can play both the power forward and center positions on both ends of the floor.
Currently not ranked by any of the major services, Petrusev will play out his senior year at prestigious Montverde Academy in Florida and is likely to shoot up recruiting boards once more people in the States get eyes on him. It wouldn't be surprising at all to see him start to get offers from some of the NCAA's biggest programs, as he stacks up very well with many of his peers in the 2018 big-man class.
5. Alexander Shashkov | PF | Russia/Helios Domzale (Slovenia)
Shashkov had a very up-and-down tournament after winning MVP at the 2016 U16 European Championship Division B, struggling with consistency on a team that clearly lacked chemistry and cohesiveness.
Nevertheless, Shashkov impressed with his long-term potential, standing 6-10 with an excellent frame, good mobility and a high skill level for a player his size. He is a capable outside shooter, solid ball-handler and quick off his feet for finishes, giving him a nice offensive package to build around. It's rare to see physically gifted 17-year-olds who can attack a closeout, create out of isolation, find the open man on the move and shoot a midrange pull-up jumper with good mechanics.
With that said, Shashkov still has a long ways to go to put everything together as a prospect. His shooting stroke tends to break down when he isn't catching and shooting in rhythm, something that didn't happen that often on a team that severely lacked ball movement and team play. His feel for the game is still a work in progress, as he lacks experience and doesn't quite know how to utilize his talent in an efficient manner, making questionable decisions, struggling to finish through contact and having a difficult time finding a position to defend effectively. He's very upright in his stance defensively, getting lost off the ball frequently in pick-and-roll situations and not being the shot-blocking or rebounding presence you might expect. He also tends to get in his own head a bit, not quite being a "next play" guy and struggling at times with adversity.
Shashkov will play in the Slovenian first division next season, along with fellow Russian national team member Aleksandr Sinebabnov, giving him a first taste of professional basketball in a comfortable setting in which he can develop at his own pace.
6. Marko Pecarski | PF | Serbia
The son of Marist alum Miroslav Pecarski, 17-year-old Marko Pecarski was a force at the FIBA youth level for the third consecutive summer, averaging 23.1 points and 15.1 rebounds per 40 despite playing up a year, helping Serbia win the European Championship for the first time since 2009.
Pecarski is a physically mature big man who scored prolifically from all over the floor, bullying weaker players with his back to the basket, knocking down a handful of 3-pointers and throwing in smooth, turnaround jumpers out of the post. Despite not being particularly long or explosive, Pecarski is an outstanding rebounder who gravitates naturally toward the ball with soft hands and excellent instincts.
Somewhat of a throwback big man, Pecarski's biggest challenge in transitioning to higher levels of basketball will come on the defensive end, where he really struggles to bend his knees, move his feet and contain opponents both on the perimeter and inside the paint, often looking highly indifferent. He's a little bit of a tweener, since he's not much of a rim protector and doesn't have the ability to guard pick-and-rolls or quicker big men at a high level. Improving as a passer will also be a priority.
Pecarski's scoring and rebounding instincts will bode well moving forward, reminding some scouts of Domantas Sabonis, but he'll have to round out the rest of his game as the competition stiffens. Pecarski is being recruited by a number of high-level NCAA programs but also hasn't ruled out the possibility of continuing to play in Europe at the professional level. He is rumored to be joining Adriatic League team Partizan Belgrade next season but will need to settle his contract with Bayern Munich, where he moved to midseason last year after leaving Serbian prospect factory Mega Leks.
7. Yusuf Sanon | SG | Ukraine
One of the best stories to come out of this championship was the emergence of Ukrainian combo guard Yusuf Sanon, a complete unknown even in his home country prior to this event. Sanon's father was an exchange student from Burkina Faso in West Africa who met and married a local in college and settled down in Donetsk on the Russian-Ukrainian border. Marred in conflict since the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, Donetsk is now considered disputed territory that seceded from the rest of the country and has no official status politically, according to the U.N.
Sanon was forced to move west to Dnipro and only recently received official documentation required to play internationally for the Ukraine, making his FIBA debut at this tournament.
Standing 6-4 with a strong frame, long arms and impressive athleticism, Sanon brought an unpredictable energy to every game. He plays with huge confidence and swagger, attacking the rim relentlessly, changing speeds ferociously, dunking on opponents repeatedly and pulling up wildly for 3-pointers, many of which he made. He also blocked shots, rebounded and got in the passing lanes at an impressive rate. He looked completely out of control at times, wearing his heart on his sleeve while breaking down in tears after one of Ukraine's many heartbreaking losses, but also improved considerably as the tournament moved on, seemingly learning on the fly how to compete at this level.
Many scouts found him to be far too wild and unstable for their own taste, but those who watched him appreciated the incredible passion he demonstrated in every moment on the court. His team was hopelessly overmatched and almost certainly would have been relegated to Division B if it weren't for his exploits.
Sanon's talent is undeniable, and if he's able to harness his boundless intensity, improve his feel for the game, work on his body language and let the game come to him a bit more, he has real NBA potential. He has a natural touch and feel for the game, the athleticism to be a real playmaker on both ends of the floor and the ability to throw the ball in the basket from extreme vantage points that simply can't be taught.
Sanon graduated from high school this past spring and is reportedly considering a move to the U.S. to play college basketball. Junior college could be his best option to end up at the Division 1 level, where he would almost certainly become a fan favorite. Sanon has perhaps the longest and most complex path to reaching the NBA of anyone on this list, but he is one of the more unique prospects to come out of this event in some time.
8. Georgios Kalaitzakis | PG/SG/SF | Greece/Panathinaikos
Georgios Kalaitzakis had a breakout tournament at the U18s, showcasing impressive physical tools and long-term talent that will certainly have NBA scouts monitoring his long-term progress. Standing 6-7 with a 7-foot wingspan to go along with smooth athleticism, Kalaitzakis has prototypical tools to play any of the three backcourt positions in the NBA and shows a lot of versatility with his ability to dribble, pass and shoot.
Kalaitzakis loves to push the ball in the open court but also shows promise as a creator in the half court out of pick-and-roll sets, using nifty change of speeds and the threat of his pull-up jumper. He can also make shots with his feet set, hitting 12 3-pointers in seven games in Slovakia, giving him the ability to play either on or off the ball and in different lineup configurations, which is coveted in modern basketball. That translates to the defensive end, where Kalaitzakis spent time guarding anywhere from 1 to 3 while crashing the glass and getting in the passing lanes frequently.
The next step in Kalaitzakis' development will be to become a more efficient player in terms of improving his shooting percentages (48 percent on 2s, 30 percent on 3s, 64 percent on free throws) while cutting down on turnovers and becoming a better decision-maker. He lacks polish in everything he does, and there are question marks about whether he will find the minutes and freedom playing for Greek/Euroleague powerhouse Panathinaikos to work through his mistakes and gain the experience he needs in the next few years.
9. Muhaymin Mustafa | SF | Turkey/Anadolu Efes
Turkish wing Muhaymin Mustafa has become a much more interesting prospect from the last time we saw him at the FIBA U17 World Championship in the summer of 2016. He has shot up about 2 inches in the past year while also improving his frame and becoming significantly more athletic in the process. The son of Sudanese parents who came to Turkey by way of Northern Cyprus, Mustafa is blessed with superior physical tools but was able to benefit from strong coaching and facilities in basketball-crazed Turkey.
Mustafa shows multi-positional defensive versatility with his quick feet and 6-10 wingspan, spending time guarding anywhere from point guard to power forward at the U18s. He can get in the passing lanes, rotates for blocks occasionally and shows just enough potential offensively to suggests he's on his way to becoming an intriguing wing prospect, the type of which are increasingly difficult to find in today's NBA.
Mustafa is a good shooter in rhythm who can also make jumpers off the bounce, while also being a fairly solid passer in the half court. His ballhandling skills are a work in progress and he lacks experience in a serious way, which sometimes leads to poor decision making, but he has a very nice framework of skills to build off considering his physical tools.
Mustafa recently signed a contract with Turkish Euroleague team Anadolu Efes and will likely be on the first team roster when the season starts. His ability to defend multiple positions could allow him to carve out a small role off the bench, but he might also see time in the second division with affiliate club Pertevniyal.
10. Sergi Martinez | PF | Spain/Barcelona
Making his fifth appearance in a FIBA youth competition despite only recently turning 18 years old, Sergi Martinez could very well be the most experienced and productive player in the 1999 age group at the FIBA level. He again helped his Spanish national team overachieve by making the championship game, while again earning a spot on the All-Tournament team. While he doesn't fit into any prototypical box NBA scouts typically look for in traditional prospects, at some point you have to take into account the tremendous résumé Martinez has put together over the years and admire what he's been able to achieve.
It helps that Martinez has grown from a 6-6 combo forward to 6-9 and also has a 6-11 wingspan and a ripped 225 pound frame. He's an unconventional player who loves to go to work with his back to the basket, push the ball in the open floor and gamble in the passing lanes. He rarely shoots 3s, which is something he'll almost certainly need to change to transition his game to the pro level, but his shooting stroke isn't terrible and it appears to be something he's improving.
Martinez is under contract with Euroleague Spanish club FC Barcelona, a place where he'll likely have difficulty seeing minutes at early on, especially with his current style of play. He'll also see playing time at Barcelona B in the second division (LEB Gold). There is value in players with his scoring instincts and aggressiveness, so it will be interesting to monitor how his perimeter shooting, defense and passing ability evolve.
Honorable Mention: Balsa Koprivica (Windermere Academy/Serbia), Nikola Miskovic (Mega Bemax/Serbia), Arnas Velicka (Barcelona/Lithuania), Lukas Uleckas (Zalgiris/Lithuania), Aleksandr Ershov (CSKA Moscow/Russia)