The Division A section of the U18 European Championship is considered the highlight of the summer for international scouts, media and fans, as it has a rich history of showcasing the top prospects in Europe right before they graduate from the junior to the senior level of basketball -- just as most them become NBA draft eligible for the first time. A total of 107 players have been drafted from this event since 2000, making it one of the most fruitful tournaments scouts can attend to evaluate a large number of NBA prospects. Some of the more recognizable names have included Kristaps Porzingis, Tony Parker, Marc Gasol and Rudy Gobert.
This year's A division, hosted in Ventspils, Liepaja and Riga, Latvia, was won by Serbia (for the second year in a row).
Here's our look at the top 10 NBA prospects from the tournament.
1. Luka Samanic | PF | Croatia | Age: 18.5
A lottery-level talent, Samanic had a highly productive tournament, averaging 17 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting 47 percent from 3. Still, there was somewhat of a feeling of disappointment in his performance relative to the very high expectations that resulted in a 2-4 record with him in action and quite a bit of inconsistency.
Samanic's frame continues to evolve nicely, to the point that there really shouldn't be any concerns with how he fills out long-term, despite weighing just 210 pounds this past January. Although he's not the longest player (7-foot wingspan) relative to his height (6-10 barefoot), his length is more than adequate considering his wing-like perimeter skill and the fact that he's a very good athlete. Samanic is fluid and quick off his feet, and he can rise up emphatically for two-handed dunks. The most encouraging part of the tournament seemed to be the evolution of Samanic's jump shot, which is making progress. A career 31 percent 3-point shooter in 87 games in our database, Samanic shoots an easy ball with extreme confidence in his stroke. He can create his own shot from the perimeter and is a very good passer with a solid feel for the game.
Defensively, Samanic wasn't consistent but showed nice flashes, particularly with the way he switched out onto guards and wings and moved his feet on the perimeter. Playing quite a bit of small-ball center, Samanic impressed with the way he covered ground and changed opponents' shots around the basket -- and there's a case to be made that he might end up playing a decent amount at that position as his frame fills out.
Though Samanic shows impressive physical tools and versatility, he's far from realizing his potential or playing consistent and efficient basketball. His approach changes dramatically, alternating between being extremely aggressive to playing passively and with a disappointing lack of toughness, both physically and mentally. He allows himself to get posted up with ease, doesn't finish around the basket as well as you'd hope and is very turnover prone at times because of his shaky decision-making and the ease with which he can get stripped en route to the basket. Samanic loses his focus easily and is constantly talking to teammates and coaches, sometimes in the middle of possessions to demonstrate his displeasure.
There's no doubting Samanic's talent, long-term upside and fit in the modern game, and NBA teams will undoubtedly continue to monitor his progression this season as he embarks on a new adventure, having left Barcelona (and his previous agent) for Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia. Samanic probably will have a good role in the Adriatic League, which should be great for his development. Samanic was easily the best prospect at this event and the No. 2 international in the 2019 NBA draft at the moment after Sekou Doumbouya.
2. Arturs Zagars | PG | Latvia | 18.2
The star of the Latvian team that captivated the home crowd before bowing out in the championship game, Zagars played about as well as you could have expected, particularly with his exhilarating 35-point, 7-assist performance in the semifinal.
Zagars doesn't look like much on first glance, weighing just 167 pounds, but he's as skilled, smart, creative and confident of a teenager as you'll find anywhere. Watching him play was one of the clear-cut highlights in Latvia.
Zagars is a wizard with the ball, operating at different speeds with phenomenal footwork and pace, allowing him to get anywhere he wants on the floor. He controls the game with incredible poise and feel, doing a great job of blending scoring with passing, while having the ability to pull up off the dribble with deep range and tremendous confidence in the blink of an eye, knocking down 44 percent of his 3s. Though he's not the strongest or longest player, he finds ways to score inside the paint with Euro steps, floaters, reverse finishes and off-hand layups high off the glass. Things probably will be a little more difficult for him as the competition stiffens, but the fact that he is 6-3 in shoes and such a good shooter bodes well for his chances.
Defensively, Zagars has some physical limitations but is quick, pesky, smart and extremely competitive. It's rare to see a player his age demonstrate such poise and feel, and that's why it's very difficult to bet against him realizing his dream of playing in the NBA. Zagars probably will need to show that his game translates to the senior levels first before he makes the jump to the NBA, something that might not be that easy considering how close the Spanish team that owns his rights (Joventut) was to being relegated last year. Nevertheless, it's very likely that he will be drafted eventually once he (and his agent, Janis Porzingis, Kristaps' brother) feels it's time to take the next step.
3. Nikita Mikhailovskii | SG/SF | Russia | 17.8
Mikhailovskii continued his rapid ascension, going from never being invited to the Russian national squad for an official FIBA event to the best player on a U18 team that finished in fourth place and earned a spot in next year's U19 World Championship. Mikhailovskii was able to carve out a minor role this past season with VTB League squad Saratov, which probably helped his progression considerably, and at 6-8 in shoes with impressive fluidity and shot-creation prowess, it's not hard to consider the lanky wing a legit NBA prospect with the way he's progressing.
Mikhailovskii is at his best with the ball in his hands, and he ended up taking on much of the ballhandling duties from Russia's underwhelming guards as the tournament progressed. He's really crafty in pick-and-roll and isolation situations, utilizing advanced dribble moves, crafty footwork, Euro steps, floaters and wrong-foot finishes to split ball screens, get inside the paint, draw fouls and finish aggressively despite his lack of strength and length. Mikhailovskii's jumper is a work in progress in terms of consistency, but he makes enough to leave room for optimism, especially considering how good he is from the free throw line (81 percent on 180-plus attempts).
A capable passer, Mikhailovskii can find the open man when the defense rotates, but he's wired to score and can make questionable decisions with the ball in his hands. Defense isn't Mikhailovskii's strength at the moment. It's an area he'll have to improve on considerably to make a real case as an NBA player, as his thin 181-pound frame and negative wingspan certainly don't do him any favors. He could stand to improve his body language and attitude around teammates as well. Mikhailovskii will stay in Saratov for the time being and probably will try to make the jump to the NBA from there in the next few years. If his frame, defense and jumper continue to progress, he'll certainly have a good case for himself.
4. Karlton Dimanche | PG | France | 18.4
Making his first appearance in a French national team jersey at a FIBA event, Dimanche made up for lost time by taking the reins and helping the team to a third-place finish, looking like the best long-term prospect on the squad. Much of that has to do with his physical tools, standing over 6-5 in shoes with a long wingspan, terrific frame and impressive athleticism, looking every bit the part of a future NBA player on first glance.
Dimanche's actual performance was a little more of a mixed bag, as he's an inconsistent decision-maker and a poor outside shooter (career 26 percent on 3s, 61 percent on FTs), and he clearly lacks quite a bit of high-level experience. With that said, Dimanche showed enough flashes to keep you interested. He changes speeds forcefully, beating opponents off the dribble without a screen thanks to his excellent first step. He makes an effort to move the defense and find open teammates cutting or spotting up with budding unselfishness and feel, plus he's physical attacking the rim in the open court and finishing over opponents. His shooting mechanics actually aren't terrible, and he's an absolute bulldog on defense who led the tournament in steals and also grabbed a ton of rebounds. The fact that he's big, strong and long enough to defend 2s and 3s is very intriguing.
5. Filip Petrusev | PF/C | Serbia | 18.3
Petrusev played an essential role in Serbia winning the championship, averaging 21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.3 blocks while shooting an efficient 61 percent from the field and 80 percent from the line, earning a spot on the all-tournament team. He appears to have added some bulk, particularly his upper body, and looked tougher and more aggressive operating inside the paint than he has in the past, playing quite a bit of bully ball and anchoring Serbia's defense with his excellent combination of mobility, intensity and smarts.
Petrusev is a highly unselfish passer who moves the ball purposefully, excelling in short-roll situations. He finishes with very good footwork and creativity around the basket, and seemingly has no problem playing a secondary role, always looking poised and under control with everything he does. Typically known as a very good shooter, Petrusev appeared somewhat reluctant to take some of the open jumpers that were presented to him over the course of the tournament, although his excellent shooting mechanics, soft touch and the success he has found in the past from beyond the arc leave plenty of room for optimism regarding how he might develop his 3-point shot in time.
Defensively, Petrusev still needs to continue to add strength and isn't blessed with elite length (measuring a 6-11 wingspan recently). Nevertheless, he moves his feet extremely well and has outstanding timing rotating for blocks and going up vertical around the basket. His fluidity and lateral quickness really shined when he was asked to switch out on pick-and-rolls on the perimeter. He's in an ideal place to continue to develop his body, perimeter shooting and defensive versatility at Gonzaga, and his basketball IQ, skill level and mentality should help him find a spot in the NBA eventually.
6. Kenny Baptiste | SF/PF | France | 18.5
Baptiste played a minor role off the bench for France but still projects as one of the top long-term prospects. He has a tremendous physical profile, standing around 6-8 with a terrific frame, long arms and impressive athleticism to go along with a budding skill set on both ends of the floor. Though raw, Baptiste shows some ability to operate with the ball, with good footwork, impressive body control and nice creativity as a finisher. Although he's far from a consistent shooter, he looks able to develop this part of his game, particularly from the corners. Defensively, he has significant potential as a multipositional stopper against guards, wings and forwards alike, with a competitive nature, excellent lateral quickness and the ability to get in the passing lanes and make plays at the rim.
Baptiste is still an unpolished prospect, especially considering his frame. His offensive game is a major work in progress, and he shied away from taking open jumpers as the games gained importance. His lack of experience was evident at times, as he wasn't a particularly productive player even in the fairly weak Espoirs league this past season in France. Baptiste hasn't been playing organized basketball that long, and he's probably on a different development curve than most of the prospects here, which is something to keep in mind long-term.
7. Sasha Grant | SF/PF | Italy | 16.4
The youngest player at this event as the lone 2002-born prospect, Grant was not overly productive or efficient but has obvious tools and potential that justify his inclusion on Italy's roster.
Standing around 6-7 with a huge wingspan, massive hands and a chiseled frame, it's easy to see what makes Grant a prospect at first glance. He doesn't appear to have reached his full athletic potential, being more fluid than explosive, but he finds ways to contribute (mostly at the 4).
Grant's role for Italy was to switch on everything defensively, crash the glass and be opportunistic offensively. His shooting stroke shows potential but is far from consistent at this stage, as he dips the ball below his waist on the catch and doesn't appear to shoot the same way, sometimes bending his knees deeply. He's mostly a straight-line driver who struggles to create space in the half court even when operating against power forwards. He seems to show a solid feel and isn't lacking for confidence in his offensive game, hinting at nice things to come as he continues to add polish and experience.
Grant shows tremendous potential defensively, as he's strong enough to put a body on almost any big man and still agile enough to switch onto guards and wings, sliding his feet to stay in front and showing a huge contesting radius on the perimeter with his massive wingspan.
Grant was quickly earmarked by NBA scouts and will surely be monitored to see how he progresses before he finally becomes draft eligible in three years.
8. Rokas Jokubaitis | PG | Lithuania | 17.7
Jokubaitis had a productive showing as the engine for his team, confirming his place as one of the better young guard prospects in Europe. He towers over most of his counterparts, looking close to 6-5 at this stage with a chiseled frame. An old school PG, he's a natural facilitator who runs the show, executes offensively and loves to get teammates open looks, demonstrating impressive unselfishness and creativity. He's a highly competitive defender as well, capable of guarding either backcourt spot thanks to his size and strength, even if he's not blessed with a long wingspan.
Jokubaitis isn't the most fluid or explosive shot creator and ball handler, as he relies heavily on his size, strength and basketball IQ, making it difficult for him to create efficient offense at times. He plays at one speed largely and isn't going to blow anyone away with his ability to push the ball in transition or get to the free throw line in the half court. Jokubaitis shoots an ugly jumper, with his elbow flailing out, but he made enough to keep the defense honest, often just rising up over defenders and throwing in midrange pullups -- something that is a little tough to buy long-term, as he tends to fling the ball at the basket with a fairly mechanical stroke.
Since he's not a clear fit in today's NBA, Jokubaitis probably will have to prove his mettle at the senior level (or against Americans) to maximize his draft stock. His leadership and poise are impressive considering he's yet to turn 18, though, and he could endear himself to scouts as his career progresses.
9. Marko Pecarski | PF/C | Serbia | 18.4
The MVP of the tournament, Pecarski helped form a devastating big-man combo with Filip Petrusev, as the two close friends destroyed small-ball lineups with terrific chemistry. Pecarski averaged a ridiculous 25 points, 11 rebounds and 2.3 assists in just 27 MPG, shooting an ultra-efficient 57 percent from 2 and 44 percent from 3.
Pecarski has always been an incredibly instinctive offensive player, as he's blessed with a great knack for sniffing out easy baskets and can also shoot 3s, put the ball on the floor and go to work in the post. Plus, he got to the free throw line nine times. He has excellent body control, footwork and touch around the basket to go along with his polished skill level.
Though Pecarski has always been a dominant player at the junior levels, there are some questions about how his production will translate to the professional ranks. He is not blessed with great physical tools, measuring 6-9 without shoes with a narrow 215-pound frame and a 6-10 wingspan. Pecarski's frame hasn't changed much since he first burst onto the scene and he isn't a great athlete, as he plays the game somewhat hunched over on the defensive end, struggling to bend his knees, not covering ground particularly well and lacking much in the way of quickness or explosiveness. Pecarski really struggled when forced to switch out onto guards or wings on the perimeter, getting burned off the bounce a few times and not showing great intensity getting back into plays.
Pecarski played about 350 minutes of pro ball last season with Partizan in the EuroCup, Adriatic and Serbian leagues, and he's likely to see an uptick in playing time this year. Though he's probably skilled, smart and versatile enough to carve out a role at the NBA level on offensive, his limitations defensively might prevent him from really making it unless he can find a way to substantially improve.
10. Deividas Sirvydis | SF | Lithuania | 18.1
Having grown to almost 6-9 with a nice frame, Sirvydis has great size for a small forward with good fluidity and versatility. He didn't play the biggest role for Lithuania, mostly sticking to what he does best -- making shots at a very high level, hitting 45 percent of his 3s. More than just a one-dimensional spot-up shooter, Sirvydis can handle the ball a bit as well, either to find the open man or make pull-up jumpers confidently with a low release. He has a high basketball IQ and is a very competitive player, never shying away from the moment.
Despite his terrific size, Sirvydis has very little length to speak of, with a negative wingspan that might make it difficult for him to get much time as a face-up 4 in smaller lineups. He'll have to become a more consistent defender (which he shows sparks of at times) to prove that this won't be a deal-breaker, but overall it's tough not to like his approach and offensive ability.