Lithuanian U20 NT 2009

[Straight forward]

The head coach: Rimvydas SAMULĖNAS

Candidates:

1. Žygimantas JANAVIČIUS 1989 | 193 cm
2. Šarūnas VASILIAUSKAS 1989 | 190 cm
3. Adas JUŠKEVIČIUS 1989 | 191 cm
4. Simas BUTERLEVIČIUS 1989 | 197 cm
5. Vytenis LIPKEVIČIUS 1989 | 200 cm
6. Vaidas ČEPUKAITIS 1989 | 205 cm
7. Donatas MOTIEJŪNAS 1990 | 214 cm
8. Arvydas GYDRA 1989 | 206 cm
9. Mindaugas KUZMINSKAS 1989 | 205 cm
10. Tautvydas ŠLEŽAS 1990 | 207 cm
11. Tomas MILINSKAS 1990 | 198 cm
12. Rokas JUKONIS 1990 | 193 cm
13. Evaldas KAIRYS 1990 | 207 cm
14. Gediminas BERTAŠIUS 1990 | 196 cm
15. Marius ZIMNICKAS 1990 | 197 cm

The aims: 1-6.

Personally for me U20 team is the most interesting. Many well known players and some interesting questions like: who will be the main guy on PG position? Usually It's Janavičius. Will Motiiejūnas join the team after U19? Who will fill Gecevičius' place? I hope a bigger role for Juškevičius.

[LuDux]

Zimnickas, born 1990, 3.4 ppg for 12th NKL team
Jukonis, born 1990, 4.3 ppg for 5th NKL team
Orelikas, born 1990, 15,8 ppg for NKL finalist (4th in regular season)

[auris1]

Zimnickas, born 1990, 3.4 ppg for 12th NKL team
Jukonis, born 1990, 4.3 ppg for 5th NKL team
Orelikas, born 1990, 15,8 ppg for NKL finalist (4th in regular season)

What’s your point?
That Orelikas deserves more to be in NT?
Not that I know any of players personally

[Straight forward]

Zimnickas, born 1990, 3.4 ppg for 12th NKL team
Jukonis, born 1990, 4.3 ppg for 5th NKL team
Orelikas, born 1990, 15,8 ppg for NKL finalist (4th in regular season)

Orelikas is the candidate to U19, no surprise here. Maybe, Samulėnas thinks that he's not so good that he could play both U19 and U20 (like Motiejūnas). Maybe he'll prove him wrong. Not every player can come any day to the team and to make a difference. That's why Motiejūnas so special :p

What would you pick for starting five at the moment? I would:

PG Janavičius or Vasiliauskas (depends on opponent, they both are equally talanted and I don't like Krapikas' attitude at the moment).
SG Adas Juškevičius (He can shoot very well, just needs more confidence and insolence)
SF Mindaugas Kuzminskas (I think he deserved that. He's mobile enough for SF and has some athleticism that will help the team).
PF Tautvydas Šležas (Not sure about that. It would be great to see Čepukaitis at his best).
C: Donatas Motiejūnas (If he's available for all tournament than this position is locked).

I think pretty nice team, huh?

PS: Looking to the squat IMHO it lacks a sharp shooters a little. Last year we had a killing player here (Gecevičius), now except Juškevičius and don't see really strong options.