Lithuanian talents.

[vaslover]

Guys, how did the american scouts estimate Kupsas' basketball development in training camp? Whether he has a chance to be chosen on 2012 NBA Draft?

[macleopard13]

He's still very raw. I don't see him playing more than 8 minutes per match in the NBA. He's definitely not as good as Valanciunas or Motiejunas. But if he improves, he could be a future NT contributor .

[sagenas]

Guys, how did the american scouts estimate Kupsas' basketball development in training camp? Whether he has a chance to be chosen on 2012 NBA Draft?

Scouts say he's very raw offensively, also pretty slow. His biggest advantage is his size, however he didn't impress them very much. Probably he will go undrafted and will stay in Lithuania for a longer time.

Furthermore, I (and many other people) think that he doesn't expect to be drafted. Simply he wants to increase his worth in the market.

[vaslover]

Thanks guys for elucidation. Maybe he,s still quite raw in basketball development, but anyway, I wish him all the best in his future. Imho, for Lithuania will be not enough in the future have only two big boys (Valanciunas and Motejunas respectively) in the paint. For bright future, Lithuania will need to have more boys to alternation in front court position.

[sagenas]

And there will be others! I hope so.

By the way, forgot to mention, but somewhere I've heard that Kupšas started to play basketball not so much time ago while others start playing it in the early childhood...

[Hepcat]

Any further word on Mindaugas Kupšas?

[auris1]

After years of domination talent wise with Motiejunas and Valanciunas,i can safely say that we have no one to follow them .
No big talent is coming soon.

[pablonis]

The young Sabonis looks good.

[Straight forward]

The young Sabonis looks good.

Reminds me slower, but more of a center Motiejūnas. Looking forward to see him in upcoming years, 16yo basketball is still not that stage to judge player's potential.

[macleopard13]

Edgaras Ulanovas is also a decent player. It would be good for him to now join a nice Euroleague club somewhere abroad. But he's a potential candidate for the next year's EuroBasket .

[lafa]

Reminds me slower, but more of a center Motiejūnas. Looking forward to see him in upcoming years, 16yo basketball is still not that stage to judge player's potential.

The only similarity between Domantas and Donatas is that they're both lefties. And their names start with "D", which is not ... Sabonis doesn't have a shooters touch so to speak... But he's much more capable on the defending end. Plus he likes finishing strong, that's why he's got a lot of 2+1 so far. He's not Valanciunas, but he's quite good at pick'n'roll. He's a good rebounder due to his height, but he needs to add some athleticism, plus he struggles with positioning sometimes, thing, that he can learn from Sabonis Sr, who had perfected the skill and was undisputed leader in this department among big men IMO.

[arturcia]

Does anyone know where this summer Taurus Jogėla is? whether he practiced with any U.. team? He was once considered to be very talented. what happened to him? I somehow missed it

[Migelitas]

Does anyone know where this summer Taurus Jogėla is? whether he practiced with any U.. team? He was once considered to be very talented. what happened to him? I somehow missed it

He is now 19yo, so this summer he isn't eligible for U18. Maybe Maskvytis could bring him to U20 instead of T.Sabonis
Now you can find him in Adidas summer camp in Kaunas.
BTW yesterday he played for ASC Team against Iceland NT and scored 6 points.
http://www.basketnews.lt/news-52509-...ine-video.html

[Straight forward]

U-18 European championship stars 18 CET. Lithuania- Greece broadcasted by TV 6.

One of the leaders Tomas Dimša injured. But I'm most interested in Marius Grigonis. He's coming after some surgery - not fully prepared. However it's going to be interesting. The guy can pass and create from what I've seen.

[Hepcat]

Much was made of how the "high dribble" of Mantas Kalnietis may have contributed to his turnovers in the 2012 Olympics. Kalnietis is 6'5" so his dribble may indeed be relatively high for a PG. I see that the greatest PGs in the NBA in the last twenty years, Isaiah Thomas, John Stockton, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, etc, have only been between 5'9" and 6'4" in height.

My question is whether Lithuanian youngsters who aren't very tall are effectively being discouraged from continuing in basketball? But the best point guards tend to be shorter fellows so how can good PGs be developed?

[macleopard13]

But I'm most interested in Marius Grigonis. He's coming after some surgery - not fully prepared. However it's going to be interesting. The guy can pass and create from what I've seen.

Yes, but the guy can't shoot threes for his life. 2/17? Why does takes threes if he can't make them?

[Straight forward]

Yes, but the guy can't shoot threes for his life. 2/17? Why does takes threes if he can't make them?

He was shooting 36% from downtown in NIJT. Not the best, but decent numbers. I think he has mechanics, solid high release, he can work here. He probably knows he can hit them if he takes it. Lithuania will need his and Tamulis best effort in most important games, so why not to try to get a rhytm in the group stage that was pretty easy.

[auris1]

This under 18 team looks really solid.
I hope they do get to play in under 19 WC next year too,if my calculations are right.
I watched our under 16,17 and 20 this year and got a bit depressed .
No one outstanding .
But i hope this team can prove me wrong

[macleopard13]

I watched our under 16,17 and 20 this year and got a bit depressed.

Are you kidding me? Domantas Sabonis was great for U-16! He pulled down 27(!) rebounds against Poland. He averaged 14.1 ppg, 14.4 rpg and 2.4 apg in that tournament. This guy is following in his father's footsteps for sure. I doubt that he'll reach his father's potential, but he could surpass Jonas.

U-20's team was pretty good too. Although no one is superbly talented on that team, the guys played great as a team. You're right about the U-17 team - they sucked.

[Straight forward]

Are you kidding me? Domantas Sabonis was great for U-16! He pulled down 27(!) rebounds against Poland. He averaged 14.1 ppg, 14.4 rpg and 2.4 apg in that tournament. This guy is following in his father's footsteps for sure. I doubt that he'll reach his father's potential, but he could surpass Jonas.

U-20's team was pretty good too. Although no one is superbly talented on that team, the guys played great as a team. You're right about the U-17 team - they sucked.

Wow, that's a brave statement. Let's not forget Jonas lead his NT to gold and was MVP of U-16 European champ. He also was MVP of U-18 campionship (gold) and MVP of U-19 WC (gold). Not to mention some extreame performances in U-17 Champ like 37 points, 19 rebounds, 4 blocks against France. I doubt Domantas has a fair chance to compete with that.

However, I think Domantas Sabonis stood out as the most interesting talent after Motiejunas/Valančiūnas this summer.

From U-20 we already have Valančiūnas in the NT. It's very rare if 3 or 4 players make NT from one youth generation (though this generation might be exactly the exception). If you got one real talent in the team - that's great. People constantly overrates youth teams - for example Serbia's youth teams doing fine year by year and people come and say Serbia has super bright future? Where are these super talents? One Teodosič left as world class material...

From U-19 I think Lithuania should have some hopes on Grigonis, Dimša, Tamulis. No single chance for any other to make NT, IMO. Point guards are horrible of this NT as well. Grigonis might be a little bit of ball hog, but he's clearly the best option at 1 in this team while he has power forward body. Since we have a lot of SGs, I would love to see Grigonis becoming NT material and playing some point guard.

However, I think we saw only one sure future NT member this summer - Domantas Sabonis. All others are in question.