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By Giovanni Conte

During the week-end the 12th edition of the International Tournament of Domegge (Italy) reserved to Under 20 national teams were on display. An event where past greats like Tony Parker, Pau Gasol, Andrea Bargnani, Goran Dragic, Thabo Sefolosha and other NBA players have performed. This year the teams involved were Greece, Slovenia, Sweden and Italy who won the tournament. This event was made more important because in two weeks these teams will play in Bilbao (Spain) at the Under 20 European Championship.

Here is a look at the top performers:

Linos Chrysikopoulos (Greece, 1992): the Greek forward showed his skills during the 2011 adidas Eurocamp in Treviso. He is a smart player and his three point shot is very solid: in the best case he can become a point forward like Hedo Turkoglu, though he still lacks the in between game of the Turkish star. Chrysikopoulos is definitely one of the best International prospects born in 1992 and on the immediate NBA horizon. In three games of the tournament he averaged 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assist.

Alessandro Gentile (Italy, 1992): Doesn’t always show the right attitude, but he is quickly becoming the most interesting prospect in Europe for the 2012 draft! Nobody at this level can score with his facility: he can find the net in all situations, and his powerful body helps him in the paint. Moreover he is an underrated passer and defender: certainly he will be a prospect of the 2013 NBA Draft, if not sooner. He finished the tournament with 18.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

Some lesser known guys emerged in this tournament for their skills: 

Alen Omic (Slovenia, 1992): He’s not very quick, he’s not too technical, he’s not overly talented, but he is incredibly effective! The Slovenian center is 7 feet high, too skinny to play in NBA now, but he has the time to strengthen his body. He has great intangibles, and the rebounds always find his hands: something that can’t be taught! He was named MVP of the tournament with 18.6 points and 9.3 points per game.

Andreas Person (Sweden, 1991): he is a 6’3” point guard, physically resembles Tony Parker, but obviously he doesn’t have the talent of the French star. He is a strong defender and he can score in the paint thanks to his great speed, but he must improve his confidence in his shot. If a big European team takes him, and he improves his game, he can become interesting for the future. Person finished the tournament averaging  17 points per game.

Chris Czerapowicz (Sweden, 1991): Next season he will play in college basketball with the Davidson Wildcats. He is a small forward near 6’7” that has enormous talent: on the court he makes it look easy! He can score, he can pass, he can dribble, he can defend and he can catch rebounds: we can compare him to Danilo Gallinari, though Chris has not the height and the spot up shooting of the Nuggets forward. Certainly he’s a guy to watch for future drafts. He averaged 18 points and 9.3 rebounds in the tournament.

Carl Engstrom (Sweden, 1991): now he is not a real prospect, but he has yet an NBA body. He play with Alabama University, and certainly the staff will work hard with a guy 7’1” and heavy 250!

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