2014-15 Greek Basketball Players In NCAA Division I Thread

Here I will discuss Greek basketball players in NCAA Division I in the 2014-15 season. This is not a ranking of best players in order, just a list of them. This is not a list of all of the Greek players in NCAA, just some of them.

First, players that belong to Greek national program:

1. Zach Auguste – 6-10 242 PF – Junior – Notre Dame 

He is capable to play both PF and C. "Modern big man". He is athletic big man that can finish around basket and also guard around basket and on perimeter, switch on screens, defend on picks, and such. Good length also. So far he is averaging 14 points and 7 rebounds this year. He is of course in Notre Dame, so playing in best power conference in NCAA in ACC.

2. Kostas Mitoglou – 6-10 225 PF – Freshman – Wake Forest 

He was player developed by Greek League club Aris. He was Aris’ 3rd string power forward last season. He has alo been in junior national teams of Greece and this last summer was in Greek under-18 national team. He is slaready as a freshman main power forward of Wake Forest. He is playing in Wake Forest, so is also in main power conference of NCAA, in ACC. He is averaging 8 points and 6 rebounds per game so far in NCAA, even though he only averaged 1 point and 1 rebound in Greek League last year. He is basic classic European "stretch four". He has good size and length for a power forward, decent athletic ability (plays above the rim), and good shooting 3 point range.

3. Vangelis Bebis – 6-6 184 SG – Freshman – Iona

He was player developed by Greek League club Ikaros. He spent the last season as 3rd string shooting guard of Ikaros. But now he has moved to NCAA to play at Iona. He had offers from several other schools but turned them down because he was given chance to start at Iona once their star guard English moved to a pro career. Bebis can play in either guard position, and he is a good 3 point shooter with good range, and he can create offense, as facilitate or scoring. For now he is just a bench player, but still he already is in the team and does get to play some. But still, he has to wait of course until English will finish his career.

4. Ioannis Dimakopoulos – 7-2 257 C – Sophomore – UC Irvine

Dimakopoulis is a huge center that was developed in the youth clubs of the big Greek Euroleague team of Panathinaikos. Instead of continue in Panathinaikos senior club, where he became a practice squad player, he moved to USA for senior year of high school. Then he has played last year in UC Irvine as a freshman, though he did not play much. Now he is a sophomore. UC Irvine is very deep at big man rotation and C position so minutes are hard. But Dimakopoulos is a huge center and he has a skills, shot, and post game. He can develop for sure. It is just that it takes very long for players of his size and that are are skill based to develop, much longer than other types of players.

5. Paris Maragkos – 6-9 250 PF – Sophomore – American

Maragkos was also developed in youth clubs of Greek club Panathinaikos and he also was in practice squad of the men’s team. And same as Dimakopoulos he decided to move to USA. He moved to play in NCAA. For now he is ineligle in transfer list. But next season he will be able to play. He is at American University. This last summer he was playing in Greek under-20 national team and when the back up centers got injured he took that role and in the elimination games of tournament he did really good playing as a back up center. He is a strong and physical player, good at defense, rebounds, and in the paint area in both ends.

6. Corey Petros – 6-10 255 C – Senior – Oakland 

He plays at Oakland University and is a senior. He is classic center, usually playing in low post, with back to the basket. I am not sure about his pro prospects, but he has similar level of production at Oakland that Keith Benson had there. Benson also played there as 4 year center, and he has since played in both NBA and Euroleague. Seems something like a more athletic version of Ian Vougioukas, who has made several years in Euroleague and Greek senior national team in major tournaments.

7. Georgios Tsalmpouris – 7-1 227 PF/C – Freshman – Iowa State

Tsalmpouris is playing now as a freshman in Iowa State, so also in good power conference. He does not play much, but this understandable. Because he was coming from just a small local under 17 regional high school team in a small part of Greece. So his developmental level is very low and behind that of other players like Mitoglou, who were training in mid level Greek League clubs like Aris, which usually have several NBA and Euroleague players in them. 

For example, when he played with Greek under-18 national team this summer, he also barely got any playing time, due to same reasons. But as time goes on, of course he will develop and get better, from being at Iowa State, and also continuing in the junior national teams of Greece.

This is player with huge talent. Able to handle the ball, create his own shot, or create for others, play multiple positions (SF, PF, C) shoot 3 pointers, block shots, etc. all at 7-1. He can even bring the ball up the floor, run the offense, get the team in sets, be used as a point forward if it is needed. So give him a some years time, and he should be a very good player, with the talent and size, and skills he has.

Second, Greek players that don’t belong to Greek national program: 

8. Kevin Pangos – 6-2 185 PG – Senior – Gonzaga

Pangos is Greek-Canadian, but belongs to Canadian national program. Still, if he is not able to make it into NBA next season, then of course he will play in Greek League next year instead. He is senior at Gonzaga, and has had very good college career there. He of course is known mainly for his 3 point shooting ability and his ability to get very hot at times from 3 point range.

During course of NCAA season, we can discuss more here in this thread about these same players.