Super seven Final Round debutantes ready to shine
MUNICH (FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017) - There are a plentiful number of players ready to make their Final Round debuts and we have picked out seven of the very best heading to FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017.
MUNICH (FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017) - There are a plentiful number of players ready to make their Final Round debuts and we have picked out seven of the very best heading to FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017.
Nika Baric - Slovenia
There has rarely been a player who has excited as much as Baric at youth level when she was playing at the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship aged just 12. She won three MVP awards in a row - although her first love was soccer, which she played against boys. She is the first Slovenian to be drafted to the WNBA and was also quickly snapped up by Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje, where she found herself playing in a EuroLeague Women Final Eight. A couple of years later and she was crowned a champion when she moved to UMMC. A great playmaker who leads Slovenia whenever she is on the floor, the importance of Baric was underlined in the Qualifiers when she handed out five assists per game. She is adept at making jump-shots and if she can also find her form from downtown, she can be a difference-maker. She has already participated in 18 FIBA competitions, has a younger brother who is also with the national teams and has even managed to beat Thyroid cancer.
Twitter: @BaricNika Instagram: nikabaric
Kia Vaughn - Czech Republic
.@CzechBasketball 🇨🇿 lifted by the addition of @KIA_VAUGHN ahead of FIBA #EuroBasketWomen2017.
— FIBA (@FIBA) February 21, 2017
📖 https://t.co/Sdwlz4GfFf pic.twitter.com/u6OPzCJCQi
The naturalization of the powerhouse center has transformed the prospects of the hosts making an impact in the competition, since Vaughn offers EuroLeague Women and WNBA quality under the basket. A defensive colossus when required, a beast on the boards and packing an offensive punch which will leave many opponents rocking on the back foot, the 30-year-old gives Czech Republic the option of being more aggressive than ever before inside. She brings more than the traditional pick-and-roll concepts of Czech basketball and knows the country well after spending a major chapter of her career with ZVVZ USK Prague. Additionally, she is a legend in the Czech capital after she famously led USK Prague to their maiden EuroLeague Women title in 2015, being crowned MVP on a memorable night.
Twitter: @Kia_Vaughn Instagram: kianiema
Marine Johannes - France
One of the most exciting young talents in Europe, the creativity and scoring ability of Johannes has made people sit up and take notice in her homeland during the last few seasons. After announcing her arrival on the international tournament stage with her breakthrough performances at Rio, alongside last summer's major move to Bourges, she is a star whose stock continues to rise. With great passing vision, deceptive quickness, gorgeous handles and a dose of good athleticism, the guard is never far away from the highlights reel and hugely exciting to watch. She is being tipped to emerge as a leader for her country in this new Olympic cycle.
Twitter: @MarineJ5 Instagram: MarineJ5
Aleksandra Crvendakic - Serbia
— AleksandraCrvendakic (@crvendakic11) August 21, 2016
Labelled as the future of the Serbian national team, Crvendakic is one of the best players of her generation in Europe and in addition to the various youth medals and personal accolades, she is also a proven EuroLeague Women player. Despite her tender years, she led Sopron in scoring and rebounds during her rookie campaign and has continued to shine. While much of her youth career was spent in the power forward position, she is more likely to be found at the three spot. She is fun to watch because in addition to her own scoring ability, she has such a great eye for a pass and will often come up with some nice inside dishes. Her positive attitude is also a big bonus and after a major tournament debut in Rio, she is ready to rise up the pecking order of the senior side. Off the court, Crvendakic loves to read books and spends time playing the board game of Monopoly with her sister.
Twitter: @crvendakic11 Instagram: crvendakic11
Emma Meesseman - Belgium
One of the biggest names in the women's game, Meesseman can become a legend of Belgian basketball if she continues on her upward curve which has seen her crowned a EuroLeague Women champion at UMMC Ekaterinburg and find both popularity and respect Stateside in the WNBA. An intelligent player who has ice running through her veins on the floor, she is an excellent finisher both at the basket and can knock down jump-shots too. She is a very active rebounder and is continually developing her moves in the paint. Having excelled at youth level and inspired Belgium to medals, she is now ready to lead the team at her first senior tournament. The other powerful aspect of Meesseman is that everyone she has worked with regularly goes out of their way to stress just how likable and friendly she is as a person, emphasizing the all-round upsides of a player who could yet be destined for greatness.
Twitter: @EmmaMeesseman Instagram: emma_meesseman
Cecilia Zandalasini - Italy
One of the most prolific scorers in youth basketball in recent years, Zandalasini ended her career in suitable style as MVP at the FIBA U20 Women's European Championship last summer. Her displays were truly magical and she almost inspired Italy to one of the greatest title comeback wins in the tournament's history. Her performances came as no surprise as she has been on the radar for some time as one of the best of her generation in Europe. She would have gone to the Final Round two years ago but had to focus on her studies and now she is ready to not only make a senior tournament debut, but also make a big splash. She can play multiple positions, puts points on the board quickly and loves making clutch shots. She has the capacity to become the best player on the roster in coming years and that potential is already manifesting itself nicely in EuroLeague Women with Schio. The only question is whether she can handle the ever-increasing expectations on her young shoulders. Zandalasini has a great passion for Derrick Rose, as well as American basketball culture and music.
Twitter: Ceci_Zanda Instagram: zandi96
Courtney Vandersloot - Hungary
One of the best players in European club basketball which was underlined emphatically during her blistering season with the hugely successful Yakin Dogu Universitesi that included EuroCup Women and Turkish Championship titles, the inclusion of the naturalized Vandersloot will be an incredible boost to Hungary. They had her on board for the last Qualifiers window as she picked up the reins from her WNBA team-mate Allie Quigley. She has excelled not only in EuroCup Women, but also in EuroLeague Women and very importantly, has an existing relationship with Coach Svitek from her club career at Wisla Can-Pack. She can score heavily, is an expert passer, will crash the boards brilliantly for her position and is a dream to have with the ball in her hands down the stretch of any game, meaning she will be a massive influence if she does suit up. The legendary John Stockton once compared her stylish game to being similar to one of ice-hockey's greatest in Wayne Gretzky.
Twitter: @sloot22 Instagram: sloot22
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