League Lookout: Basketligaen Denmark 22/23
Image: imago images / ZUMA Wire
All Bakken once again?
While we would love to hype up suspense prior to the start of the 22/23 Basketligaen Denmark campaign, we can't help but answer with a resounding yes. Bakken Bears remain the runaway favourite to keep dominating this competition. The Aarhus-based club have become a serious player on the European basketball landscape and in terms of structure and budget possibilities are lightyears ahead of their Danish rivals. They could easily field a line-up made up entirely of player 6'5''/195cm or taller- a setup that no other Basketligaen team will be able to match from a physicality standpoint.
Horsens, Randers, Naestved and Svendborg compete in a four-horse race for runners-up honors and are all offering a rather professional setup. The other league members mostly prioritize development of local talent and can be considered semi-pro organizations. Here is a look at Basketligaen's most interesting summer signings:
Bakken Bears
The champions lost a lot of scoring with guards Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson and Marvelle Harris plus their defensive stalwart in combo forward Tylor Ongwae. But Bears retooled impressively: Tall combo guard Tony Carr has not fully established himself in Europe yet but was a legit NBA prospect coming out of college. He can generate offense in iso settings and likes to post up smaller opponents. Backcourt veteran Skyler Bowlin provides leadership and high-level experience. Versatile wing Deng Adel will bring three-level scoring and transition qualities. Up front, athletic center Kylor Kelley is a formidable lob target and power forward Elijah Childs can face up and hit the mid-range jumper while being a tremendous switch defender.
Horsens IC
Electric PG rookie Chris Lykes (pictured above) will be one of the league's main attractions. His quickness will prove unguardable for most teams and he is showing signs of improving his skillset as a traditional point guard. Lefty 4 man Jared Chatham has considerable upside as a stretch big and already is a quick twitch athlete around the rim, albeit skinny. A local talent to keep an eye on is athletic wing Leonardo Carlino.
Randers Cimbria
Randers' most intriguing signing might be Marshall big Mikel Beyers. His combination of size, athleticism and shooting does not come to Danish shores that often. Bakary Camara is an athletic combo forward who did well in Spanish LEB Silver. Jonathan Klussmann is the club's top local prospect.
Team FOG Naestved
Their backcourt should be tremendous defensively after they added top perimeter defenders in Vanderbilt PG Rodney Chatman and Kansas State SG Mike McGuirl. Tall backcourt allrounder Ian DuBose is no slouch at the defensive end, either. Former NCAA II standout Zack Rollins is an athletic wing who is looking to make his mark in Europe. Jimbo Lull, a traditional post-up 5 man with a soft touch, will man the middle.
Svendborg Rabbits
Rabbits signed two under-the-radar guards in NCAA II standout Tyrell Kirk, who brings good size and athleticism, and Omar Shiddo, who averaged 27 ppg and 5 apg in USports Canada. Sniper Jaylen Fornes and versatile Devin Whitfield, who looked solid in 2nd league Finland last season, are the wing options.
Best of the Rest
BK Amager guard and NCAA III All-American Jordan Johnson looks like a player and brings some flair with the Steph Curry no-look threes. His future teammate Darius Bell appears to be an athletic big but had somewhat underwhelming numbers at a lower NCAA II level. Holbaek-Stenhus import signing Eysan Wiley is a versatile combo forward who can guard multiple positions and had to play the 5 a lot in college.
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