Changing of the Guards
Image: ABA Liga / Mornar-Barsko zlato
Who are the top first-year ballhandlers in Europe?
In the first part of our "Welcome to Europe" series, we are taking a look at a couple of outstanding first-year guards in various European leagues. First-year meaning that 2022/2023 is the respective players' debut experience in European pro basketball, regardless of whether they came straight from collegiate basketball in the U.S. or from competing in professional leagues outside of Europe, e.g the G League. We have not yet scouted all leagues so bear with us if you do not find your favourite rookie (or yourself) on that list yet...there is more to come.
HIGH/HIGH MID LEVEL LEAGUES
Fatts Russell - KK Mornar Bar/ABA Adriatic League 1 (now Galatasaray NEF/BSL Turkey)
The former Rhode Island and Maryland star is enjoying what might be the best start to a rookie campaign in the history of Adriatic League basketball. Through the first fourteen contests, the diminutive speedster posts videogame averages of almost 28 ppg and 8 apg. And the eye test is even more impressive than these ridiculous numbers. Give him half a second of daylight and he will either get his shot off from anywhere beyond the half-court line or blow by you to get to the hoop. Of course these averages might not be fully sustainable, but the fact alone that he was able to annihilate a respected league like ABA1 in this manner bodes very well for the future of his professional career. Said career took another spectacular turn in January 2023 when he was bought out of his Mornar Bar contract by Turkish giants Galatasaray NEF.
Tremont Waters - Levallois Metropolitans 92/Betclic Elite France
While he has not taken the competition by storm quite the same way as the above-mentioned Russell, the former LSU standout is making great strides in adjusting to the European game. In a recent OT win vs. LeMans in French league play, his clutch ability came to the forefront as he connected on several deep threes to ice the game. A bit turnover-prone, the 2019 2nd round draft pick by the Boston Celtics still finds a nice balance between three-level scoring and quality passing. Through 14 games in ProA France, the teammate of teenage sensation Victor Wembanyama is a member of the exclusive 50/40/80 shooting club.
Trent Frazier - FMP Meridian/ABA Adriatic League 1
Frazier seems to become a prime example of why one should not put too much stock into a Portsmouth Invitational Tournament performance. Certainly one of the least impressive players in Virginia, albeit in a setting that is far from ideal for a pass-first and defensive-minded type of PG, his Big Ten accomplishments with Illinois have translated almost seamlessly to a high level of European competition, with him excelling in both ABA league play (21ppg, 6apg, 10-3 record with an underdog team) and the FIBA Basketball Champions League qualifiers (15ppg, 8apg).
Breein Tyree - Filou Oostende/BNXT League + FIBA BCL
Still inconsistent in his output, the former Ole Miss 20ppg scorer, who spent his last two seasons with the Toronto Raptors' G League outfit, has already hinted at things to potentially come when he trounced last year's BCL semi-finalists Hapoel Holon for 26 points in Israel. A true bucket getter, he is extremely hard to stop when he gets it going. Currently averaging close to 18 ppg in FIBA's top club competition.
Tyrone Wallace - Paris Basketball/Betclic Elite + Eurocup
After a long time going back and forth between the NBA and the G League, he ventured across the waters in his prime. Immediately produced offensively, both in ProA France and Eurocup. Will have to get rid of some acquired habits but has a size/athleticism/handles setup that you do not get to see that often in Europe.
MID MID LEVEL/LOW MID LEVEL LEAGUES
Charlie Moore - Belfius Mons Hainaut/BNXT League
Shavar Reynolds - Feyenoord Basketball/BNXT League
Keevan Veinot - Aris Leeuwaarden/BNXT League
Zach Cooks - UBSC Graz/BSL Austria
PJ Pipes - USK Prague/NBL Czech Republic
Mike McGuirl - Team FOG Naestved/Superligaen Denmark
Rodney Chatman - Team FOG Naestved/Superligaen Denmark
Chris Lykes - Horsens IC/Superligaen Denmark
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