Before you begin the story of perhaps the most promising players in the country, it is necessary to say the following. The young men presented in this review will not necessarily grow into basketball players of the national team. Making such predictions is pointless and stupid. Temptations, "star disease", complacency after the signed contract - and that’s all, write it is gone. Heroes of "young nails", unfortunately, are often lost, entering into adulthood. After all, success at this age does not guarantee absolutely nothing. He just gives hope. We all, but most importantly, the guys themselves. Do not miss the opportunity to gain a foothold among professionals - their paramount task.
Their chance, which may no longer appear.
We basically avoid rating. No need to bother with conditional calculations and comparisons of the potential of a junior. Everyone has a talent. And everyone should squeeze the maximum out of himself in order to fully realize himself in basketball.
It is easy to see that in the publication mainly the names of defenders and light forwards appear. This is not surprising: due to the physiological characteristics of the body and the specific nature of the role, front-line basketball players are revealed much later. Therefore, assessing the prospects of the "big" is now extremely difficult.
It will be about players whose age allows them to be included in the youth team of Russia, but who will soon have to knock on the gates of men's basketball (range - from 1987 to 1989 year of birth). Already got into the NBA and has grown to the first team of the country Yaroslav Korolev (“Los Angeles Clippers”). Among those who should also be noted, Anatoly Kashirov (CSKA), Maxim Krivosheev, Ivan Savelyev, Evgeny Zhukov (all Sibirtelecom-Lokomotiv), Igor Smygin (Standard), who are getting practice in the Super League, can be noted. Trying forces abroad Pavel Gromyko (Crvena Zvezda, Serbia), Stanislav Khramchenko (ASK Riga, Latvia). Maxim Sheleketo (without a club), Daniil Solovyov (Spartak-Primorye), Eduard Lukash (Lokomotiv-Rostov), Petr Gubanov, Nikita Stepanenkov, Artem Yakovenko (all Khimki -2), Konstantin Berkov have long been familiar to specialists , Vitaly Kuznetsov, Vyacheslav Pupko, Fedor Salabuda, Ilya Syrovatko (all - Dynamo -2), Andrey Mateyunas (Avtodor), Dmitry Golovin, Maxim Zakharov, Mikhail Lyapakh, Ivan Nelyubov, Semyon Shashkov (all - CSKA- Trinta ").
Andrey VORONTSEVICH (CSKA, 07/17/1987, 204 cm, 95 kg)For the Omsk nugget Andrei Vorontsevich, the season 2005/06 turned out amazingly: decent playing time and regular appearance in the starting five in the Novosibirsk Sibirtelecom, a pretty debut in the youth team (hitherto, the forward was not called up to the multi-national teams) and like a crown , five year contract with CSKA! However, in the best club in Europe, Andrei is frankly hard, although experts emphasize his hard work. With excellent athletic data and healthy athletic arrogance, Vorontsevich is sorely lacking a “school”, which translates into inexhaustible stupid fouls, losses out of the blue and an unsuccessful choice of position in the “clearing” during a positional attack.
Artem ZABELIN (Avtodor, 02.16.1988, 214 cm, 87 kg)
It’s an interesting fact: speaking for the Avtodor Premier League team and remaining almost unknown at home, according to forecasts of overseas analysts, Artem Zabelin is in the “top ten” of the 2008 NBA draft. The founding father of the suddenly rested Dynamo St. Petersburg Vladimir Rodionov already in the 2006/07 season hoped to let the striker super league into matches, which, despite his nominal position, is difficult to call a “powerful” match (Artem is very similar to the famous Italian Gregor Fuchka). Under the conditions of force majeure, the thinner “big” was not taken aback, improved the average shot and turned into a significant figure in the third most prestigious league in Russia (14 games, 28 minutes, 17.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.7 block shots). In December, Artem was invited to an internship at CSKA. Against the background of some peers, Zabelin is favorably distinguished by a sincere love for basketball and an understanding of the game. However, it is too early for a coordinated and mobile giant to wear pink glasses. His personal failure at the youthful Euro-06 is not forgotten. In the summer in Greece, Zabelin was sometimes too keen on demonstrating small sniper abilities and non-brilliant dribbling.
Vasily ZAVORUEV ("Standard", 01/13/1987, 196 cm, 81 kg)Perhaps, from our list it is Vasily Zavoruev who needs the deaths less than others. The refined sniper, whom this defender is considered to be, needs practice more than others, which predetermined his departure from CSKA. In the 2006/07 season in “Standard” from the Samara Region, Vasily has an average of 31 minutes per game and an excellent percentage of scoring (70% - 2 points, 43% - 3 points). It is impossible, however, to ignore the terrible duel for Zavoruev in Kazan (9 losses) and the fact that the Volga team is still playing the tragic role of whipping boys in the Super League.
Pavel SERGEEV (Spartak St. Petersburg, 07.28.1987, 187 cm, 79 kg)After the premiere in the Super League at the age of 17, the playmaker Sergeev for a long time was in the shadow of his rival friends: Anton Ponkrashov - in the club, Arthur Urazmanov - in the team. But today, the patriot of St. Petersburg Spartak is candidate No. 1 for the post of the main point guard for the youth team. In the first full-fledged season, Sergeyev gives out grandmaster 4.8 assists on average per match. Confident actions of Pavel have already convinced coach Oleg Okulov to part with the American Patrick Sparks, who could not stand the rivalry with the sharp and very physically gifted pupil of St. Petersburg's basketball. Bribes and composure on Sergeyev’s floor. Although for the time being, of course, he lacks experience, which sometimes results in unprepared shots (at the same time, Paul is by no means deprived of a three-pointer) and rash decisions.
Arthur URAZMANOV (without club, 186 cm, 74 kg)
Unfortunately, a severe injury for many months disabled Arthur Urazmanov. According to the playmaker, he will begin full-fledged training no later than February. Then it will become clear where Arthur’s career will continue, the last stop of which was “TsSK VVS-Samara”. Unique athleticism and reactive speed have already made Urazmanov a participant in the traditional match of the most talented juniors on the planet - between the teams of the USA and the rest of the world as part of the Nike Hoop Summit. The gaps of the point guard include “one-armedness” (Arthur uses his left hand only to indicate the number of the combination), addiction to the unceasing arrangement of improvised “star matches” on the parquet (which entails unfortunate losses) and an intermittent throw.
Dmitry HVOSTOV (Dynamo M, 08/21/1989, 190 cm, 78 kg)
The increased attention to the person of Dmitry Khvostov seems excessive: it does not lead to anything good for a young and fragile consciousness. Many people forget that the Dynamo’s objective problems with playmakers “helped” the bright start of the junior. Yes, Khvostov not only sees the court, but also has a cool ball and own body control, which, in combination with cat plastic and the elusive first step, sometimes baffles seasoned veterans. But the young playmaker has many disadvantages. This is not a sugar character (it’s worth admitting, however, that Dmitriy has settled down in comparison with the DBL). And the unwillingness to fight on equal terms with more powerful opponents in the defense (by the way, he never shone with special zeal in defending Khvostov). Yes, and witty programs are often replaced by passes of too keen point guard in the hands of opponents.
Alexey SHVED (CSKA-Trinta, 12/16/1988, 195 cm, 73 kg)The duel of the unconditional leaders of their teams, army Swede with Dynamo Khvostov, became a real decoration of the championship DYUBL-2005/06. At the preliminary stages, their paths crossed only once, and in absentia the CSKA defender looked even more preferable. But the most important match - in the final tournament - turned into a disaster for the Swede: 17 misses from the game of Alexei “helped” “Dynamo” for the first time to deprive the “red-blue” gold. Here, perhaps, lies one of the reasons why only Khvostov was in the main team of the fledgling antagonists. The Swede is not so stable psychologically, which is somewhat confirmed by the crumpled “adult” debut with Ural Great, after which Ettore Messina did not resort to Alexei for quite some time. Despite this, as well as the laziness seen behind the Swedes on the defensive, it is impossible to discount the defender. After all, the arsenal of the Swedish basketball skills (which, incidentally, grew by 18 cm from the fall of 2004 to the summer of 2005, is amazing). But so far - only at the level of the youth team and the Premier League (where on average for the match of the 2006/07 season - 20.9 points, 6.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 interceptions).
Nikita GOLOVANOV