#ABAFutureStars: Players To Watch

The best young players from our region have arrived in Bar and Zadar, where they will participate in the U19 ABA Championship Group Stage, November 29 – December 2.

And today, we bring you the best of the best, the leaders of each team on which you should pay special attention during the games.

They are the Players To Watch in the U19 ABA League Championship 2018/19.

Budućnost VOLI | Fedor Žugić: The wonder boy from Podgorica! According to the numerous scouting reports Fedor Žugić is one of the basketball top prospects in the whole Europe. This 15-year old shooting guard has already used to play against 2-3 years older opponents, while he will once again be the youngest player in his team. Do not forget that this is an U19 competition… Fedor played last year for Budućnost VOLI in the U19 ABA League Championship 2017/18, when he was 14!

Cedevita | Karlo Matković: Cedevita have several hot prospects in their academy and Karlo Matković might be the leader of this new generation. This 17-year old power forward is already playing games for the senior team in the domestic league, while he is usually dominating the paint when facing players of his age. This will be the 2nd consecutive year that Karlo participates in the U19 ABA Championship.

Cibona | Roko Prkačin: Oh, you have certainly heard of him last summer if you were following youth competitions. But, let us reming you anyway. Roko Prkačin was the one who scored that game-winning shot in the U16 FIBA EuroBasket Final and who brought the gold medal to Croatia in the epic match against Spain. Roko has the basketball DNA, as he is the son of Cibona’s former player Nikša Prkačin.

Crvena zvezda mts | Nemanja Popović: There was a guy playing for Crvena zvezda mts last year in the U19 ABA Championship who had long hair, headband and who was very, very good. Yeah, that’s him – Nemanja Popović. Back then he averaged 9.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, while later during the year he helped Zvezda to win the domestic U18 championship by scoring 20 points and making 10 rebounds in the final.

Igokea | Dalibor Ilić: Some will say that he is the main star in this list. Dalibor Ilić was one of the best players in the U19 ABA Championship 2017/18 when he had just incredible numbers in his stats. Ilić averaged 20.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game a year ago! Meanwhile he was transferred to Igokea’s senior team and has participated in each of the 9 games his team played in the 2018/19 ABA League season.

Krka | Martin Jančar Jarc: One more youngster who is regularly playing in ABA League in this season. Martin Jančar Jarc is the future of Krka! Although being just 18 years old, he has no fear when facing much older guys, while he will now try to use that experience from the senior league to leave a mark on the U19 championship.

Mega Bemax | Aleksandar Langović: The reigning U19 ABA champions have a new super talent. His name is Aleksandar Langović, a 205 cm tall power forward, who has already experienced the thrill of U19 ABA league. He played for Mega Bemax last year and averaged 9.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in the group phase. And just to show you how good scorer he is, we will tell you that some 10 days ago Langović scored 34 points in a single game in the domestic junior league.

Mornar | Ibrahim Cenović: We watched him last year in the U19 ABA Championship and saw a young man with pretty impressive passing skills. Ibrahim Cenović is a very intelligent point guard and vital part of Mornar’s offensive play. Now, he is one year older and ready to lead his team in another attempt to reach the competition final tournament.

Partizan NIS | Luka Tarlać: One more youngster who is coming from a basketball family. Luka Tarlać is the son of famous center Dragan Tarlać, who won the gold medal with Yugoslavia back in 2001 and who was an Euroleague champion in 1997 with Olympiacos. Luka has already started following his father’s footsteps, as this summer he was called in the U16 Serbia national team.

Petrol Olimpija | Petar Vujačić: Does this surname rings a bell? Petar Vujačić is a step-brother of NBA player Saša Vujačić and everyone believes that he will as well have a shiny career. Petar was one of the best players of Slovenia national team at the U18 FIBA EuroBasket 2018 when he averaged 14.4 points 3.6 rebounds per game. Allegedly many European teams wanted to sign him last summer, but he eventyally chose Petrol Olimpija.

Zadar | Duje Brala: Another member of the golden Croatian team which won the U16 FIBA Eurobasket. And, by being just 15 years old, Duje was one of the youngest in that team. Knowing how many amazing players have made their first basketball steps in Zadar, this kid definitely deserves your attention.