Iscar Tournament

Once again this year, the Italian U16 National team participated in the prestigious Iscar tournament as preparation for this summer's U16 European Championships.

This is a group with great prospects, especially following their victory at the Under 15 Friendship Tournament in Voiron last year. It is worth noting the absences of Compaore, Sguazzin, Ursu, Curic, and Brusmarello, who were all away on club duties.

The "Azzurrini" were placed in Group B with Castilla y Leon and Greece, while Group A featured Spain, Germany, and Turkey. In the group stage, they won against the host team 93-60 and defeated Greece 71-65. In the grand final, they suffered a 95-86 defeat against Spain.

Here is how the 14 players called up performed during the tournament:

#4 Aaron Daniel Mathis (5'11/180cm, 2010, Lake Travis HS-USA, P)

Mathis, the younger brother of 2007-born Adrian, is an interesting point guard equipped with excellent technique and great athletic potential. His shooting mechanics are not the most conventional but are very effective, especially from behind the arc and off the dribble. He loves to attack the rim and, thanks to his long limbs and athleticism, manages to finish effectively at the basket. Defensively, he is solid, quick, and good at putting pressure on opposing ball-handlers.

#5 Luigi Christian Nembri (5'11/180cm, 2010, Orange 1 Bassano, P)

Nembri is closer to a traditional playmaker compared to Mathis, capable of creating for himself and his teammates off the dribble and from the pick and roll. He also enjoys excellent athleticism and is a top-tier defender, particularly on the ball.

#6 Riccardo Manera (5'11/180cm, 2010, Pall. Varese, P)

After missing the first game, Manera played with good minutes in the following two. He is a traditional playmaker who did not shine at 100% during the competition. He provided assists and found some good baskets, but had too many turnovers, some of which were quite basic.

#7 Alberto Ursi (6'2/188cm, 2010, Stella EBK Roma, G)

The Livorno native struggled significantly in the first outing in both phases of the game. On offense, he couldn't find advantages in one-on-one situations or be fully effective with his three-point shooting. On defense, he had great difficulty containing one-on-ones, likely due more to physical shortcomings than technical ones or a lack of effort.

#8 Nicholas Conti (6'5/196cm, 2010, Stamura Ancona, G/A)

Conti had an excellent tournament, playing as a protagonist with responsibility. His versatility and defensive ability were quite impressive, thanks to a strong frame, long reach, and foot speed. On offense, he showed great potential and talent. He is very good at finding solutions off the dribble, whether finishing at the rim, from mid-range, or finding teammates. His three-point shot needs to grow in reliability, but the technique and talent are there.

#9 Gabriele Cappabianca (6'2/188cm, 2010, Pall. Forlì, G)

Out due to injury after just a few minutes in the first game; the tournament ended there for him.

#10 Jean Paul Loundja (6'6/197cm, 2010, Orange 1 Bassano, A)

Loundja was able, once again, to give his "silent" contribution to the team. He shot well from outside off his teammates' kick-outs, and on defense, he was solid throughout his time on the hardwood.

#11 Ayomide Marcello Ajayi (6'9/205cm, 2010, Cavaliers London-UK, A/C)

Ajayi was the big surprise of the call-ups as he had not yet been seen in any training camps. He possesses an excellent physique for a basketball player: infinite arms, mobility, and speed, yet still with massive room for growth. He pairs this with decent technique and excellent coordination. He has a good sense for blocks and rebounds. His potential is very high, the highest in this group.

#12 Diego Ilardi (6'6/197cm, 2010, Dolomiti Energia Trento, P)

Probably the best for the Italian selection, uncontrollable on offense and extremely solid on defense. He is a playmaker with a very big frame and incredible speed that, at this level, are hard to match: good at creating both in the half-court and in transition. His shot isn't the prettiest but is nonetheless effective, especially off the dribble, while he rarely manages to make an impact on catch-and-shoot opportunities. On defense, he can guard anyone thanks to the speed, physicality, and verticality at his disposal.

#13 Andrea Maggiorini (6'8/203cm, 2010, Dolomiti Energia Trento, A)

Much like Loundja, he is a system player and is good at being one. He capitalizes on shots created by teammates, especially from behind the arc; while he doesn't shoot a high percentage, his technique is excellent. On defense, he is effective, primarily due to his long reach and good foot speed.

#14 Nicola Gasparoni (6'4/193cm, 2010, Reyer Venezia, G)

Gasparoni is a very interesting player gifted with excellent physicality for his role. He wasn't able to impact the offensive side of the floor but showed interesting flashes. On defense, he makes good use of his body.

#15 Lewis Future Okadoh (6'7/200cm, 2010, College Borgomanero, A/C)

Okadoh is a sensational athlete who is really impactful in this category. He is a modern player: mobile, vertical, and fast. He runs the floor optimally and is very good at finishing above the rim. He possesses an excellent sense for rebounding (the event's best rebounder) and for blocks. His technique is still behind in all aspects but is currently in development.

#16 Gabriele Furfaro (6'5/196cm, 2010, Derthona Basketball Lab, A)

After not being called up for the first game, he made himself ready and was a factor already in the game against Greece. He impacted the game primarily on defense with many blocks, steals, and versatility. On offense, he did not take a lead role and seemed a bit tense in his decision-making, though he took advantage of fast breaks, even finishing with dunks. He is a player with high-level physical and technical potential who could evolve into a premier defender.

#20 Pietro Cucco (6'8/203cm, 2010, College Borgomanero, A)

Cucco is one of the most talented in the group and, in the absence of Compaore and Sguazzin, served as one of the offensive leaders. He is a player with a great physical foundation paired with great technique in terms of shooting, ball-handling, and passing. Despite this, he doesn't manage to be part of the game 100% and needs the ball in his hands quite a bit, finding solutions that are sometimes brilliant but also led to numerous turnovers. On defense, he has excellent mobility and can guard anyone at this level.