Italian bigs new generation

Italian National team's historical biggest taboo could be at its end thanks to a new wave of bigs out of Italy. Here are some of the best youth prospect:

ANDREW OSASUYI (6'9/205cm, St. Bonaventure University, 2005)

This summer, he played and triumphed with the Italian Under 20 team after an excellent season with College Borgomanero in the Under 19 league and the Serie B Interregionale. He experienced exponential growth in this last season, his first true one in the world of elite youth basketball after a long journey in the Gold league between College Novara and Trecate. He is a modern big man, very mobile, quick, and extremely vertical. An excellent rebounder and rim protector, capable of running the court effectively and finishing at the rim with energy. His technical skills are still limited, but the American experience will surely polish his shortcomings.

ALBERTO MARIUZZO (7'1/215cm, Golden State Prep, 2006)

He grew up in basketball with Pallacanestro Forlì, going through their entire elite youth program. Starting next season, he will be in the United States where he will develop his solid characteristics while seeking college offers. He participated in several preparation tournaments with the Under 18 and Under 20 national teams but never played in an official competition. Of all the players listed, he is probably the least interesting. He possesses decent basic technique but it is still very limited. His perimeter shooting is not high-level, nor is his post-up game. He is more impactful on the defensive end, where his shot-blocking and rebounding make his presence felt.

LEONARDO VAN ELSWYK (7'0/214cm, Colorado Buffalos, 2006)

He began his youth career at Joventut Badalona in Spain and then moved to Olimpia Milano in 2023, with whom he won two U19 championships. Furthermore, in 2024-25, he has played in the Serie B Interregionale with Oleggio Magic. In 2022 he played the U16 European Championship with the Italian national team. Leonardo is a modern big man with great individual technique: he is good at spacing the floor and shooting but also at playing with his back to the basket and using his soft touch. He is a quick player with good foot mobility that makes him a skilled and versatile defender. His height and long arms also make him a good rim protector. He still lacks physically, as he is not yet very strong and structured, but the American experience will certainly aid this development process.

SIMONE FRASHNI (7'1/215cm, Pallacanestro Reggiana, 2007)

Fresh from winning an excellent bronze medal with the U18 national team, Simone has become a new player for Reggiana after standing out with Montecatini in the U19 Gold league and especially with Virtus in the LBA Next Gen and the ANGT (Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament). Simone is an old-school big man whose main characteristic is his interior game: post play and little else. On defense, he is very solid, and his excellent physical structure makes him a difficult opponent to attack in the post. His game outside the three-point line is extremely limited, as is his shooting. This new experience at Reggio Emilia, club known for developing big men, will certainly benefit his growth.

LUIGI SUIGO (7'3/220cm, Mega Superbet, 2007)

The most crystal-clear talent among the 8 mentioned, he will play next season for Mega Superbet in the ABA League. Developed in the youth sectors of Varese and Milano, last year he had his first senior experience with Oleggio Magic. A modern big man, Americans would define him as a "unicorn" for his characteristics: very tall with endless arms but possessing excellent technique bases. Shooting is indeed the best aspect of his game, and it is excellent. He has developed a good low-post game which he combines with a sublime touch. On defense, he is very mobile for his height, has a great presence in the paint, and possesses a great sense for shot-blocking. Questions always arise about the physical durability of players with such frames, but he seems to have developed significantly, especially in his upper body, based on what was seen in his first outings in Serbia.

MATTEO URSU (6'10/207cm, Olimpia Milano, 2010)

He arrived in Milano this summer from Versilia basket and, notably, from the Under 15 Silver league. His physique is extremely slender and his movements are still awkward. He doesn't fully keep up with the team's pace yet, but his stamina is already good considering the starting point. He seems to have a certain propensity for perimeter shooting with decent technique and a few baskets here and there. This is a long-term project, and in many aspects, he resembles the 15-year-old Suigo. Enormous physical and technical potential.

IOAN CURIC (6'11/210cm, Olimpia Milano, 2010)

Also a new Olimpia signing from Corbetta, where he had participated in the Under 15 Gold league. He played (and won) the Friendship Tournament with the U15 national team this summer. Like Ursu, he is an extremely raw player but with diametrically opposed characteristics: his physique is also very underdeveloped but very sturdy; he is slow and not very mobile. His basic technique is limited, and he plays almost exclusively with his back to the basket, leveraging his height and weight. On defense, he plays with energy but is very slow. An interesting prospect, but he shows less inherent talent than the others mentioned.

UMBERTO TONTINI (6'8/204cm, Anzio Basket, 2011)

Umberto will play again in the Under 15 Eccellenza with Anzio, just like last year when they finished fourth in the national finals (6.4 points per game average). He is a much less raw player than the two above, but for obvious physical reasons related to his height, he doesn't dominate yet. His touch around the rim is good with both hands, and his (free throw) shooting isn't bad. An interesting prospect, but it's far too early to make a complete judgment.