Top 5 Polish Prospects
Five young Polish prospects to follow in Polish TBL 2011/2012
After a busy summer for young polish basketball players with both the U19 World Championship and U18 European Championship in a short period of a few weeks, it’s time for them to start the new season. Daniel Szatkowski of Future Stars reviews five young Polish prospects to follow who play in the top Polish league (TBL) and NCAA Div 1.
Przemyslaw Karnowski
213cm - Center - 08/11/93 – Current Club: Siarka Tarnobrzeg (TBL)
Starting center for the U17 Polish National team who came second in U17 World Championship, losing only to USA in final. He made the tournament All Star team, averaging 14,5 ppgs and 11 rpg. He was chosen MVP of U18 FIBA Europe All Star Game 2011.
Karnowski is a strong, tall inside player, who gets lots of rebounds and blocks. He is a good finisher in the key as well as from mid-range. Defensively, he has some problems with quicker players but he will have a lot of chances to improve his game, as he has had a really promising start to the season in the top Polish league Tauron Basket Liga (TBL) for Siarka Jezioro Tarnobrzeg averaging 7 ppgs and 4,5 rpg.
Mateusz Ponitka
193cm – PG / SG - 29/08/1993 – Current Club: Politechnika Warszawska (TBL)
Probably one of the biggest talents emerging from Polish basketball for the last 20 years. Mateusz made the All star team of the U17 World Championship in Hamburg Germany, averaging 19,5 ppg and 3,9 spg. Mateusz scored 14 points in a row in semi finals of the U17 World Championship against Lithuania, then led the Polish U17 team to a silver medal in the final. This summer Mateusz played in the U18 European Championship averaging 15,3 ppg and 7,6 rpg. He played for World Team in the Nike Hoop Summit 2011 against USA, in 25 minutes he scored 17 points (making him the top scorer for the World team) and had 4 rebounds. He is really athletic with an ability to steal balls easily, and his shot is extremely dangerous for every defender. This season Ponitka plays solid minutes at Politechnika Warszawska averaging 10 ppg which should significantly accelerate his development making him a valid contributor on the senior European scene in the very near future.
Piotr Niedzwiedzki
210cm – Center - 02/06/93 - Current Club: WKK Slask Wroclaw (TBL/Div 2)
Another Polish inside player, Piotr gave a solid performance at the U18 European Championships this summer averaging 10,2 ppg and 5,4 rpg and made the tournament All Star team. He has dominant low post moves with strong left and right hand finish. He is a decent shooter with good mid range shot. Defensively, he can play against strong inside players and has a good ability to block opponent’s shots. Piotr played in the FIBA European U18 All Star game at the U18 European Championships in Lithuania. Seeing limited minutes with WKK Slask, however he is playing well for their reserve team in Div 2, averaging 15 ppg and 13,5 rpg.
Michal Michalak
196cm – SG - 02/11/93 – Current Club: Politechnika Warszawska (TBL)
Michal was one of the leaders of U18 Polish National team, playing well in both the World U19 and U18 European Championships this summer. He is a really dynamic guard with a really good shoot. He is the type of player who can do everything on court, from marking the opposing best player, to scoring lots of points. In the European Championship Michal had 11,7 ppg and 6,2 rpg. He plays in the top polish League (TBL), averaging more than 7 ppg and has established himself as an integral part of this young and dynamic team. Michal’s well established team partnership with Mateusz Ponitka makes them a very effective duo on the senior scene.
Tomasz Gielo
205cm – PF - 04/01/93 – Current Club: Liberty University (NCAA Div1)
Tomasz was an important part of the Polish side who came 2nd in the U17 World Championship (2010) in Hamburg, Germany. This left handed forward saved his best performance for the final game against USA when he scored 21 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. After a good season in Polish Div 2 (averaging 13 ppg and 8 rpg) and encouraging performances this summer in both the U18 European Championship and U19 World Championship he moved to USA to play for University of Liberty (NCAA Div 1). Tomasz is a good ball handler, decent shooter and can be a surprisingly good rebounder. It remains to be whether the move to NCAA Div 1 will improve his game to a level which will allow him to be an effective forward on the international senior scene.
Below Tomasz Gielo one of the top 5 young Polish prospects speaks to Daniel Szatowski on his move to the US and plans for the future.
DS: How did you first start playing basketball?
TG: I started my basketball journey because of my 5 years older brother, Michal, He first showed me the game of basketball and I fell in love with it.
DS: Recently you have changed your playing environment, how are you adapting to this change?
TG: At the moment, I am a player and student at Liberty University in USA (NCAA Div1). I am working really hard and I am getting ready for our first game, which is against Texas A&M on the 9th of November. As a freshman, I need to give my best, and make my coaches trust me. I need to fight for my minutes.
DS: How did you find a team in the US? Why did you choose NCAA?
TG: It was my dream since I was a kid to go and play basketball in the US, but it always seemed to me as a something out of reach. It all changed after last summer, when with the National U17 team we came 2nd in the World Championship. I had a really good tournament and started receiving calls from different universities, offering me scholarships. I am really happy and I thank God for the opportunity to make my dream come true, to play basketball and get an education at the same time. Education is really important in future life. You never know how long you will play basketball. In case of injury, I want to have some other option in my life.
DS: What’s the difference between European and American Basketball?
TG: American basketball is based on athleticism, during practice we take it really seriously, which pretty often means small injuries. But it helps to be 100% ready for the game. American players are more dynamic, but for me European basketball is more organized in terms of tactics and techniques.
DS: What are your plans for future?
TG: At the moment I am focused on preparations for our new season. I am going to fight for my minutes, I want to show my coach, that he can trust me. I am also just as focused on my education. This term, I want to sort out my lessons. In USA, if you have problems with your education you are not allowed to play or practice basketball.
DS: Your favorite motto, in terms of basketball?
TG: Once I saw a documentary movie about the Boston Celtics and I really liked a phrase which was above the gym doors ‘What hurts more? The pain of hard work or the pain of regret?’ I want to be sure that I give my best every day in practice, rather than regret that I didn’t make it because I didn’t put enough effort in practice.
DS: Best moment in your career?
TG: I hope it hasn’t come yet. But I will never forget the last two games in the U17 World Championships. We won the semifinal against Lithuania, which gave us a medal, and in the final I scored 21 points against USA. At the same time it was good lesson for me, that you can’t stop working hard.
DS: Your favorite player? And best game you have ever seen?
TG: From current players I like Lebron James and Kevin Durant, but my favorite ever player is Scottie Pippen. The best game I have ever seen was, it's difficult to say but there are two games that stuck in my head. First is the famous Michael Jordan's ''flu game'', which was the 5th game of the 1997 NBA finals against Utah Jazz. The other game is the 5th game of the Eastern Conference finals in 2007 where Cleveland Cavaliers beat Detroit Pistons after two overtimes, with Lebron James scoring all of Cleveland’s points in both overtimes!