2013 Commitment Stefan Zecevic

[Braves4Life]

This was one of those "worst kept secrets on the hilltop" situations...

"worst kept"?? Not one - not even people who commonly know those "inside" things even had heard of this kid!

Some knew about this a few weeks ago... Though most did not.

[AZ BU Fan]

Time for BU to start harvesting the young BB talent in China....

BU's academic record and Caterpillar's global footprint should give BU a shot at their top scholastic bb players....

Get in on the ground floor before the big boys do.. Plus, they have lots of US $$ to reinvest in the US before they become worthless.

Note to BU Admin, make sure there is a Chinese Studies curriculum, and, a China Business Development curriculum at BU, stat!

[Gary the Gargoyle]

Some knew about this a few weeks ago... Though most did not.

I believe this to be accurate.

[Future Walk-On]

in actual recruiting news....

Demetrius Jackson may be an Illinois lean but has scheduled a visit to Kansas and Notre Dame
Kendrick Nunn had a 5.5 hour in home visit with the top 3 Illinois coaches.

and Illinois is also looking at Demetrius Henry and RaShawn Powell who they saw in Florida recently.

Jackson says the ND move to the ACC affects his recruitment

Illinois also going to see Larry Austin Jr.

Austin Colbert is visiting Illinois on 9/29

[tornado]

Time for BU to start harvesting the young BB talent in China......

I don't know if you're being serious or just hopeful.....
and as others have cautioned - maybe we shouldn't place TOO MUCH in the way of expectations on the new Euro kid.....as we've been told by pseudo-experts that it's going to cause the kid an epic fail! -


........but let me ask a question in regards to the Missouri Valley........(not talking BCS conferences but much of this even holds true there)


Has an MVC team ever brought in a Euro player who has been a significant impact......?
I'm not saying it can't happen but has it happened yet in the MVC...

The very first name that might come to mind would be John Wilkins....but he's not really even a full fledged Euro kid because he did move to the US and live here.
He is a good player but is he a game-changer? His status even on his own team as a junior last year was that he was utilized only a little more than 20 mpg and often was seen as a defensive liability.
In his two years he has played a lot and averages 7.3 ppg, 41% FG shooting, 33% (28% last season) from 3-pt, 4.1 rebs, and virtually non-existent assists, blocks, or steals.
Decent stats but not game changers - in fact - one of the players he kinda plays in front of, SG Bryant Allen, is way more productive.

Other than Wilkins - who really may not be the prototypical Euro kid since he actually moved back to the US and played high school level AAU ball here before a year or so at junior college as well - then heading to ISU...
I cannot think of one who ever made much impact in the Valley - or even elsewhere -- as a lot of the best Euro youngsters dream of staying in Europe and rising to the top of their Club system - like Dirk Nowitzki or Toni Kukoc - then getting a shot at the NBA.

Pretty much every one of the Euro kids I can recall who came to the US to play in college -
Valley players - Gal Mekel, Frank Wiseler, Pieter VanTongeren, Mantas Griskenas, Art Stalbergs, Vince Polakovic, Jermaine Raffington, etc...
..or even guys like Lucca Staiger who went to Iowa State and all those eastern European kids from Decatur Christian like Mario Stula, Ivan Gombovic, Ozren Bjerogovic, Duro Bjegovic, Nikola Gacesa..
either left and did not stay or were NON-factors wherever they landed.
Maybe Buovac or Brzoja or Zecevic can break the pattern but time will tell......

So - are the Euro kids a tougher challenge because of the softer competition they face growing up, or the long distance from home??

[Buesch N Chips]

Some knew about this a few weeks ago... Though most did not.

schadenfreude \SHOD-n-froy-duh\ , noun:
A malicious satisfaction obtained from the misfortunes of others.

[tornado]

I have done exhaustive searching widely on internet sites plus on other "message boards" and I still can't find really any more info on Stefan other than what we have here --
As for Stefan playing on the Serbian U18 team - just can't find anything........

http://www.eurobasket.com/Serbia/basketball-National-Team.asp?Age=18

None of the box scores from this summer's games that were played in U18 competition list him..and I also checked all the U16, U17, U18B, and U19's...perhaps he was injured??

http://www.eurobasket.com/boxScores/European%20Championships%20U18/2012/0819_RUS_SRB.asp

http://www.eurobasket.com/boxScores/European%20Championships%20U18/2012/0818_LTU_SRB.asp

http://www.eurobasket.com/boxScores/European%20Championships%20U18/2012/0817_BUL_SRB.asp

http://www.eurobasket.com/boxScores/European%20Championships%20U18/2012/0815_GRE_SRB.asp

http://www.eurobasket.com/boxScores/European%20Championships%20U18/2012/0814_SRB_LTU.asp

http://www.eurobasket.com/boxScores/European%20Championships%20U18/2012/0813_ITA_SRB.asp

http://www.eurobasket.com/boxScores/European%20Championships%20U18/2012/0811_ESP_SRB.asp

http://www.eurobasket.com/boxScores/European%20Championships%20U18/2012/0810_SRB_GER.asp

http://www.eurobasket.com/boxScores/European%20Championships%20U18/2012/0809_UKR_SRB.asp

http://www.scoresway.com/www.bostonbruins.com?sport=basketball&page=match&id=34658

This page lists his two most recent club teams

http://www.usbasket.com/player.asp?Cntry=USA&PlayerID=185901

[SFP]

T - I have to believe that the better Euro players probably could not qualify for NCAA basketball and that is why we have not seen an impact player at that level. I'm guessing just like a lot of our young jocks they probably forgo academics plus knowing they can make money in their system at an early age. Just look at what happened to the player (forgot his name) from Turkey that wanted to play for KY.

[tornado]

...the player (forgot his name) from Turkey that wanted to play for KY.

exactly - that was Enes Kanter - and like a lot of the better Euro kids they get lured to playing on the upper level club teams that are or border on being PRO teams....thus risking losing college eligibility.
Kanter had been paid upwards of 100K while playing supposedly "amateur ball"..but the NCAA thankfully didn't buy it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/sports/ncaabasketball/08basketball.html?_r=2&ref=sports

[Gary the Gargoyle]

I think the Zecvic situation is slightly different in that he has spent a year in the U.S. and has played basketball here.

[SFP]

I think the Zecvic situation is slightly different in that he has spent a year in the U.S. and has played basketball here.

There have been a few pretty good players from Europe that have played college ball. As T has said not many and there usually was some special circumstance. One player that was pretty good player from Lithuania and a former Maryland guard, Sarunas Jasikevicius. He was a shooter and still plays for Lithuania's national team. As I said I'll wait until he arrives on campus and suits up before I comment. There has only been one recruit the last few years that I was 100% jazzed about that committed but did not make it to the campus.

[Guest]

Shooter

Just talked to someone at the gym and they stated he was a flat out shooter. Had great vision and very impressive. The big kid not so much

[bradleyfan20]

You have to remember that 6'10 HS kids progress much slower than guards. Hard to say if the kid will pan out, but I'm sure he must have something that is compelling to college coaches.

I heard the same about Zecevic...really shoots it, great court vision. Glad he committed!

[tornado]

I am already a big fan of the kid if he committed and plan to follow him every game when he's playing at Lee Academy

http://www.leeacademy.org/prep_roster.html

http://www.leeacademy.org/prep_sked.html ( this year's schedule not up yet)

several of Zecevic's Lee Academy teammates are ranked at the very top of the state's rankings...

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/rankings/maine.php

Two of them are ranked in the Top 20 of the entire New England area

http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/rankings/new_england.php

[Big Mike]

Reynolds: Peoria suits new recruit...

http://www.pjstar.com/bradleyhoops/x1803416161/Peoria-suits-new-BU-recruit

Sounds good....Welcome to the Hilltop Stefan!