7 hidden gems in Italian league that could make a move to bigger clubs / News - Basketnews.com

Italian Legabasket developed a great reputation for finding hidden gems on the market and turning them into higher-level players. BasketNews decided to take a look at some of the most interesting profiles from the Italian league.

Credit: Galloway (Scanpix) - Sneed (FIBA) - Moore (Scanpix-SIPA) Credit Galloway (Scanpix) - Sneed (FIBA) - Moore (Scanpix-SIPA)

We have officially entered the crucial moment of the European season. The EuroLeague playoffs are in full swing, and soon, the national leagues will also get into a final stretch with the playoffs phase.

Rayjon Tucker

MIN:29.34PTS:14.88 (57.6%)REB:3.76As:1.76ST:0.71BL:0.24TO:1.94GM:17ProfileEuroCup2023/2024

Therefore, it seems like the ideal time to try to spot some hidden gems that could become stars in the summer market.

From this point of view, the Italian league, Legabasket, often offered very attractive market opportunities for some of the major European clubs.

Except Olimpia Milano and Virtus Bologna, which have big budgets, most of the other Italian teams have to work with much smaller economic resources.

Therefore, their scouting skills are crucial to finding players who can make a difference at relatively low prices.

Even this season, there have been several positive examples of players. Some are lesser known, while others already have more of an established European reputation.

These players have made a big impact on their teams. Their performances could easily attract the interest of bigger teams during the offseason.

Therefore, BasketNews decided to analyze some of the profiles that surprised or impressed us the most in this Legabasket season and could become intriguing names for this summer's market.

We try to find out which could be the gems coming out of the Italian league this year.

Charlie Moore (PG, Pistoia)

If there is one team whose performance has really surprised everyone this Legabasket season, it is definitely Pistoia.

Returning to the top division of the Italian league after a 3-year absence, the team coached by Nicola Brienza really impressed. First, it qualified for the Final Eight of the Italian Cup, and now it is one step away from qualifying for the league playoffs. Not a small goal for a newly promoted team.

C.J. Massinburg

Position:SGAge:26Height:196 cmWeight:92 kgBirth place:Dallas, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

One of the main protagonists of Pistoia's success was American point guard Charlie Moore. A Chicago native, Moore is in his second season in Europe after a rookie year between Belgium and Serbia.

The American player is averaging 17.5 points, 5.1 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 1 steal per game. He has been one of the league's best scorers, and he's shooting with an impressive 42% from three-point.

Charlie MooreCredit /IPA/SIPA-Scanpix

Moore is extremely talented in the isolation game. When he has the ball in his hands and the opportunity to go 1-on-1, he becomes pretty much unstoppable for his defender.

A crafty guard who can find the basket in many different ways and who can finish at the rim in acrobatic ways despite a lack of size.

But Moore is not the type of player who creates only for himself, he's gifted with a pretty good court vision and great passing instincts too. The combination of him and his backcourt partner, Payton Willis, has been among the most interesting to watch this season.

Moore has shown over and over again that he can carry the weight of the team's offensive responsibilities on his shoulders and has been clutch in several games.

If the Tuscan team were to qualify for the league playoffs, it could be the classic loose cannon capable of surprising even teams on paper that are more highly ranked.

Moore's size makes it easy to imagine that he could receive proposals from higher-ranked teams this summer.

Despite his relatively small size, the American player has shown he can be a game-changer if placed in the right place.

Langston Galloway (G, UNAHOTELS Reggio Emilia)

Langston Galloway has played more than 400 games in the NBA but has struggled to find consistency in recent seasons, even finishing in the G League.

Therefore, last summer, the American player began considering the European market and eventually chose to sign with Reggio Emilia in Italy.

There were several reasons behind his choice, as the player had explained in an interview with BasketNews. One of them was definitely the history of a club like Reggio Emilia, where Kobe Bryant also grew up when his father played professionally in Italy.

Galloway, then, had also received good reviews about the club from Kyle Hines, one of his best friends in the basketball world.

His impact on the Italian league was immediately remarkable. Galloway soon became one of the best scorers in the league and put together some remarkable numbers.

Langston GallowayCredit Alessandro Catellani/IPA//SIPA - Scanpix

The former Detroit Pistons averages 17.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game and has been a crucial part of Reggio Emilia.

His experience and professionalism have made him a point of reference for his teammates and an extremely appreciated element of the team's fan base as well.

Several clubs tried to take him away from Reggio Emilia during the season. Still, the player chose to honor his commitment to the end, partly because his family was extremely comfortable in the city.

However, Galloway could become a very interesting option this summer for some EuroLeague clubs looking for solidity and experience.

Unlike younger, less tested players, Galloway is already a guarantee in so many ways and could give immediate results even at a higher level.

C.J. Massinburg (G, Germani Brescia)

Now, in his second season in Brescia, C.J. Massinburg really looks like a player who has turned a corner.

In his first season in Italy, he struggled at times to adapt to a different role than the one he was originally signed for, but this season, he fully embraced the role of the sixth man and has been doing amazing things for Brescia.

His numbers have grown considerably from last season; Massinburg is averaging 13 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.

The American swingman also shoots 46% from deep, confirming his reputation as a highly efficient shooter.

The former Buffalo product is also an excellent defender on the perimeter and is often used against some of the best scorers in the league to try to limit them.

After two years at Brescia of a certain level, it really seems to be time for Massinburg to take another leap forward. As a 3&D profile, he could become a very intriguing option for several clubs this summer.

Rayjon Tucker (G, Reyer Venezia)

Rayjon Tucker certainly belongs to the category of players already better known than others we have mentioned so far.

A recent past between the NBA and G League, then last season, a standout year in Australia with Melbourne United.

Last summer, Tucker signed with Reyer Venezia and made his European debut. The American player immediately made his mark with his electrifying style of play.

A guard with great athleticism and explosiveness, lethal in the open court, and capable of guaranteeing at least a couple of highlight plays in every match. So far, Tucker is averaging 15 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 37% from three-point.

Rayjon TuckerCredit /IPA/SIPA-Scanpix

In his first EuroCup season, he averaged pretty similar numbers: 15 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. Sources have told BasketNews that several EuroLeague teams have already inquired about his availability this summer.

Aside from his offensive skills, Tucker is also a solid defensive player on the ball; he has the versatility to guard multiple positions.

He still needs to work on his off-ball defense, where he's often not the most focused player, but for a guy who will turn 27 in September, there's a lot to like and appreciate.

Xavier Sneed (F, Happy Casa Brindisi)

It has certainly not been an easy season for Happy Casa Brindisi. With only a few days left in the season, the team is at great risk of relegation to the second division.

It is a club that, over the years, has often discovered players who later made a remarkable leap in quality. Think of Darius Thompson and Derek Willis, to name the most recent examples.

Despite the difficulties on the court, there is one player who could retrace the footsteps of other Americans who have passed through Brindisi in past years. We are talking about Xavier Sneed, a Kansas State alum who's absolutely shining in his first European season.

After spending a few seasons in the G League and playing 13 games in the NBA with the jerseys of Memphis, Utah, and Charlotte, Sneed landed in Europe for the first time last summer, signing a one-year contract with Brindisi, and his impact on the Italian league was immediately noticeable.

Xavier SneedCredit ZUMAPRESS.com-Scanpix

The athletic swingman is averaging 16.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game in his first season in Italy. His physical presence is absolutely huge. He can play both 3 and 4, and his athleticism can really make a difference.

But Sneed is not only an impressive athlete, he's also a very efficient scorer, both off the dribble and as a pick-and-roll handler.

There's no doubt that this summer, Sneed will receive interest from bigger clubs.

"His combination of athleticism, verticality, and scoring ability makes him an extremely attractive player. In my opinion, he has all the tools to play at the EuroLeague level," a EuroLeague scout told BasketNews.

Derek Ogbeide (C, Pistoia)

Another Pistoia player who definitely deserves a mention in this article is Derek Ogbeide. The Nigerian/Canadian player has been a real revelation this year.

Last year, he played in Italy's second division, and in his transition to Pistoia, he seems not to have felt the jump in category at all.

Within a few months, Ogbeide established himself as one of the best big men in the Italian league, and his presence under the basket became a key element of Pistoia's incredible season.

Ogbeide is averaging 11.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block per game. He's currently the top rebounder in the league and was recently nominated in the Legabasket best starting five for the month of April.

Derek OgbeideCredit LaPresse via ZUMA Press-Scanpix

Defensively, he's a great rim protector and can hold his weight in the post. Offensively, he has been vastly helped by the presence of two guards, Charlie Moore and Payton Willis, who can feed him in the right way.

After a season like the one he is having, it is easy to imagine that Ogbeide could receive several offers and be set to increase his current salary.

He may not yet be ready for a top EuroLeague level, but he certainly looks like a player on the rise who could be an interesting bet for several clubs.

Tyler Ennis (PG/SG, Napoli Basket)

Tyler Ennis needs a little introduction. Dylan's younger brother, Tyler, boasts nearly 200 games at the NBA level and has always had superior skills.

The thing that has limited him the most in his career has been injuries. Last summer, after three seasons in Turkey with Turk Telekom and Tofas Bursa, Ennis accepted an offer from Naples. The offer came from Igor Milicic, who had faced Ennis several times as Besiktas' coach.

Without any particular surprises, Ennis took the leadership role in Naples and led the team to a historic success in the Coppa Italia, beating Olimpia Milan in the final.

Tyler EnnisCredit Stefano Guidi/Getty Images

The Canadian guard averages 14 points, 7 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game in the Italian league, consistently demonstrating his leadership.

Injuries might have limited his durability, but his presence on the court is always a plus for Napoli. When the game is on the line, and the team needs someone to step up, Igor Milicic always looks at Ennis.

"No disrespect to Napoli, but if it weren't for the injuries that he had in his career, Tyler now would play in the EuroLeague; that's how good he is," a EuroLeague scout told BasketNews.

Maybe it's a bit too late for him to have another chance at the EuroLeague level after briefly playing for Fenerbahce a few years ago. Still, his qualities have clearly projected Napoli to another level this season.

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