Top 5 players to watch in EuroCup semis: from super talents to local heroes / News - Basketnews.com

With the EuroCup semifinal series right around the corner, BasketNews is spotlighting five players who could make waves in the crucial games.

Credit: AFP, IPA/SIPA, Vid Ponikvar / SPORTIDA/SIPA - Scanpix Credit AFP, IPA/SIPA, Vid Ponikvar / SPORTIDA/SIPA - Scanpix

It's crunch time in the 2023-24 EuroCup season, as the semifinals are set to tip off on Tuesday.

The action begins in France, where the two regular season group winners will host the opening contests of the best-of-three series. Following this, the second legs are scheduled for Friday night, with Game 3, if required, set for the following week.

These matches will feature some serious talent on the court, with players destined for the EuroLeague or even the NBA.

BasketNews has compiled a list of the Top 5 players expected to capture attention and potentially alter the course of the semifinals.

Matt Mitchell | F | Besiktas Istanbul

After being overlooked in the 2021 NBA draft, the 25-year-old wing is currently in his third season playing in Europe. He could be a game-changer in the series vs. JL Bourg since Mitchell is well aware of French basketball, having competed there for two years with SIG Strasbourg.

The two-way forward, who combines sharp three-point shooting, free throw creation (and conversion), and finishing near the rim, has averaged 12.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 12.0 PIR for his team.

But his heroics came when it mattered the most, as Mitchell delivered a career-best performance in the EuroCup, tallying 22 points and 6 rebounds in the quarterfinal game against Hapoel Tel Aviv.

His contributions were instrumental in sparking an incredible comeback for Besiktas, which trailed by 21 points (26-47) in the second quarter.

"I'm very proud of us," Mitchell said after pulling off the improbable victory. "I think we live for playoff moments and big games like this."

A San Diego State University product is once again gearing up to shine under the spotlight. Who knows? He might catch the eye of some EuroLeague scouts along the way.

Gabe Olaseni | C | London Lions

Over the years, Olaseni has become a cornerstone of the Great Britain national team. And now, he is leading his hometown squad to unprecedented success.

The 32-year-old big man is a constant double-double threat, averaging 15.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 20.9 PIR. His efficiency shines through with shooting percentages of 63.5% on two-pointers and 81.1% from the free-throw line.

Although Olaseni missed the quarterfinal clash against U-BT Cluj-Napoca due to the birth of his first child, the absence did not hinder his team, as the Lions made quick work of the Romanian squad. Now, with his return, Olaseni brings renewed energy to the team.

He could be a big problem for Paris' frontline.

These two teams faced off in the regular season, and Olaseni showed up big time. He dropped 15 points and grabbed 11 boards in the first game, then followed it up with 14 points and 7 rebounds in the second. Despite his efforts, the Lions took losses in both matches.

It's been a long journey for Olaseni, taking him far from home. He spent six years in the United States for high school and college ball, then bounced around Europe playing professionally in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and finally, the last four years in Turkey.

But now, he is back where it all began, just minutes away from his childhood grounds. Not only is he playing for his hometown team, but it is also his first time suiting up for an English club in his career.

"It's still unreal that I can look into the stands and see the people I care about," he said.

It would be a wonderful story if this homegrown player could succeed on home soil with his hometown club.

Zaccharie Risacher | F | JL Bourg

Arguably the biggest prospect playing in Europe right now. The 18-year-old could follow in the footsteps of Victor Wembanyama and become the second consecutive French talent to snag the top spot in the NBA draft.

Risacher was already turning heads before the 2023-24 season, having made the move from ASVEL to JL Bourg. But his growth in crucial areas has propelled him back to the top of every scout's wishlist.

The son of French basketball legend Stephane Risacher has always been a gifted shooter off the catch who shows consistent, repeatable mechanics.

But this season, he has taken his shooting game to a whole new level, sinking a jaw-dropping 53.3% of his 60 three-point attempts throughout the EuroCup season, ranking third in the league.

Risacher's lengthy wingspan also plays a significant role in Bourg's defensive prowess, contributing to the team's status as the best in the EuroCup in terms of limiting opponents' three-point shooting, allowing a mere 29.2% success rate from beyond the arc.

Risacher is the main reason why NBA scouts and executives have been visiting the small French town of Bourg-en-Bresse, where the population barely tops 40,000. To date, he leads his team in scoring in the EuroCup, averaging 12.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 11.1 PIR per game.

"Risacher will have NBA eyes on him every time he steps on the floor," ESPN's expert Jonathan Givony wrote of him.

And if there is any stage to prove why he should go first overall in the upcoming draft, it's the EuroCup semis.

Nadir Hifi | G | Paris Basketball

Another top prospect in the ranks. Meet the 21-year-old French-Algerian sensation who was a hot commodity in the French market last summer, thanks to his stellar season with Le Portel, where he averaged a solid 17.0 points per game.

Last March, Hifi put on an absolute clinic against Paris Basketball, dropping 39 points. This performance caught the eye of Paris management, who took a chance on him for the following season. And that gamble pays off big time.

Hifi is currently lighting up the EuroCup as the fourth-best scorer, averaging 16.3 points, along with 2.5 assists and 13.2 PIR per game. But what's even more impressive are his shooting percentages: 60.2% from inside the arc, 38.1% from downtown, and 94.5% from the free-throw line.

"It's hard not to be excited when you watch him play. He always has great courage and takes difficult shots. He's never afraid; that's not so common, especially for such a young player," a EuroLeague scout told BasketNews' Orazio Cauchi.

Hifi has only failed to hit double digits in points once this season and has shown time and again that he has that clutch factor.

In addition, he is doing all this damage in just over 22 minutes of playtime, with an efficiency that's off the charts considering the number of shots he takes.

With his electrifying play, fearlessness, and knack for turning every game into a spectacle, Hifi has become one of the most exciting players to watch in Europe right now.

It's a prime opportunity for him to prove to NBA teams what they might have missed out on when he went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft.

TJ Shorts | G | Paris Basketball

The reigning BCL regular-season and Final Four MVP is also the leading candidate in the race to become the 2023-24 EuroCup MVP. The last two seasons for Shorts have been nothing short of spectacular.

If Hifi is the Robin of the team, then Shorts is undoubtedly the Batman. He has been putting up insane numbers, averaging the third-best 17.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, a league-leading 7.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, all adding up to a league-best PIR average of 22.8.

Paris has experienced near-perfection this EuroCup season, clinching a 17-1 record in the regular season and securing the top spot in Group A, largely due to the contributions of Shorts.

The tandem of Shorts and Hifi has consistently dazzled Paris fans, with their combined efforts producing 36 points in the quarterfinals. It's no surprise that they will be on top of London's scouting report for the upcoming series.

Shorts did not just play his first EuroCup do-or-die game; he owned it. With another stellar individual showing, he led Paris to a decisive victory over Joventut Badalona, earning himself yet another MVP of the Round honor. That makes it four times this season.

Despite standing at just 1.75 meters, Shorts' lightning speed and skill were on full display as he led the French team with 21 points and 9 assists in the quarterfinal clash, all while maintaining a flawless turnover record. Additionally, he contributed 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and drew 7 fouls.

All that will be tested again very soon. Shorts is prepping for another opportunity to show why he is not just the best player in the EuroCup but why he deserves a shot at the EuroLeague.

Honorable mentions: Jonah Mathews (Besiktas), Angel Delgado (Besiktas), Isiaha Mike (JL Bourg), Matthew Morgan (Lions), Sam Dekker (Lions), Collin Malcolm (Paris).

URBONUS podcast:

Like what we are doing? You can express your gratitude here.