The second version of the Pangos All-Euro Camp passed off on the AEK BC Academy Sports activities Middle in Ano Liosia, a city simply exterior the Northern area of Athens, Greece. The bi-annual two-day camp was extremely anticipated by faculty and professional hopefuls from Greece and different counties in Europe. In all, younger gamers from 14 totally different international locations descended on Athens to showcase their basketball skills.
Within the first version of this camp in 2023, camp director Dinos Trigonis and the assembled scouts and coaches didn’t know what to anticipate, however this time across the gamers exhibited a bit extra confidence and know-how from the beginning. There was some primary apprehension, however a overwhelming majority of the 60 plus attendees settled in and obtained comfy with the talent instruction led by former UAB and Ohio St. huge man Zisis Sarikopoulos, a Greece native with professional ball expertise.
Simply as was the case in 2023, the forwards with some dimension, girth and muscle had been the occasion’s standouts after sooner or later of competitors. Maybe a guard will flip heads on the second day, however the main candidates within the operating to be named All-Euro Camp Most Excellent Participant (MOP) after the conclusion of Thursday’s Cream of the Crop All-Star Recreation reserved for the highest performers is prone to be one of many proficient forwards in attendance.
There could be a couple of extra polished, and there may be undoubtedly extra skilled gamers, however no one has the uncooked skill of 6-foot-10 15-year previous (2028) Mohamed Sylla of Athens, Greece through French Guiana in South America. Sylla was found by an area Greek scout and reportedly has solely been taking part in organized ball for a yr. He’s been in Greece for about six months and it didn’t take however a couple of possessions to understand Sylla has some actual potential.
Sylla assaults every little thing across the basket and displayed the potential to knock down jumpers. He does have to work on his mid-range contact, however Sylla finishes with authority across the rim and reminds us a little bit of former NBA ahead LaPhonso Ellis in his younger days the way in which he can rapidly end a play across the rim with authority. He can also catch the ball comparatively effectively in visitors, however most significantly, performs with a way of urgency that somme of the native campers lacked.
Sylla is aware of the sport is his ticket to a greater life.
Sylla had 18 factors within the first sport and went up towards one of many higher forwards in attendance in 6-foot-8 18-year previous (2026) Dimitris Ntapsis of Athens, Greece in his second sport. Sylla obtained the perfect of Ntapsis by beating him to the prime actual property and by operating the ground higher so his guards may discover him in transition. Ntapsis had his moments and is a robust participant across the basket, however is extra methodical and fewer dynamic than Sylla. Ntapsis completed the sport with eight factors, whereas Sylla netted 17, together with a couple of factors of the spectacular selection.
Ntapsis is headed to play within the Nike EYBL Scholastic League in 2025-26 with Veritas Prep of Southern California.
One other ahead who is among the elite prospects of this yr’s All-Euro Camp is 6-foot-8 17-year previous (2026) Swann Penda of France. He got here in as arguably essentially the most heralded prospect and didn’t disappoint together with his good mixture of dimension, talent and method. Penda is aware of what he’s and greatest efficient at, has a nostril for the ball and is a terrific rebounder due to his agility to go get the ball and his regular arms.
The explanation Penda’s presence was so anticipated was his older brother Noah Penda was the Most Excellent Participant (MOP) of the inaugural camp two years in the past. Noah Penda confirmed sufficient promise previously yr for the Le Mans Sarthe Basket, a crew in France’s top-tier league, that he developed into the No. 32 choose of the 2025 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. His youthful brother just isn’t fairly the bodily specimen by way of utilizing his physique to punish defenders, however does has a few of the related traits as a giant bodied wing that may rating away from the basket as effectively. Penda scored a mixed 28 factors in his two camp video games and shall be within the operating for MOP honors on the camp’s conclusion on Thursday.
Among the different forwards that carried out effectively on day one embody 6-foot-5 16-year previous (2027) George Sakkkorafas of Thessaloni, Greece, 6-foot-5 17-year previous (2027) Giannis Pourmaras (PICTURED) of Athens, Greece and 6-foot-9 17-year previous (2025) Georgios Tsipourlianos of Athens, Greece. Sakkkorafas was making performs on each ends of the ground, Pourmaras was making his photographs from the skin and taking part in inside himself, whereas Tsipourlianos has stable publish strikes and likes to cross out of the inside. Tsipourlianos is headed to St. Thomas Extra (Oakdale, Conn., USA) for a post-grad yr to proceed his improvement.
Pourmaras undoubtedly solidified his standing as one of many camp’s Prime 10 performers due to his taking pictures and defensive skill. In actual fact, he charges as one of many camp’s greatest total exterior shooters together with 6-foot-3 17-year previous (2025) Anthony Caris of Floral Park (New York, USA), and 6-foot-1 16-year previous (2026) Konstantinos Katsampoxakis of Canterbury Faculty (New Milford, Conn., USA)
One other apart from Pourmaras who made noise defensively was 6-foot 16-year previous (2027) Yiannis Augustt of Haarlem, Netherlands. Augustt has a pleasant change of tempo dribble, performs with expertise and has the perfect set of toes to take a seat down and play 94 toes of any camper in attendance.
There wasn’t a wow, head-turning lead guard, however lots that confirmed promise. A handful displayed good really feel, however lack step one quickness essential to make a future influence in main D1 faculty basketball or within the EuroLeague. Nonetheless there may be loads of time for the younger guards to develop.
Among the day one guard standouts included 6-foot 17-year previous (2026) Ektoras Marcelos of Athens, Greece, 5-foot-8 18-year previous post-graduate Emir Kaan Soral of Cooper Academy in Southern California (USA) through Turkey, and 6-foot 14-year previous (2029) Konstantinos Giatras of Patras, Greece. Giatras has loads of skill and maybe nearly as good as courtroom imaginative and prescient as any of the campers in attendance, however simply wants energy and maturity to make a big effect towards this degree of competitors.
Giatras has been taking part in basketball for 9 years (or since he was 5) and it exhibits in his efficiency to date. He actually likes Lakers star Luka Doncic and patterns his sport after the Cavs’ Darius Garland and reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Giatras definitley has a shiny basketball future and the identical could be mentioned for a handful of the 65 gamers in attendance at this camp.
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He could be reached at [email protected]. Don’t overlook to observe him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
