Enes Kanter Makes Euroleague Debut
16-year-old Turkey Star Highly-Touted Prospect For Fenerbahce
Oct 31, 2008
There is officially a new big name on the map of Europe's youth basketball scene - and it belongs to 16-year-old power forward Enes Kanter. The Turkish prospect celebrated his debut in the Euroleague on Thursday just months after turning down an idea to go to a U.S. high school.
First Player Born in 1992 in the Euroleague
When Kanter entered in the first quarter of Fenerbahce's home contest against Alba Berlin, it meant the Euroleague finally entered the year 1992 as he became the first player born in that year to make an appearance in Europe's top league.
A Boy Among Men Fits In
Yes, being born in 1992 - May 20, 1992 to be exact - means the young man is just 16 years old. Among his teammates are 38-year-old Damir Kaan Mrsic, 32-year-old Mirsad Turkcan and 31-year-old Gordon Giricek. But Kanter did not look really overmatched in his debut, getting a dunk and lay-up inside for five points while grabbing three rebounds and getting a steal in just over nine minutes of action.
Kanter Making Name for Himself
Kanter has been a name among those in the know of European basketball for well over a year now. But he dominated two different levels during FIBA Europe's summer European Championship season, collecting 19.1 points, 14.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 1.0 blocks and 66% FG as a 16 (!!!)-year-old at the Under-18 tournament. He then led the Under-16 event with 22.9 points and 16.5 rebounds a game to go along with 1.5 blocks.
Hype Is Just About to Start
And now Kanter has made his debut in the Euroleague. In his first game in the Turkish TBL league, Kanter collected eight points and 12 rebounds in 21 minutes of action. With the youngster already confirming his summer, the hype around the young man has started.
Draft Express, a website which focuses on prospects throughout Europe, said this of the Turkish talent: "-Enes Kanter is entering Ricky Rubio territory, seeing a handful of minutes in the Euroleague competition despite being six months away from turning 17 years old."
Rubio of course is the Spanish 18-year-old guard who has dazzled observers in Europe for more than two years and in the summer unleashed his talent on the world at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
And nbadraft.net added: "(Kanter) might even challenge the dominance Ricky Rubio showed a few years back. ... Like with Rubio, there's a chance we are witness to the beginning of something special here."
Star Almost Went to High School in the U.S.
European basketball fans were originally scheduled to miss Kanter's development as Turkish basketball officials considered sending him to a high school in the United States, selecting the Winchendon Academy in Massachusetts. But the Turks made the better decision and Europe has another emerging star talent to enjoy.
Here a feature about Kanter at the Under-18 European Championship in Greece in July.
