The best-kept secret in NBA scouting circles in a secret no more.
Meet Giannis Antetokoumpo, a 6-10 point guard who already has signed to play professionally next season for Zaragoza in Spain.
Yes, a 6-10 point guard, a Greek freak of Nigerian heritage who could end up being a first-round draft pick after putting on quite a show in the Greek national junior tournament attended by Bryan Colangelo of the Toronto Raptors and Masai Ujiri of the Denver Nuggets.
Antetokoumpo had 33 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals to lead the junior club Filathlitikos into the finals against Panathinaikos’ junior team. It was a breakout performance from the child prodigy, who reportedly grew up living illegally in Greece his entire life after his mother emigrated from Nigeria. His 20-year-old brother, Thannasis, a 6-foot-7 small forward, also is considered an NBA prospect.
Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti and Houston’s Daryl Morey, among others, also have been to Athens to scout Antetokoumpo, whose contract with Zaragoza is said to contain an affordable buyout clause.
Oh, and he has a 7-3 wingspan.
The Greek and Nigerian basketball federations are both trying to register Antetokoumpo to play for their respective national teams, and Antetokoumpo is expected to participate at the NBA pre-draft Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy.
Here is a scouting report video from DraftExpress, which has Antekoumpo ranked No. 33 in the site’s Top 100: