Every season, we get to watch new talent develop in the VTB United League. Players like Denis Zakharov, Janis Berzins, Chasson Randle, Artem Klimenko, and others made huge strides last season. This year also should not disappoint: New stars are ready to burst onto the scene.
A lot of teams went young in the off-season, which should make the race for Young Player of the Year that much more exciting.
There’s a big crop of up-and-coming talent. For example, expectations are high for 20-year-old Alexander Gavrilov. After tearing up the VTB United Youth League with CSKA-2, the Russian will test himself at the next level in Tallinn. He’s already debuted for his new club in the Estonian leagu and Baltic League. Competing with Sten Sokk and Martin Dorbek for playing time, Gavrilov hasn’t seen the court much, but there’s still plenty of time for him to make an impact.
20-year-old Ivan Viktorov has also shown loads of potential. The Nizhny Novgorod forward earned regular minutes at the club last season, including a breakout performance in an upset win over CSKA. But he needs more experience and confidence to reach the next level.
Neither of these men are likely to compete for Young Player of the Year this season. But there are several other talented youngsters to keep an eye on.
Anton Astapkovich (Avtodor)
He’s been on the radar for several years, but the average fan hasn’t been able to see him play much as he’s spent most of his time dominating at the youth level. Now it’s time to see if Gavrilov can handle the bright lights of the VTB United league. He’s going to face stiff competition for playing time in Saratov, battling Nick Minnerath and Tomislav Zubcic in practice.
Gavrilov showed promise in the team’s first game and Astana, impressing with his work ethic, court vision, and positioning. These qualities should help him earn regular minutes on the court.
Robert Upshaw (Kalev)
The American is one of the favorites for young player of the year. A big, powerful big man, Upshaw will be asked to patrol the paint and clean up on the offensive glass. Highlights from his collegiate career suggest that he will have a major impact.
If the coaching staff can help Upshaw reach his potential, Kalev could contend for a playoff spot. But it’s going to be a long process. Through three games, Upshaw is averaging 8.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks.
Ilya Gromovs (VEF)
Riga has a reputation for developing talent. Janis Timma was named the league’s best young player two seasons ago, and Janis Berzins almost won the award in 2015-16. Ilya Gromovs will try to have a similar breakthrough this season. The center with Russian roots is starting the campaign as a backup to Martins Meiers. He’s lacking confidence and consistency, but 10 to 15 minutes on the court each night should help him overcome that. Gromovs is already a good rebounder and should improve on offense.
Andrey Desyatnikov (Zenit)
Fans may recall Desyatnikov’s sick alley-oop dunk at the 2015 EuroBasket. Playing for the Russian national team, he recorded one of the prettiest plays of the tournament.
Unfortunately Desyatnikov was not able to win much playing time at Zenit last season. But he wants that to change. Given his talent and size (217 cm), expect the center to improve. He should also be helped by the arrival of Stefan Markovic. The Serb is a team player and knows how to get his big men involved.
Stanislav Ilnitsky (Khimki)
Stanislav has been a regular in Khimki’s rotation for the last two seasons. He also recently debuted for the Russian national team. After such a meteoric rise, fans have extremely high expectations for the young Russian.
Thus far, Ilnitsky has been seen as a role player and someone who gets the dirty work done. Now it’s time for him to begin developing his skills on offense. If he can improve his three-point shooting and become a threat with the ball, he could be one of this season’s breakout stars.
Igor Kanygin (Enisey)
Kanygin’s move to Enisey raised some eyebrows. But he’s shown tantalizing promise in the preseason. Head coach Oleg Okulov gave the center a chance and he took advantage, earning a spot in the rotation. Igor lacks consistency, but he has the physical size and skills for pro basketball.
Playing against future VTB opponents (Avtodor, VEF, and Nizhny Novgorod) and top Lithuanian teams (Neptunas, Lietuvos Rytas), Kanygin played with confidence. He showed an ability to score with his back to the basket, exploit the pick-and-roll, rebounds, and block shots. Enisey is excited about its young big man.
Artem Klimenko (Avtodor)
Klimenko won Young Player of the Year in the VTB League last season and has a great chance to defend his title. He’s already seen as Russia’s second-best center behind Mozgov. But he doesn’t want to stop there.
Klimenko has an ideal situation at Avtodor. Like last year, he’s going to be the starting center and doesn’t have any real competition. Terrific size, a coaching staff that believes in him, and a decent offensive arsenal promise a very bright future.
The only thing that might slow him down are injuries and his dependence on his teammates to get him the ball. In the first game of the season, Artem converted 75% of his shots, but only scored eight points (3-4 from the field, 2-2 from the line). Saratov’s most efficient offenseive player finished seventh in field goal attempts. That might be one reason why Nikolai Mazurs was fired. In any case, new coach Sergei Mokin certainly knows how to use Klimenko.
Mikhail Kulagin (CSKA)
Mikhail may be the most talented player on the list. He was scintillating at the Russian basketball Federation summer camp, outshining more experienced players. But he’s going to have a tough time competing for Young Player of the Year given the depth on CSKA’s roster. It’s virtually impossible to get much playing time when you’re stuck behind Teodosic and De Colo.
Nonetheless, Kulagin will get his chances. The grueling Euroleague schedule and foreign player limits will force Dimitris Itoudis to rely on his Russians. Of course, practicing with Teodosic, Jackson, and De Colo will also help Kulagin get better. He’s got incredible potential, something he showed against Avtodor at the end of last season.
Alexander Martynov (Enisey)
Alexander debuted in the VTB League three years ago with Krasnye Krylia. Since then, he’s had a lots of ups and downs: Injuries, suspensions, and a solid season with the Russian junior team in the Superleague in 2014-15. Martynov led that team in scoring, averaging 15.9 points per game.
Last season was not as smooth. An injury over the summer with the junior team and a rushed recovery resulted in inconsistent performances. But head coach Oleg Okulov believes in Martynov’s talent. He’s going to get a chance, and if he takes advantage, the league will be able to boast another exciting Russian scoring threat, someone who can average more than 10 points per game.
Ilya Popov (Nizhny Novgorod)
Popov started getting playing time at the end of last season. But this season will be a much better test of his true potential. He’s currently the backup center on Nizhny’s roster. But that could change in the months ahead.
One of Popov’s biggest struggles is staying on the court. He fouled out in less than 12 minutes against UNICS. But he looks ready for this level, especially on offense. Popov went 3-3 from the field and knocked down a free throw.
Konstantin Kucher
