OPQT's: Five players who lit it up and three ballers who broke out in Turkiye

ISTANBUL (Turkiye) - Some of the best players in Europe along with several emerging stars submitted spectacular performances at the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament 2023 in Turkiye.  

Here are the top five players who shone the brightest and three others who had breakout tournaments. 

Five Players Who Lit It Up

Dario Saric - Croatia 

Tournament Statistics:  24.0 EF; 15.8 PPG; 6.4 RPG; 5.6 APG

The new Golden State Warriors signing was at his mesmerizing best with a typically superb all-round performance.  Saric saved his best for last with a masterclass in the final against hosts Turkiye to finish with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 2 steals in 35 minutes. He had the leading efficiency of the tournament with 24. 

The 29-year-old was Croatia's main playmaker and dished out several dazzling no-look dimes in the tournament. Saric connected especially beautifully with center Ivica Zubac in a deadly one-two punch for Croatia.  Saric stepped up with scoring when required, especially in the final,  while his powerful frame always presented problems for opponents on the defensive end. Once again, he proved to be Croatia's glue guy. 

Ivica Zubac - Croatia   

Tournament Statistics: 23.8 EFF; 16.0 PPG; 8.4 RPG

Coming off a breakout NBA season with the Los Angeles Clippers, Zubac continued his strong form to help lead Croatia to the coveted ticket for the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024. Zubac was almost impossible to stop in the paint as he repeatedly bullied his way to the basket against overmatched opponents. He also played strong interior defense to be a two-way monster and an interior force for Croatia. He was subdued in the Final, but still held his own against Turkiye's formidable frontcourt to haul in 10 rebounds. 

Alperen Sengun - Turkiye

 

Tournament Statistics: 18.8 EFF; 16.6 PPG; 5.0 RPG

The 21-year-old entered with a lot of hype after producing a standout second NBA season, where he cemented himself as a starter for the Houston Rockets.  Sengun didn't disappoint to thrill the home fans with his electric game, where he repeatedly bulldozed his way to the rim.

With a mixture of strength and explosiveness, the power forward was too tough to handle for defenders and he also showcased shooting range to underline his all-round firepower.  While he struggled with foul trouble in the Final, Sengun remains a foundational piece for Turkiye to build around for many years to come. 

Omer Yurtseven - Turkey 

Tournament Statistics: 17.0 EFF; 12.0 PPG; 9.8 RPG

The newly signed Utah Jazz center formed an intimidating frontcourt with Sengun during Turkiye's campaign.The 7ft (2.13m) Yurtseven dominated the glass, constantly providing his team with second chances, and was a major presence on defense while anchoring the middle. The 25-year-old is entering the prime of his career as he looks to help a youthful Turkiye usher in a golden period . 

Elijah Clarance - Sweden

Tournament Statistics: 13.5 EFF; 19.3 PPG; 4.8 RPG

The 25-year-old was the leading scorer of the tournament averaging 19.3 points per game to lead Sweden's spirited Semi-Final run. As the lowest ranked team in the draw, Sweden were considered an underdog to emerge from the group stages but Clarance ignited their offense after shrugging off a slow start to the tournament against the Netherlands. 

The left-handed guard showed his ability to light up the floor with deadly long-range shooting mixed with strong finishing at the rim. Sweden rode his hand, perhaps too much at times, with Clarance shooting just under 40% from the field.If he can be more selective with his shot making then Clarance can become a legit star. 

Three Breakout Players 

Jesse Edwards - Netherlands 

Tournament Statistics: 20.0 EFF; 18 PPG; 8.0 RPG

There was a lot of expectation over the 23-year-old center, who had played well for Syracuse last college season. Edwards had limited opportunities with the Netherlands previously, but enjoyed a breakout performance in national colors to finish third overall in efficiency. 

He battled foul trouble at times, but Edwards impressed on both ends of the floor and gamely went toe-to-toe with Zubac in his final outing. The 7 footer looms as a key plank for a talented Netherlands team looking to rise in basketball. 

Thijs De Ridder - Belgium

Tournament Statistics: 18.3 EFF; 13.3 PPG; 9.0 RPG

It was a major tick for the 20-year-old rising star of Belgian basketball, who handled his own against the likes of Zubac and Edwards.  Unleashing an inside-outside game, the athletic De Ridder was able to find his spots while he also was a menace on the defensive end. Expect him to be a leader of the Belgium team in the near future.

Oleksandr Kovliar - Ukraine  

Tournament Statistics: 17.0 EFF; 19.3 PPG; 7.5 APG

The 21-year-old guard announced himself by leading Ukraine to the final four as Kovliar finished equal first in points and assists per game His shot selection was at times rash, underlined by shooting just 39.7% from the floor, but Kovliar impressively stepped up to be Ukraine's go-to option. Kovliar's eye-catching display makes him a player to keep a close eye on in the future.

FIBA