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St. Pete Scenes

The view from the Hoop Summit

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Posted: Monday March 29, 1999 05:09 PM

By Dan Shanoff, CNN/SI

TAMPA, Fla. -- In last year's Nike Hoop Summit in San Antonio, a little-known 6'11" German center named Dirk Nowitzki vaulted himself from obscurity to the NBA's 1998 draft lottery with a record 33 points and 14 rebounds, leading an international team of youth all-stars past USA Basketball's Junior National Select Team, 104-99.

More than 3,500 curious fans -- including prep recruiting analysts, top-name coaches, a horde of assistant coaches and a few NBA executives -- filled the University of Tampa's Bob Martinez Center on Sunday to get a look at the next international gem -- Bruno Sundov of Croatia, ironically chosen by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the same draft they picked Nowitzki.

Sundov is a 19-year-old, 7'3" center who currently plays at Winchendon Prep School in Massachusetts. Forget your image of Shawn Bradley , all knees and elbows; the 230-pound Sundov is already filling out his frame, developing noticeable biceps.

As with all the International team players, Sundov plays Euroball, a size-indiscriminate style that emphasizes passing skills and mid-range jump-shot touch for all players, from guards to centers. Sundov entered the game midway through the first half and didn't play in the second, but his few minutes were telling, including a tip-dunk, a jumper from the foul line, a jumper from the foul line-extended, a bad entry pass into the lane that he smartly touched away to a teammate streaking to the basket, and a three-pointer.

Like Nowitzki, Sundov has a center's height and a small forward's game. Kevin Garnett , eat your heart out.

Whether he will sign with the Mavs next year -- or ever -- is unknown. While Sundov didn't break out or amaze with a Nowitzki-esque performance, he flashed a potential all-around game that had hoop-head futurists salivating.

Sundov's very limited playing time made room for an impressive performance by 17-year-old Nigerian center Olumide Oyedeji, who plays for Nowitzki's former club, Wurzburg (Germany), and is an alumnus of Russian Superleague's Moscow Dynamo.

The ripped Oyedeji (6'11", 237 lbs) displayed a variety of moves in the lane that seemed to frustrate the American post players. He doesn't match Sundov's court awareness or passing touch, but the good-natured, flamboyant Oyedeji appears to have as much NBA potential as any U.S. collegiate big man -- and certainly more than any current 17-year-old.

Mavs assistant Donn Nelson 's assessment of Sundov spoke for the state of recruiting teenagers in general: "As we did with Dirk, we drafted Bruno for what he can become down the line. He is one for the future."