Foreign bodies

Similar inexperience leads an unlikely pair to the lottery

By Albert Lin, CNNSI.com

NEW YORK -- Two of the fastest risers in Wednesday's NBA Draft are also its biggest mystery men. Not only do Maybyner Hilario (Brazil) and Nikoloz Tskitishvili (Georgia) hail from abroad, which means league scouts weren't able to keep tabs on them on a regular basis, but also, shockingly, neither even played all that much last season. Hilario suited up in only 15 games for Vasco da Gama in his homeland, while Tskitishvili saw action just 11 times for Italy's Benetton Treviso.

So why are these two players projected to be lottery picks? Turns out the buzz that surrounds inexperienced Americans also extends overseas: Both have huge upsides.

The players' on-the-court similarities pretty much end with their age (both are 19) and parallel inexperience. Yes, both ostensibly are listed as power forwards, but the 6-foot-11 Hilario weighs 260 pounds, has huge hands and a 7-4 3/4 wingspan, making him a post player, while the 7-foot Tskitishvili tips the scales at 220 pounds and has the lean build of a ballet dancer, which he was for six years, meaning he will operate on the perimeter.

Hilario landed on American radar screens with a single performance in the 2001 Goodwill Games. In 18 minutes against Team USA, Hilario scored eight points, grabbed seven rebounds and, most impressive, blocked five shots. Since he arrived in the U.S. three months ago to live and train with agent Michael Coyne in Cleveland, Hilario has not faced live, full-court competition. Hence, he has proven to be the ultimate workout warrior. He says the Nuggets (No. 5 pick), Knicks (7) and Heat (10) have expressed the most interest in his services.

"I never thought I would get to this point," Hilario, who is known as Nene, said through an interpreter. "It's always good to listen to guys with more experience, and I listened to the advice of more experienced NBA players who said I was good enough to do it now."

Hilario played soccer, swam and studied martial arts growing up, so he possesses a level of athleticism unusual for a man of his size. His soccer background has led to comparisons with Hakeem Olajuwon, but many also see the power of a young Shawn Kemp.

"I'm very surprised at the compliments I've gotten from all the coaches and all the teams," Hilario said. "I'm not sure if I'm ready or not, but I have to be. I'm trying to get in the right mood, to get used to the American lifestyle."

Tskitishvili's ascent is a product of the copycat mentality that pervades team sports. The success of fellow Europeans Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol have NBA teams searching for the next smooth-handling, outside-shooting, 7-foot forward from the Old Country. Because of custom, Tskitishvili, as a newcomer to Benetton, was relegated to garbage-time minutes during the Italian league season. Plus, he wasn't able to come to the U.S. until last Sunday, so the only way clubs could evaluate him was to fly to Italy for private workouts. Fortunately for Skita, as everyone calls him, Benetton's coach was Mike D'Antoni, a longtime NBA assistant and former Nuggets head coach. "He was always explaining to me how it was going to be in the NBA," said Tskitishvili, who taught himself English during his two years playing in Slovenia and also speaks Russian, Slovenian, Serbo-Croatian and Italian.

There is talk that Tskitishvili could go as high as the third pick, to the Warriors, but certainly no one expects him to slip past the Suns at No. 9 (Phoenix is rumored to be hiring D'Antoni as an assistant).

"I'm waiting to wake up," Tskitishvili said. "This is my dream, this is my wish. I'm really happy, really surprised."

Tskitishvili spent six years as a ballet dancer in his native Georgia, the former Soviet republic, nearly four with what he describes as "a professional company." As his frame began to stretch out, though -- he claims he grew 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) in 2 1/2 weeks -- he moved from the stage to the court. He brought along the skills he had developed from one medium to the other; observers would surprise him by correctly guessing his background. "I guess my footwork, movement was like a dancer," he said.

This is what should help Tskitishvili make the transition to the NBA. Though he may not have the bulk to withstand the daily rigors of the league, he loves to run the floor and should have enough quickness to get playing time as a small forward. "[The NBA] is faster," Tskitishvili said. "I like that game. It's my game."

Nene and Skita will be NBA players Wednesday night, despite atypical pedigrees. One thing teams have discovered about foreigners, though, is that there's no better way to learn than on-the-job training. Whichever teams draft these two players hope they don't stay mysteries for long.

 

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