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Username Post: Justin Bassey FIBA U18        (Topic#19167)
mrjames 
Professor
Posts: 6062

Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
07-23-16 10:37 AM - Post#208910    

Justin Bassey is playing for Thailand in the Asia U18 Championships.

Bassey led the team with 20pts in a 100-93 loss to India in the opener. His squad takes on Chinese Taipei at 11:30 this morning.

Pretty amazing experience for Bassey off the court, considering that the Asia U18s are being held in Tehran.

 
mrjames 
Professor
Posts: 6062

Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
07-24-16 07:57 AM - Post#208920    
    In response to mrjames

Through two games, Bassey leads the competition with 26.5ppg. Not shooting great, but then again, he's carrying his team, so efficiency isn't the priority.

 
HARVARDDADGRAD 
Postdoc
Posts: 2685

Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
07-24-16 09:49 AM - Post#208924    
    In response to mrjames

With 11.5 rbs/game Bassey has second most in tournament in addition to being leading scorer. He's a guard! Thailand's next game streamed this morning (Sunday) at 11:30 am.



 
section110 
Masters Student
Posts: 847

Loc: south jersey
Reg: 11-22-04
07-24-16 01:28 PM - Post#208927    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

He's playing for THAILAND in Asian competition.

 
westphillywarrior 
Sophomore
Posts: 196

Age: 43
Reg: 01-08-11
07-24-16 05:22 PM - Post#208931    
    In response to section110

Yao Ming.

 
H78 
PhD Student
Posts: 1458
H78
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
Reg: 01-06-11
Justin Bassey FIBA U18
07-24-16 10:02 PM - Post#208941    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

  • HARVARDDADGRAD Said:
With 11.5 rbs/game Bassey has second most in tournament in addition to being leading scorer. He's a guard! Thailand's next game streamed this morning (Sunday) at 11:30 am.

Well, though 8:30 AM Pacific Time may have been too early for me, here's an article which pointed out that Bassey was the ONE non-Thai born athlete allowed to be on the team ("Thailand can get ONE of those guys to play for the National Team in each tournament."), and apparently there are other talented guys he beat out for that spot. https://tonesanddefinitio n.com/2015/08/04/thai-am-...


 
HARVARDDADGRAD 
Postdoc
Posts: 2685

Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
07-27-16 09:42 AM - Post#209061    
    In response to H78

While on a conference call, I watched tape of Bassey in a game vs Phillipines in which he scored 34 and had 21 rbs and 5 assts. He jumped the tip and seemed to play every position. Some of his drives and a slam where he started outside the 3 point circle and drove past 2 players before throwing it down over the opposing center were impressive. Flashes of Wes Saunders. This is however, very very weak competition and ball movement/defense is not strong. Sort of a decent HS game, probably what Justin was used to in Colorado.

I was disappointed in Justin's defense. Hoping it's just the nature of the tournament and the fact that he seems to be the biggest and strongest guy and so does a lot of helping out. I expect shot selection/efficiency will change dramatically and that Coach Amaker will work on the defense. The physicality and skills are there.

Otherwise, very eerie and strange to watch a basketball game in Tehran. Almost no one in the stands and banners of the Ayatollah hanging from the balconies. Pre-game kept camera on commentators who had no idea they were on air and so continued primping, picking and joking between themselves. I'm sure this was an eye opening (closing?) trip for a kid from Colorado heading to Harvard.

 
mrjames 
Professor
Posts: 6062

Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
07-27-16 02:51 PM - Post#209083    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

Bassey's Thai team got bounced in the group stage, but over the five games, he averaged 21 pts and 14 rebs (3rd and 2nd overall, respectively). He was also 9th in blocks and 11th in assists.

Saw various stretches of action. Bassey's teammates were bad. Some of the other teams in the tournament clearly have kids that can play, but the overall competition level wasn't great.

While his defensively ability remains to be seen, he does seem like another Wes-type on offense. He went strong to the rim a lot and drew tons of fouls. He (tried) to get his teammates involved too. He's way more likely to take threes than Wes, though Wes was pickier and converted at a much higher rate.

Clearly, Bassey isn't shy about taking over games if he has to, which is nice to see, but the next level will be more about filling his role well and that role likely won't be volume scorer (at least to start).

 
HARVARDDADGRAD 
Postdoc
Posts: 2685

Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
Justin Bassey FIBA U18
07-27-16 04:47 PM - Post#209087    
    In response to mrjames

Thank for the analysis Mike.

There was one strange game against Iraq where Bassey didn't score! He took only 5 shots (compared to 20 or so on average), but he did have 14 rbs. He averaged over 26ppg in the other 4 games.

He's a good shooter at almost 50% on two's despite playing the perimeter and being double teamed. I was very impressed by his strength, balance and creativity on drives. He hit almost 90% of his free throws. Shot close to 25% on three's, although many were forced as he was the team's main offensive option.

Towns is also an excellent free throw shooter. Hopefully Zena and Egi can improve (as Agunwa did) but at least the weak free throw shooting appears to be phasing out.

Edited by HARVARDDADGRAD on 07-27-16 04:56 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

 
iabhoops88 
Sophomore
Posts: 107

Loc: Los Angeles
Reg: 01-26-13
07-28-16 06:23 PM - Post#209102    
    In response to HARVARDDADGRAD

According to this article, he's the tallest player on the team at 6'3"...

http://www.fiba.com/asia/u18/2016/news/ca n-bassey-...

 
iabhoops88 
Sophomore
Posts: 107

Loc: Los Angeles
Reg: 01-26-13
Re: Justin Bassey FIBA U18
07-28-16 06:32 PM - Post#209103    
    In response to H78

The article points out that only one foreign-born Thai (Bassey, Tyler Lamb, and Moses Morgan) can play for a national team. This is a U18 tournament, so the other two were not eligible.

Having said that, Bassey's mother responded in the comment section that Justin has held a Thai passport since he was 4, so he is eligible for national teams without taking up the one foreign-born player rule (need to have passport before age 16).

 
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