Nikola Lalic

Montenegro also happens to enjoy in its roster the guy who has looked like the best player from the tournament's small sample we were able to witness. His name is Nikola Lalic and he runs the show for the Balkan team from the point guard position.

Born in 1989 and standing somewhere around 6-3, he's a nicely built player, with solid athleticism, very smart and extremely difficult to stop for his opponents. The guy just goes inside again and again, always knowing when and where to attack, finding the way to the rim. He shows notable ball-handling skills and footwork in penetration, with a nice ability to finish with floaters and layups.

Still, he's not your typical scoring guard, but a good decision maker who involves his teammates and makes things happen for his team. He particularly excels in transition, pushing the ball and finding the best solution, either with a long pass early or with the definitive assist near the basket. Not as impressive in the set offense, he still produces by dishing off the dribble and taking heady decisions. He's just a smart guy with a high basketball IQ.

Lalic is more of a slasher than a shooter, even if he can knock down long distance jumpers, apparently preferably in spot-up mode. His offensive brilliance doesn't save him from committing on defense, where he uses his quickness and works as any other teammate. Actually, he's probably the kid who showed the best chances to eventually become a solid player at a top European level.