ANGT Bologna Qualifier 2026 - Standout Prospects

March 16, 2026 | By ScoutingUR | Category: Tournament Review

The Bologna leg of the Adidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT) was a premier destination for international scouts. The event featured a deep talent pool, including at least 8 players with legitimate NBA potential.

 

While high-profile draft prospects drew the most attention, several younger players also used the platform to break onto the global scene. Over three days of intense competition, these athletes boosted their professional stock while fighting for a spot in the ANGT Finals
 
Date: 13–15 March 2026
Location: PalaDozza — Bologna, Italy
 

Mate Khatiashvili (Guard – 6’2” – 2008 – Georgia – Baskonia)

Playmaking guard, shows his best moments when on the ball; struggles to impact the game off the ball. Highly effective P&R operator against drop or passive coverages, showing strong downhill driving ability and paint penetration. Perimeter jumper lacks fluidity and requires mechanical tweaks (3/17, 18% for the tournament). Showcases a reliable mid-range package. Possesses highly translatable traits for European professional levels. High-level feel and basketball IQ. Overall athleticism doesn’t translate to NBA level; potential top-tier European player.

 

Ricards Aizpurs (Guard / Forward – 6’6” – 2008 – Latvia – Next Gen)

Dynamic wing who averaged 13.6 PPG and 2.5 APG (11.8 PIR) over 8 games between the Munich and Bologna tournaments. Showcased elite efficiency inside the arc as a slasher and driver, shooting a blistering 68.2% (30/44) from two-point range. During the tournament, he was highly reliant on getting downhill; his perimeter mechanics and consistency are major swing factors to monitor, as he struggled from deep (24.5% on 53 attempts) and at the free-throw line (66.7%). Will need to continue to develop his consistency from behind the arc to have success at the next level.

 

Stefan Joksimovic (Guard – 6’5” – 2008 – Slovenia – Baskonia)

An All-Tournament Team selection, Joksimovic was arguably the most efficient and impactful player pound-for-pound in Bologna, leading the event in PIR (23.3). A high-IQ guard with an improving defensive motor, he excels at utilizing head fakes and body control to create advantages, finishing at the rim, or drawing contact (7.3 fouls drawn per game). He demonstrated a high-level clutch gene against Next Gen, taking over late with tough shot-making and high-arcing fadeaways; however, he occasionally settles for low-efficiency, late-clock step-backs. Moving forward, he would benefit from attacking the paint more consistently in end-of-clock situations when his perimeter shot isn't falling.

 

Nikola Kusturica (Shooting Guard / Small Forward – 6’9” – 2009 – Serbia – FC Barcelona)

Made the All-Tournament Team. A versatile two-way contributor who filled the stat sheet across the board (17.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.8 APG) throughout the tournament. He came up massive in the first-place game with 22 points and 9 boards. Excellent positional size and defensive instincts (1.3 SPG, 1.0 BPG), he is able to affect the game in multiple ways with perimeter shooting, finishes at the rim, and overall playmaking ability for his size.

 

Cheick Niang (Guard / Forward – 6’5” – 2008 – Senegal – Dolomiti Energia Trento)

Missed portions of the tournament due to call-ups with the senior professional team, but maximized his limited availability. Showcased highly impressive overall athleticism and advanced ball-handling ability for his size. Strung together several strong performances when on the floor, highlighting his intriguing upside and clear projectability for higher levels of competition.

 

Simon Gradin (Forward – 6’11” – 2008 – Argentina – Next Gen)

Mobile forward boasting an NBA-caliber wingspan and highly translatable physical tools. Flashes a consolidated shooting stroke, though on low volume during the tournament. Versatile defender who anchors defensive units effectively. Exhibits high basketball IQ and reliable decision-making as a connective passer. Outstanding, consistent motor and intangibles. Projects as a solid high-major college prospect within the next 2 years.

 

Juom Maker Bol (Forward – 6’10” – 2008 – Spain – Baskonia)

Scouting Notes: Elite interior finisher with phenomenal, NBA-caliber hands and touch. Shows promising perimeter shooting upside (shot 7/15, 47% from the perimeter). Primary concerns lie with his slight frame and long-term durability. Lacks self-creation skills but projects as an elite play-finisher. Displayed tough mid-range shot-making ability all weekend. Great feel around the basket, and his feel for the game appears to be at a high level—has the frame and physical skills to affect the game as a shot-blocker and rim protector—but I would also like to see his ability as a perimeter defender disrupting ball circulation with his wingspan.

 

Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje (Power Forward / Center – 6’11” – 2009 – USA – FC Barcelona)

Highly productive interior force who impacts winning at a high level. Dominant on the glass (8.5 RPG) and a highly efficient scorer (18.8 PPG). His combination of size, athleticism, and interior/exterior ability makes him incredibly interesting; he showcased an early ability to shoot the ball with fluid mechanics and an ability to put the ball on the floor to finish at the rim consistently. Combining these aspects with an overall high motor gave Joaquim well-deserved MVP honors at the tournament.

 

Mohamed Dabone (Power Forward / Center – 6’10” – 2011 – Burkina Faso / Spain – FC Barcelona)

Dabone turned heads all weekend as one of the event's highest-upside long-term prospects, boasting historical, NBA-caliber vertical pop and explosiveness. Potentially the most athletic player in his generation, he pairs elite rebounding instincts with a high-level motor. While he has significantly refined his shooting mechanics, his perimeter volume and consistency require further evaluation, and his next step will be developing the ability to generate his own shot both inside and out. His sheer physical tools and immense ceiling make him a standout, even as his perimeter game continues to develop.

 

Chiek Diallo (Center – 6’8” – 2008 – Spain – Baskonia)

Intriguing physical dimensions. Demonstrates high-level defensive versatility with the lateral ability to switch onto guards and also guard close to the basket. Struggled to catch with his hands and lacks soft touch outside the restricted area. Free-throw shooting is a significant weakness (11/18, 61%). Highly mobile big, though currently limited to being a pure rim-runner; would like to see him get to the FT line more frequently considering his size and ability to play through contact close to the basket.

 

Mounsour Bayo (Forward – 6’10” – 2009 – Gambia – Dolomiti Energia Trento)

An All-Tournament Team selection, Bayo raised his profile by proving to be an elite, high-motor anchor who led Trento to a third-place finish. A highly projectable two-way forward, he consistently generates extra possessions through relentless energy, defensive versatility, and disruptive anticipation in the passing lanes (1.8 SPG). He finished second in the tournament in rebounding (10.5 RPG) and showed solid finishing ability around the basket. While he displayed some potential to stretch into the mid-range, he is not yet a polished jump shooter, and continuing to develop his interior feel for the game remains a key area for growth.

 

Tournament Stock Risers

 

Livio Berlingeri (Guard – 6’4” – 2008 – Virtus Bologna)

An All-Tournament Team selection and one of the premier stock-risers in Bologna, Berlingeri emphatically answered questions about his scoring versatility by leading the event in scoring at 22.2 PPG. He cemented his status as a high-volume offensive engine with clear three-level scoring and primary on-ball creation abilities. While his status as a top-tier scoring option is secure, his decision-making in traffic and playmaking (1.5 APG) remain areas for growth. As he transitions to the next level, he will need to reduce his turnover rate and continue his physical development, but he remains a high-priority prospect to follow for college or senior basketball.

 

Simone Ventura (Guard – 6’6” – 2009 – Italy – Virtus Bologna / Cantu)

Boasts excellent positional size for a guard. Prolific scorer who averaged a highly productive 18.2 points per game (17.5 PIR). Excels at finishing inside the arc (54% on two-pointers) and drawing fouls, converting an impressive 86.7% from the free-throw line. Showcased strong defensive activity with 2.2 steals per game and solid positional rebounding (5.2 RPG). His primary developmental swing factor moving forward will be improving his three-point efficiency, as he struggled from deep (16.7% on roughly 3 attempts per game) during the tournament. Highly intriguing guard prospect considering physical dimensions and skill set at the guard/wing position.

 

Marco Milazzo (Guard – 6’1” – 2009 – Italy – Virtus Bologna)

2009-born player who will be one to watch over the next two seasons. Stock riser during the tournament. Perimeter-oriented guard who played heavy rotation minutes (27.5 MPG) as a primary floor spacer and secondary playmaker. Offensively, his skill set skews heavily toward the three-point line, where he showed solid capability, shooting 34.6% on high volume (6.5 attempts per game). However, he will need to continue to develop his ability to get to the basket and into the paint, attempting only ten 2-pointers across the entire tournament (40%). He also showcased solid feel for the game as a secondary playmaker through vision with a team-leading 3.8 assists per game, though his assist-to-turnover ratio (2.8 TOV) indicates a need for tighter ball security under pressure. Defensively, he disrupts well and plays with intensity, averaging 2.0 steals per game and using his hands effectively in passing lanes.

 

Antonio Barra (Forward – 6’7” – 2008 – Italy – Dolomiti Energia Trento)

Floor-spacing forward who provided steady two-way minutes across four games (21.6 MPG). Offensively, he relies heavily on the perimeter, taking the vast majority of his shots from beyond the arc. While his three-point efficiency was low during the tournament (22.2% on 4.5 attempts per game), he converted inside the arc at an elite clip (83.3% on low volume). Showcased connective traits and defensive activity, chipping in across the stat sheet with 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Demonstrated a high-level feel for the game with passing decisions, and physical upside with some of his physical dimensions.

 

Thomas Acunzo (Forward / Center – 6’9” – 2008 – Italy – Virtus Bologna)

Intriguing physical profile characterized by a strong, composed frame rather than elite burst. Offers a compelling blend of size and mobility. Capable of stretching the floor and projecting as a reliable two-level scorer. Close to his development ceiling physically, but projects as a good higher-level professional player or high-major college player if he can continue to develop his shooting ability and consistency in finishing around the basket.

 

 

Tournament MVP

Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje (Power Forward / Center – 6’11” – 2009 – USA – FC Barcelona): Led Barcelona to the title and a spot in the NextGen Finals.

  • Championship Game: 18 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists (17 PIR).
  • Tournament Averages: 18.8 points (3rd overall), 8.5 rebounds (6th), 2.0 assists, 21.0 PIR (4th).

 

All-Tournament Team (All-Star 5)

  • Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje (FC Barcelona)
  • Nikola Kusturica (FC Barcelona) - Tournament Averages: 17.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.0 blocks, 21.5 PIR.
  • Stefan Joksimovic (Baskonia) - Tournament Averages: 19.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 steals, 7.3 fouls drawn, 23.3 PIR (1st overall).
  • Mounsour Bayo (Dolomiti Energia Trento) - Tournament Averages: 13.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 18.3 PIR.
  • Livio Berlingeri (Virtus Bologna) - Tournament Averages: 22.2 points (Tournament Scoring Leader), 4.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 17.8 PIR.

 

For our full tournament report on all the main prospects in attendance - please subscibe to our database - Player Database