The basketball world got a glimpse of a future superstar on Thursday night. It wasn’t a long one, but just enough to whet the appetite. Star Turkish star prospect Enes Kanter made his Euroleague debut for Fenerbahce. For those who don’t know of him … he is only 16 years old.
Kanter became the first player born in 1992 to play in the Euroleague and scored five points on 2-of-3 shooting and 1-of-2 free throws as well as three rebounds and one steal in just more than nine minutes of action.
Kanter was a major hit at this summer’s Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim before dominating the FIBA Europe Under-18 European Championship in Greece in late July. Having just turned 16 in May, Kanter was tremendous playing against opposition two years older than himself, averaging 19.1 points, 14.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 block while shooting 66% from the floor.
The 6-8 power forward finished off his summer manhandling his age group at the Under-16 European Championship, where he led the tournament with 22.9 points and 16.5 rebounds to go along with 1.5 blocks while shooting 65% from the field.
Turkey had planned on sending Kanter to the United States to attend high school in Massachusetts. But the federation and Kanter in the end decided against the move.
And European basketball fans will be glad for that move as this kid is expected to be special.