Blink into the Future: Club Joventut Badalona U18

Introduction

Following the steps of the previous article, today we are looking into one of Spain's most successfull youth systems. Club Joventut Badalona, also known as "La Penya" are a Club with a great tradition that "produce" a high amount of professional players.

This year, their U18 squad went on to win the ANGT edition of Patras. With Real Madrid (winners in Munich) and FC Barcelona (winner in Zadar), they are the third spanish team that has won the Trophy and secured their participation in the Final 8 in May.

Let's take a look into the team and some of the players.

The Team

If you read the previous article about Real Madrid, you might be curious to know if La Penya follows the same organization. They do not, although there are many similarities.

Their players play in at least three different teams, across three different leagues: U18 league, EBA (4th division) and Leb Plata (3rd division). Some of the younger players, might even play in U16, like for example Ian Platteeuw, from whom we talk later in the article.

While Real Madrid plays with the same U18 roster in EBA and U18, La Penya moves their players across the teams according to the requirements both of the players and the teams. This allows them to be flexible and highly adaptable to injuries, for example, although it might have the negative side of missing opportunities to develop team chemistry.

However, if something is notable pretty quick when watching any game from any team from the Club, is their identity and playing style, where they focus a lot and take pride in player development and growing talent from within the club.

The Players

Quick note before we start. As usual, this article is thought as an overview. The videos are, for the most part, highlight reels found on the internet, and by no means an in depth breakdown. Thank you in advance to the creators of the videos, if you like them, please click the source and leave them a like or some feedback, they sure will appreciate it.

Ruben Prey (2005)

The portuguese 209 cm big displays a long athletic frame, defined muscles, but looks like he might still grow. Explosive in short bursts, excels in small spaces. Great partner for running a pick and roll, good hands and finishes above the rim. Has room for improvement out of the dribble with back to the basket, although shows some finesse in some attempts and makes.?

Proactive and not only reactive on the defensive end, does a good job breaking the contact to avoid being boxed out. Moves feet well, shows agility and willingness to go to dance with the opponent. Seems to have good instincts on rebounds.?

Overall a force to be reckoned with at the U18 level and a very interesting prospect for the pro level.

Iker Garmendia (2006)

Iker catches the eye right away because of his old-school wingman look. After watching him play for a bit, one can feel his passion and hunger to win. He is vocal on the ourt, loves to compete, shows his emotions. Does a bit of everything.Pushes the ball after rebound. Attempts 3s, loves the corner, still needs to establish himself a threat from long range. Attacks out of the dribble, shows some craftiness around the rim. Tries to find teammates. Does not hold the ball.?

On the defensive end he is very active both on ball or away from it. Knows how to use his length to disrupt ball movement, pressuring passing lines. Hustles and is active switching distances on the ball. Can help rotating and contesting vertically and has good hands around the rim when fighting for rebounds. Seems to have the legs to slide and keep infront the best of them.

Should evolve nicely on the physical side and get stronger and more explosive as his body keeps maturing.

In my opinion, huge upside for a player that could potentially play up to three positions on the floor depending on the roles.

Ian Platteeuw (November 3rd, 2007)

He is still very, very young, but showed great heart at the Hospitalet Christmas Tournament, going against probably some of the toughest competition one can face at U18.?

Platteeuw is a big with nice touch around the rim, reminds to a legend now playing for the Joventut pro team, Ante Tomic. Focused, active not letting opponent move without trying to disrupt him, shows nice instincts on defence (rotations, vertical contests, quickness) and offence (trying to distribute, setting screens, going 1on1).

Definitely a prospect to follow up closely in the seasons and tournaments to come.

Conrad Martinez (2004)

The most senior player on the team is a leader on the court. Not afraid of taking responsibility, as we already saw in with the U17 Spanish National Team. Quick, snarky point guard that is not very shifty or creative per se, but will run the offence and make good reads when setting up teammates (averaged 4.0 ast per game at the ANGT, 3.9 AST during the U17 WC, 2.4 AST in Leb Silver and 3.1 in EBA). Hungry and pesky on defense, makes up for his lack of size and versatility with grit and hustle.

Safe to say he is a player that will play in LEB Silver/Gold to keep developing his skills, with potential to eventually getting a chance at ACB as a backup/3rd point guard. Depending on his evolution and the context of the team, he might even establish himself at the top flight level. Difficult not to root for him.

Dwayne Aristode (2006)

The 204 cm tall player from The Netherlands shows a quick first step that he uses to blow by defender, mixing it up with eurosteps of different kinds to navigate the paint and try finish at the basket. He is clearly raw and does not have as much success as he would like, but with further development his ceiling is pretty high. He could have a better shot selection, setting for hard contested threes in many ocassions where he could have drove to the basket after faking the shot. More a slasher/finisher than a creator.?

On the defensive end he navigates through screens well when defending. Has active hands pressuring the ball. Moves feet well, able to slide and stay with attacker, long arms and instincts to get steals in passing lanes and can help with rebounding duties.

All in all, a player with interesting physical and technical tools worth keeping an eye on.

End notes

It will be very interesting to see how La Penya does at the ANGT Final Tournament against the top teams of Europe. But no matter how the tournament goes, there is something sure: No matter if they win or lose, their coaches will keep the vision and they will keep developing and helping players reach their goals, and we will be witness and get to enjoy watching them on the court.