Three stars from Manresa shine in the Eurocup elite

The Basketball Manresa player radar has solidified its reputation as one of the most reliable in Europe. For years, the Catalan team has identified profiles that later stand out in top-level competitions. Sylvain Francisco and Chima Moneke in the Euroleague are the most notable examples, but the Eurocup also has a wealth of success stories linked to the scouting in Manresa. Three current names confirm this: Jerrick Harding at Turk Telekom, Ismael Bako again with the Turkish team, and Devin Robinson at Slask Wroclaw.

The Eurocup has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. For several seasons, it seemed to lose relevance compared to other European competitions, but the resurgence has been evident. Internationally recognized names such as Nick Calathes, Zachary Zeljaas, Bryce Jones, or Cedi Osman are currently playing in the tournament, attracting investment from teams with significant financial muscle. The prize for the champion—the direct ticket to the Euroleague—motivates multiple teams to compete ambitiously, creating an increasingly competitive environment.

Jerrick Harding: the scorer shining at Turk Telekom

Jerrick Harding's trajectory exemplifies Manresa's ability to scout talent in secondary leagues. After leaving the NCAA, the American point guard landed in the Czech Republic league, where Manresa's radar did not overlook his potential. His time with the Catalan team was revealing: he emerged as one of the top scorers in the ACB Liga Endesa, showcasing a frantic scoring ability that caught the attention of more prominent teams.

From Bàsquet Manresa, Harding continued his rise. Morabanc Andorra was his next destination, where he solidified his evolution as an elite scorer. Subsequently, his career accelerated in international basketball: Rytas Vilnius allowed him to shine in continental competition, and this season at Turk Telekom, he has reached an undeniable level of prominence in the Eurocup. The point guard is the fourth top scorer in the competition with 18 points per game, only surpassed by Quincy Olivari, Cedi Osman, and Tony Perkins. In the Turkish league, known for its intensity, he maintains the same average.

What distinguishes Harding is his ability to create shots under pressure. He is not a conventional playmaking point guard nor a complete player defensively or in rebounding, but a scoring specialist. His shooting profile regularly hovers above 50% on two-pointers and 35% on three-pointers, executing pull-ups and changes of pace with lateral steps that destabilize defenses. Although this season has started irregularly in the Turkish league, his shooting volume remains consistent in percentages, confirming his status as an elite scoring combo guard.

Ismael Bako: from promise to reference in the Eurocup

Ismael Bako represents a story of resurgence. His emergence in the European elite was meteoric: after leaving the Belgian league, ASVEL Villeurbanne incorporated him directly into the Euroleague, the highest level continental competition. However, sharing a locker room with world-class big men like Tonye Jekiri, Guerschon Yabusele, or Moustapha Fall limited his minutes during that formative stage.

Bàsquet Manresa became his turning point. The Catalan team offered him playing time to mature as a player and prepare for a new Euroleague contract. His numbers were solid: around 10 points and 6 rebounds per game. Since then, his journey has been erratic. He has passed through Virtus Bologna, Paris Basketball, UNICS Kazan, and now Turk Telekom, without reaching the expected levels. However, after just two rounds of this Eurocup season, Bako is the sixth best rated player in the competition, competing with stars like Osman or Zachary Zeljaas.

Bako's profile reflects the evolution of the center position in Europe. Unlike previous generations, he is not a low-post playmaker nor a sophisticated passer but an athletic finisher. His main quality is mobility: he runs the floor, plays at high possessions, and impacts without the ball. His ability to play above the rim allows him to dominate in pick and roll situations as a roller and in transition. At 2.08 meters tall, he protects the rim, rebounds offensively, and moves quickly, although he lacks an outside threat and can struggle against more physical centers.

Devin Robinson: the athlete with an NBA background

Devin Robinson occupies a unique place in the history of signings at Manresa. Unlike Harding and Bako, Robinson did not arrive in Manresa as a young prospect but as an experienced player seeking a resurgence. His stint in the NBA gave him a different status, although he later played for teams as diverse as Quebradillas Pirates or Ratiopharm Ulm.

Securing a prominent player from a team with the scouting reputation of Ratiopharm was a strategic success for Manresa. His seasons with the Catalan team were excellent, consolidating his return to a competitive level. His subsequent time with Casademont Zaragoza in the ACB Liga Endesa was also positive. He currently plays for Slask Wroclaw, where he is not at the top of the Eurocup rankings (position 23), but leads his team with two victories in a roster full of unknowns.

Robinson is pure athleticism. His jumping ability, transition speed, and explosiveness on the first step form the foundation of his game. Although he plays as a power forward, he is not particularly accurate from three-point range, but he creates danger in pick and roll situations. His scoring ability is primarily built without the ball: in pick and roll situations attacking the backs of the help defenders, in closeouts with few dribbles, and in fast-paced contexts where his athleticism is devastating. He is a player who surprises defenses with his versatility and ability to attack the rim.

The legacy of Manresa scouting

Bàsquet Manresa has shown consistency in talent identification over the years. Harding, Bako, and Robinson confirm that its sports management maintains a truly remarkable line of excellence, beyond organizational changes. The ability to scout lesser-known leagues, find players in decline who wish to relaunch themselves, and develop profiles that fit specific playing philosophies positions the Catalan club as a reference in the continent. Its presence in the Eurocup statistics is not a coincidence but the result of systematic scouting work that continues to yield dividends in international competition.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tres estrellas de Manresa brillan en la élite de Eurocup