Rio 2016: 5 basketball players to watch out for at the Olympic Games

2) Dario Saric – Croatia

Saric won the FIBA European Young Player of the Year in 2013 and 2014

At 6’10”, Saric is a power forward to be reckoned with. A two-time FIBA European Young Player of the Year and also the youngest player to win an MVP of the Month in the Euroleague, the 22-year-old is already the talk of the town in Europe and is now headed to the NBA to play with the Philadelphia 76ers in what will be his rookie year next season.

Croatia just about managed to squeeze through to the Rio Olympics when they beat Italy in overtime in the final of the Olympic qualifying tournament. Daric was named the MVP of the tourney and even averaged 10 rebounds per game. Even in the pre-Olympics warm-up matches, he recorded 18 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists against France.

Saric can shoot from the perimeter and looks adept at isolation plays with a quick jumper in his arsenal. Although still a little rough around the edges, his first ever Olympics will be key to his development before his NBA debut.