One of the nicest surprises of the championship was this Brazilian forward (full name: Rafael Ferreira de Souza), not really outstanding in the competition, but who dropped some glimpses of his remarkable characteristics. Hes a long guy with a very nice combination of size and athleticism. Standing 6-10, he has the frame and mobility of a small forward. Not that hes super-skinny, and actually still having the physical tools to grow into a power forward, but his build seems better suited for the perimeter. Indeed, although playing as a four, he was basically a full-time face-up offensive player.
The single most impressive part about Rafaels game is the superb quickness he displays attacking his rival off the dribble. He enjoys a terrific first step, and although his ball-handling skills are pretty average, he can light up his opponent with that first impulse and his nice strides. Still, he often doesnt know how to take advantage of this ability. He can dunk the ball or leave a layup without opposition, but he struggles whenever a defensive rotation comes in time. Hes neither a gifted passer or shows a great basketball IQ to come up with a creative solution. He certainly needs to work on gaining productivity in his slashing efforts. Rafaels offensive game is completed by his shooting ability. Not a specialist, he can knock down some spot-up jumpers out to the three-point line, although his mechanics don't look particularly fluid.
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