Saric Earns Another Turkish Honor

By Max Rappaport, Sixers.com

Add another trophy to the mantle of 20-year-old basketball savant Dario Saric.

On Wednesday, the Croatian point forward was named the FIBA European Young Player of the Year, marking the second consecutive year that he has won the award. He can add that to a resume that includes MVP awards in the FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship (2010), Nike International Junior Tournament (2011), FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship (2012), Croatian League Finals (2013), Adriatic League (2014), and Adriatic League Finals (2014), not to mention FIBA MVP honors for the month of November this season.

Needless to say, Dario Saric is one of the most impressive 20-year-olds in the sports world.

In 13 domestic games with Turkish League powerhouse Anadolu Efes Istanbul, Saric has averaged 10.6 points (45.6 FG%), 5.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 24.0 minutes per game. Per 36 minutes, that equates to 15.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, making him the only player in the league hitting those per-minute marks.

The 6’10” Saric has started games at both power forward and center with Anadolu Efes, also seeing some action at the small forward position. On Sunday, he started the Turkish League All-Star game at center for the European squad.