Prospect Profile

Strengths:

  * Good medium-range shooter
  * Uses dribble moves on face up or to backs defender down for spin move and step back
  * Good hand skills for size
  * Solid ball handling and passing skills

Weaknesses:

  * Needs to strength for 4 spot (in NBA) and quickness to play 3
  * Can shoot the 3 but very inconsistent at the moment
  * Not overly athletic
 

NBA projection:
He's a project; second-round pick and hope he develops in Europe. Due to his lack of size I think he's likely to stay in Europe for his career.

2010-11 season:
He is teammates with Leon Radosevic, Tomislav Zubcic, & Bojan Bogdanovic on Cibona

Key statistics:
2010-11 BC Siauliai – Lithuania LKL: 15 mpg, 6.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg. FG 50%, 3PT 20%, FT 73%
BC Siauliai – Baltic League: 16 mpg, 8.6 ppg, 4.3rpg. FG 67%, 3PT 33%, FT 68%
 
Cool statistic:
He shined in the 2009 u19 World Championship when Croatia won the bronze medal, and he averaged 20 points and seven rebounds per game, shooting a ridiculous 63 percent behind the arc. After that, he has struggled to find his place, and he has played in four teams (Split, Zalgiris, Cibona and Siauliai) in the last two seasons.

Reminds me of:
Ryan Anderson

What the Experts Say:
Luka Bassin, coach in Slovenia
Mario Delaš is another very good big guy from an ex-Yugoslavia territory. His development has slowed lately but I'm sure that it is just temporary. His body is well developed and is very coordinated.  He is a playmaker at the power forward position with very good court vision. He can score from distance (even from behind FIBA arc) and is very dangerous from the high-post position where he can show all his passing skills. He likes to play under the basket too, where he uses his strength and good pivoting skills. 

Current contract and team:
BC Siauliai (Lithuania) Baltic League

Chris Denker and Carl Berman are Managing Partners of NetScouts Basketball, "The International Basketball Connection."