International Opportunities
by Andrew Force, Future150 (4:41 PM CT, Mon March 16, 2015)

Chicago, IL (Future150) -- Chicago is an international city.  Basketball is an international game.  So it comes as no surprise that a Chicagoland AAU basketball team has a Bosnian and a Serbian attracting college attention.

Denis Alibegovic and Nick Rakocevic are well on their way to signing with a college program.  They will both compete this summer with Mac Irvin FIRE.

FIRE Expanding Reach

Mac Irvin FIRE routinely attracts many of the best young basketball players in Chicago and the surrounding counties for the summer travels.  Past participants include Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor, Antoine Walker, and Jalen Brunson.

Rakocevic will be competing with the 17U EYBL outfit, while Alibegovic anticipates his FIRE debut.

Rakocevic (Future150 #83) will be observed by every single high major head coach this summer.  His visibility will be high and the certain adoration will lead to more offers.

Skilled

Denis Alibegovic makes his hay with a wickedly accurate outside shot.  He continues to improve shooting off the dribble, but the deep ball is his trademark. 

As a shooting guard, Alibegovic thrives with a quick release.  He often catches the basketball with his feet already squad to shoot.  The right foot slips forward slightly faster than his left.  If a defender closes out well, Alibegovic will outstretch the right foot slightly like a cat extends his whiskers.  He doesn't kick, but feels for contact. 

Whether this subtle motion is intended matters little.  It serves a dual purpose.  He can spook aggressive defenders from committing completely to a block attempt, while also keep his eyes entirely fixated on the basket.  The defender must brush against Denis' foot before his arms even become a problem.

The corners and wings are hot zones.  Unless he handles the ball the two guard rarely gets to offer from the top of the key.

The 6'11" Rakocevic plays more around the basket.

As a forward most of his shot attempts come from 10' or closer.  He has a deadly baseline jumper.  The floater looks sound.  For the closer attempts Rakocevic essentially drops his left hand early, making his arm look like a flamingo's neck.  His wrist and neck make the curled neck and head of the elegant bird.

Beyond his shooting touch, Rakocevic employs a remarkable handle.  He can take four dribbles around obstacles and finish in the lane.  This versatility makes his ceiling scary high. 

Recruiting

A member of the Class of 2017, Alibegovic has introductory interest from Stanford and Virginia.  Colombia has reached out.  St. John's is expected to evaluate him this AAU season.

After one or two tough freshmen classes, Alibegovic seems to have found his groove academically. 

"He does have good grades," said mother Lejla Alibegovic.  "I push school, a lot.  Freshman year he came with some B’s and a C because he had to take Geometry and Spanish II.  I think [it was] coming to a large high school with 3,000 students."

Alibegovic attends a mammoth school, Downers Grove South. 

"This year the grades are A and B’s so far."

She proudly asserted that Denis will not play basketball if his grades plummet. 

"Basketball is something he does, not who he is," she confirmed.  "I tell him, I am going to tell the coaches you cant play with bad grades.  'My mom doesn't like C’s.'"

Right now his strongest subjects are, according to his mother, Math and Chemistry.  Despite being born in the United States, Denis Alibegovic speaks Serbian and English. 

Bosnia invited him to train with them for a few weeks last year. 

"He enjoyed it," said Alibegovic. "He enjoyed it a lot.  He said it is so much different basketball in Europe than here." 

To play for Bosnia, the American-born Alibegovic needs to have dual citizenship.

Similarly, Rakocevic was invited to play for Serbia.

"They have a different style of play over there," said Rakocevic.  "It is really different.  I was invited to play with the national team over there.  I was invited to play with the national team."

Rakocevic's opportunity was with the 18 and under Serbian National team.  Nick was born in Chicago, but his father came over to the United States when he was 30 years old. 

"My mom's parents were both born in Serbia," said Rakocevic.  "We were all born in Chicago."

Rakocevic has a strong mentor and advisor in his older brother, Pete Rakocevic.  You already know Pete.  He famously brought the entire backboard down with a two-handed jam last month.

The elder Rakocevic was lightly recruited out of high school.  He did earn a Sacramento State full ride.  After two seasons he transferred to Northern Illinois, another school that offered him as a high school senior. 

"He has been helping me with the recruiting process," said Rakocevic.  "He plays at Northern Illinois.  He has really helped me with the process."

Nick's brother also has professional aspirations.  When he graduates this may he hopes to play in Europe.

Rakocevic has offers from Purdue, Northern Illinois, Xavier, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Virginia, Wisconsin, St. John's, UCLA, Miami (FL), USC, Florida, and Creighton. 

He recently took an Iowa visit.  He wants to make a visit to North Carolina and Villanova soon.

On the verge of attracting more high major offers, Rakocevic is both pleased with his offer list and open to all schools. 

Duke, North Carolina, Villanova, and Oregon are among the schools he hopes extend an offer.

Double Impact

The NBA is not quite worldwide just yet.  It has totally inspired great athletes in Europe to pick up the sport.  It is impossible to imagine the current game without Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Pau Gasol. 

"It is kind of a finesse game," said Rakocevic.  "I think the European players have tremendous success in the NBA. I think they are phenomenal players. I think there will continue to be more in the upcoming years. 

As much basketball has influenced European youth culture, the European second generation families are influencing the game too.

Rakocevic and Alibegovic are the next generation.  They have the skills emblematic of young Europeans mixed with the toughness and athleticism of the American game.  The FIRE organization has a more international ethos now.

The whole sport of basketball does.