11 October, 2016
16 April, 2017
9 Melis Gulcan (TUR)
24/08/2016
News
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Fenerbahce not forgetting the young guns

ISTANBUL (EuroLeague Women 2017) – They may be one of the powerhouses of EuroLeague Women and Turkish basketball who regularly sign some of the biggest stars of the women’s game, but Fenerbahce aren’t forgetting the importance of home-grown talent.

In the past week, a quartet of talented youngsters have been put through the same extensive medicals as the big-hitting first team players who are ready to try and make it back to Final Four in 2017.

Melis Gulcan, Melisa Korkmaz, Bilge Topaloglu and Merve Ari will all be looking to get some senior team court-time in 2016-17 – both in EuroLeague Women and the Bilyoner.com league.

Gulcan was given a handful of minutes in EuroLeague Women last year and will be hoping for an increase after she proved the difference-maker for her country at the FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship 2016 as Turkey secured their Division A status with a dramatic last day 67-65 success against arch rivals, Greece. The forward led her team in Matosinhos in minutes played, scoring, rebounding and efficiency.

Her club team-mate Melis Korkmaz was also part of that same side who staved off a dreaded drop into Division B and she made a number of essential cameo contributions.

Merve Ari could be a nice long-term prospect in the backcourt after she led Turkey to an impressive Quarter-Final place in Sopron at the FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship 2016. She led the way with a highly productive 3.1 assists per game and also fired an eye-catching 47.4% floor shooting effort which emphasised her all-round skills.

Crucially these young players are all able to learn from some of the very best in practice each day and not least Fenerbahce head coach, George Dikeoulakos.

FIBA