REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - A lot was written this summer about Federico Mussini - the magnificent maestro who guided Italy to the title at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament (AST) and then helped the country qualify to their first FIBA U19 World Championship since 1995 by finishing sixth at the U18 European Championship.

After leading the U18 Euros in scoring over the summer, Mussini has moved over to the club season back at Serie A side Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia for his first season really playing with the club's senior team. The Reggio Emilia native did appear in four Serie A games and five EuroChallenge contests during the 2013-14 season. But more will be expected from the 1.90m playmaker in 2014-15.

With American veteran Drake Diener out injured for Reggio Emilia in their Eurocup season opener at home against Brose Baskets Bamberg, the 18-year-old Mussini was given a chance to show his stuff. And just like at the AST in Mannheim and the U18 Euros in Konya, Mussini showed he was up for the challenge.

Granted it did take him a while.

After missing five three-pointers and scoring two points through the first three quarters, Mussini started the final period for Reggio Emilia by nailing a shot from beyond the arc - as the Bamberg defense sagged off him.

A couple of possessions later, he was visibly aggravated with himself as he was whistled for stepping out of bounds on the sideline. About half-way through the quarter, the youngster was taken out of the game but returned with 3:20 minutes left.

With Reggio Emilia up 61-60, it was crunch time - which, as youth basketball fans often saw this summer, is also known as "Mussini Time".

The Bamberg defense gave Mussini way too much space on the left wing and he drained another three-pointer as Reggio Emilia finally were able to open some space, going up 64-60 with 2:58 left to play.

Now Mussini had confidence, and that means bad things for opposing defenses. He then launched an unconscionable three-pointer from about four feet behind the line and it was nothing but net for a 67-62 lead.

Reggio Emilia watched Bamberg fight back to knot the game at 67-67 but then took the lead back at 69-67 and who grabbed the rebound off a missed three-pointer by the German team with 2.1 seconds? Mussini, of course, who was then fouled.

He missed the first free throw - somehow the ball came back out after going in. He appeared to want to miss the second free-throw but it went in, giving Bamberg one final chance, which was off target for the Reggio Emilia win.

Mussini played a major role in the win, scoring 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter.

The game came three days after the teenager must have been left disappointed about not getting on the court in Reggio Emilia's season opener in the Serie A at Dolomiti Energia Trento on Sunday - a win for Grissin Bon.

It was disappointing because Diego Flaccadori - Mussini's U18 national team colleague and good friend - plays for Dolomiti. Flaccadori, who made up half of the outstanding duo that earned the nickname "Mussidori", played two minutes in the game in his first season in the Serie A after playing last season in the Lega Due Silver.

It remains to be seen exactly how much time Mussini - or Flaccadori for that matter - will actually play this season. But Mussini is certainly getting a great basketball education from Reggio Emilia's roster full of players who can give the playmaker some great lessons.

There's the veteran leadership and international experience from the likes of Lithuanians Rimantas Kaukenas and the Lavrinovic twins Darjus and Ksistof. In addition, Andrea Cinciarini has played for Italy's national team at the last two EuroBaskets and point guard Drake Diener has years of Euroleague experience to pass on to Mussini.

Also on the team is the 21-year-old Amedeo Della Valle, who went through three years of high school and college basketball in the United States while also guiding Italy to the U20 European Championship title last summer - two years after helping the Italians to the Semi-Finals of the U18 European Championship. He can talk to Mussini about dealing with high expectations as an Italian youngster.

If Mussini can continue to come up with performances like he did against Bamberg, those expectations will only continue to grow.

David Hein

FIBA

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