Career: Fortitudo Bologna (Italy-Lega, 2000-06).

Dino Meneghin, Italy's most famous player ever and now the Italian national team director, said about Stefano Mancinelli: "He was born to play basketball". Fast-breaks, dunks, blocked shots, steals, rebounds. There's nothing Mancinelli can't do. In his debut with the national team at Eurobasket 2005 against Germany, Stefano made two key steals while playing defense on Dirk Nowitzki. Then he blocked a shot under his own basket and broke out to finalise the fast break with a terrific dunk.

Mancinelli is a high flyer who has improved his three-point shot - despite having a shooting technique few coaches would show to young players as an example. A product of Fortitudo Bologna, he was elected as a team captain last season.