by Franco Marcelletti.

I have been back for two years to training in the youth sector of the Verona Tezenis because I liked the idea of helping to grow some young talent from Verona.

Many were the differences that immediately struck me. First of all, a predilection to keep the groups together for a long time, when the first porpoise must be to make the talents grow, and immediately, I remember when Paolo Moretti came back into my mind.

The year was 1986 and in Roseto there were the national finals Juniores (the current U18) and the year of birth was 1967. In the Mens Sana Siena, coached by a teacher like Luca Finetti, Paolo played that was ’70, three years younger, and already made the difference.

With today’s regulations it would not have been possible!

We find ourselves today with a lack of production of Italian players as a number and quality, so almost all the best are children of former players: Gallinari, Gentile, Sacchetti, Cinciarini, Pascolo, Della Valle, Tonut, Alibegovic, Laganà, and the same Davide Moretti.

It seems almost as though their families have been the guest house and their coaching fathers, and it has often happened.

Since the advent of the Bosman law, the recruitment of companies is limited to a provincial context, at most regional. When companies lack an economic return, investing in the youth sector is a noble exception that concerns few companies.

This leads to a level of comparison between the lower and less educational players.

Or they are looking for foreigners to whom they can offer the four years of training.

Talking about Davide in the NCAA, so for me, it’s like talking about the Italian brain drain abroad that our country, our basketball, could not hold back.

What the Moretti has in common is courage.

Paolo was one of the first Italians in 96 ‘to go to Greece. It was a courageous and risky choice to question oneself in a new and particular environment like the Hellenic one.

Davide has left a really comfort zone in Legadue championship, and a probable change in Serie A, to live a new experience.

The technical work to become a real point guard and the physical one to face a very competitive conference, I’m sure we will deliver an important player for Italian basketball, which we greatly need.

And as Peter Gabriel sang, “Don’t give up, I know you can make it good”.

Francesco “Franco” Marcelletti
Coach Italian League winner in Caserta (1990/1991) and Italian Cup winner in Caserta (1988).
Promoted in Serie A with Verona (1992/1993).
Best coach of Serie A with Verona (1993/1994).