Blazers Scout British PG Devon Van Oostrum

by Ben Golliver on Nov 25, 2011 4:02 PM PST in News

EuroHopes.com reports that Portland Trail Blazers international scout Jason Filippi spent Friday watching British point guard Devon Van Oostrum, an 18-year-old who currently plays for Basquet Tarragona in Spain's second division.

Van Oostrum played for Great Britain during the 2011 EuroBasket tournament in Lithuania, although he saw time in just three games and averaged 1.3 points and 3.0 assists per game. Brendan Gallagher of Telegraph.co.uk reports that he is the youngest player ever to make the British senior national team.

Here's a quick feature from John Hobbs for SlamOnline.com last summer.

For Great Britain's newest sensation, Devon Van Oostrum, he prefers to spend his time at the gym and on the basketball practice courts working and perfecting his craft. And the Dutch-born, Sheffield-raised point guard wouldn't change a thing.

"I'm used to it now," Van Oostrum says as he sits in the team hotel lobby in Riga, Latvia just before Great Britain headed to Panevezys, Lithuania for EuroBasket. "The last two years I've been a pro in Spain. I live and breathe basketball. I work on it for five hours every day."

Here's his DraftExpress.com profile, which is pretty thin so far.

Here's a Devon Van Oostrum highlight tape courtesy of YouTube user HoopsFix.

Hat tip: The ever reliable @Norsktroll

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I look pretty good in selective mix tapes too!

Even better with some slow motion and matrix-esq music.

by Boomshakalaka on Nov 25, 2011 4:40 PM PST reply actions

Well, Freeland seems to be finally panning out...

…and Brits, unlike Spaniards, will take to the Portland climate like home.

by meru on Nov 25, 2011 5:28 PM PST reply actions

Will Van Oostrum play Sergio to Freeland's Rudy?

Blimey!

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Nov 26, 2011 5:11 PM PST up reply actions

just imagine

if all the nba stars leave you could have an nba filled with this high level of talent!!!! I mean hes bound to pass and listen to the coach and stuff!!!!

I dont care what the D.N.A. Says, the Guy wearing number 12 Cannot be Kirk Hinrich, he is definetly Kurt. Kirk can actually play basketball!

by piccolomair on Nov 25, 2011 5:41 PM PST reply actions

Slam Online has a more extensive article on him than DX in this case. Even though it's way too early in any draft process, it's nice to see the scouts and management continue doing work in the offseason/lockout and in the absence of a GM.

http://www.slamonline.com/online/other-ballers/international/2011/08/rise-devon-van-oostrum-eurobasket/

Here is another video of Oostrum posterizing a much bigger player. Not bad for a 6’2"/6’3" guard. http://youtu.be/iWcUG54nlGM

by Norsktroll on Nov 25, 2011 7:57 PM PST reply actions

Oops, overlooked that Ben quotes the same profile

by Norsktroll on Nov 25, 2011 7:59 PM PST up reply actions

From the video

He looks like a rec leaguer. Does PCC need a PG?

Geriatric Dunk Squad!
1/4/10 - Juwan Howard dunks on Chris Kaman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTkOqDgLb6s
3/7/10 - Andre Miller Tomahawk jams on the Denver Nuggets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-JVgm7F1QA
4/12/10 - Marcus Camby drops 30 and 13 on OKC to cement 50 wins. http://www.nba.com/blazers/media/camby_chant_041310.mp3

by Eat Politicians on Nov 25, 2011 8:02 PM PST reply actions