The publication of Sergio Scariolo's Spanish prelist for the next Eurobasket included the name of Willy Hernangome as one of the 15 chosen by the national coach and future coach of the Real Madrid To begin the preparation of a tournament in which they defend crown. It is not any surprise, since, although the Madrid pivot has two complicated seasons in Barça behind him, it is still One of the leaders of 'La Familia' and one of the great weapons of the team.
Willy is one of the pure '5' that Scariolo has on the list. It also accompanies him in the position of Catalan Fewwhose future could be in Valencia Basket. In addition, profiles such as Eli n'diaaye, jaime pradilla o santi aldama They can also give a hand like pivots. In any case, three discards must still be produced for the final list, but Willy will be in the next European.
A tournament, which Spain arrives as a current champion, and from which Willy Hernangómez keeps a pleasant memory. You have to go back to 2022, when the Barca pivot still did not belong to Barca discipline. Sergio Scariolo's team was planted in the Eurobasket far from being one of the favorite selections to the title. The FIBA put it in sixth position despite having won three years before the World Cup, and in that European there were names of the stature of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic O Nikola Jokic.
A dream Eurobasket
But the great name of that Eurobasket was Willy Hernangómez. Closed the group stage with 15.4 points and 6 rebounds average per game. Some records that rose in the qualifiers, especially in scoring terms: 21 goals in the round of 16 against Lithuania, 27 against Finland in the quarterfinals, 16 against Germany in the semifinals, and 14 in the match for gold against France: 17.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 19.7 valuation throughout the tournament that earned him the 'MVP' of the championship. An action that did not go unnoticed in Barça, and that after a new year in the New Orleans Pelicans, He decided to undertake his signing and turn Willy into one of the references of the new Barca project after the outputs of names such as Cory Higgins o Nikola Mirotic.
Willy Hernangómez was the 'MVP' of the Eurobasket that Spain won in 2022 / FIBA
Choques con rimau
That performance of Willy at the Eurobasket co -trained the Barca club, which signed an important contract until 2026, with the possibility of an additional campaign. Hernangómez landed in Barça with the best of wills, but its performance has not met the high expectations generated with its arrival. In the first season at Palau, under the orders of Roger Grimau, The pivot claimed more prominence than his coach granted him. There was even that incident in Monaco and that famous “I do not warm my head that you have two news,” issued by Willy to Grimau.
Roger Grimau and Willy Hernangómez did not live the best relationship the year they lived together / EFE
The prominence with Peñarroya
In this second campaign, things have not improved, and with Joan Peñarroya, His prominence was even lower than his first year. His role was ascending as players like Jan Vesely about Chimezia Meta They were falling into combat. He left some good games in the final stretch of the season, but they were not enough to prevent Barça from closing his second consecutive course in white. Willy is determined to fulfill his contract with the Catalan club, although Barça would not put difficulties to reach an agreement and get his departure.
Willy Hernangómez, in a game with Barça this season / Dani Barbeito
His squires in the team
But before facing his third year as Barca, Willy has an exciting tournament ahead, and of which he keeps the best memory. Will coincide in the team with profiles such as Lorenzo Brown, with which he fit so well in the last European championship. Both were chosen in the ideal quintet of the tournament. He will also share a track with one of his teammates, such as Darío Brizuela, the great exterior reference of Spain, and a Joel Parra that returns to 'the family' after its absence in the last Olympic Games, and that aspires to be the eave reference of the group.
Willy Hernangómez, in a match with Spain / FEB
And all this without forgetting a Scariolo for which he has been fixed since he again assumed the Spanish bench in 2015. Since then, gold in the European of that year, bronze at the Rio Olympic Games, the achievement of the 2019 World Cup and the last Eurobasket in which Spain defends titles. Tournaments in which Hernangómez has been decisive, as expected in this next championship.
