Everyone was so engrossed in watching the world’s tallest teen, Oliver Rioux, in Florida that they nearly missed the rising star at Virginia Tech. The Hokies introduced their new freshman sensation, Neoklis Avdalas, in the game against Providence, and it completely shifted the momentum. Now, fans are drawing comparisons to Luka Doncic and Toni Kukoc in the NCAA. Meanwhile, the Lakers‘ loss to the Hawks went largely unnoticed. Neoklis Avdalas has caught the attention of NBA scouts.

On Saturday, the Virginia Hokies faced off against the Providence Friars in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament in Uncasville, Connecticut. The 6’9″ Greek player, Neoklis Avdalas, made his impact felt, scoring 33 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and dishing out 6 assists to lead Virginia Tech to a 107-101 overtime victory. The Hokies now have a 2-0 record, while Providence stands at 1-1.

The game almost took a different turn at one point. Providence held an 86-84 lead until Amani Hansberry tied the game with just five seconds left in regulation. The game went into overtime after Stefan Vaaks missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Hokies were leading for most of the game until the final moments. Providence found itself trailing by two, 99-97, until Avdalas’ jumper extended the Hokies’ lead to four points with 1:21 remaining on the clock. Avdalas also hit a 3-pointer with 13 minutes left in the first half and added two more 3-pointers in the second half when the Friars nearly closed the gap.

His performance tonight has made him the one to watch in the NCAA. He’s not only receiving Cooper Flagg-level comparisons, but also drawing parallels to the NBA’s European titans.

NBA Fans can’t deny Neoklis Avdalas’ Luka Doncic similarities

After veteran NBA reporter Kevin O’Connor shared Avdalas’ highlight reel and asked, “Who does this remind you of?” Fans came through. The post garnered over 1.2 million engagements with a common theme.

“He looks like Bogdan but plays like Luka,” one fan very accurately pointed out. The face is serving Bogdan Bogdanovic. But the stepback is leaning into Luka Doncic territory.

Avdalas is not Serbian, by the way. The 19-year-old grew up in Athens, Greece and is the 2021 Greek Super Cup winner. He’s showing the NBA grade moves at Virginia Tech that has people saying, “So Virginia Tech has a 6’9 in shape Luka.”

’90s kids are also reliving what it felt like when Toni Kukoc lost to the Dream Team and arrived in Chicago. “Toni Kukoc, when he played in Europe,” they said about Avdalas, who not only has the physical resemblance but also the 3-point shot to match.

The talent that the teen is showing, perfectly summed up here, “The amount of space he is creating on those stepbacks reminds me of Luka. Just in the separation at pace with the step back. Only a few guys can get the lift to shoot after such a far stretch,” is why many are bringing up Nico Harrison memes to hint that the Mavs should swoop up this college star the way they got the draft steal with Cooper Flagg.

And with rumors of Harrison’s job in jeopardy, they might need Avdalas’ talent.

Interestingly, some others don’t want to box Neoklis in the Doncic mould. Like this one “I see a little pg/tatum/hayward…he plays literally nothing like luka if that’s what you’re suggesting because he’s white and did a few step backs….much faster pace, less controlled, uses his length and speed to create space more than angles, leverage, and strength, and most of all there wasn’t a single proactive pass shown, all reactive.”

A very valid argument and evidence that Neoklis Avdalas has a lot of development to do at Virginia. But it’s certain that he’s put the draft watchers on notice.