Simone Fontecchio

Youth career

Fontecchio participated in an array of youth tournaments:

1. 2011 Jordan Brand Classic International Tour game in London (not to be confused with the International Game of the same tournament)
2. 2012 Albert Schweitzer Tournament
3. 2012 Basketball Without Borders Europe
4. 2012-13 Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament Rome tournament.

Besides playing for Italy (see International career), he notably won the Italian Under 17 championship in 2011-12 and the Under 19 championship the same season and in 2012-13, all for Virtus Bologna.

Professional career

Fontecchio was promoted from the Virtus U19 to the senior side in 2012-13, alternating between the two during the season. He played a symbolic minute in LBA on 4 November 2011 before posting his first genuine first division stat sheet, missing his five shots for three rebounds and a steal, on 30 December.

After an active youth career (see Youth career) and a professional debut at only 17, there was talk of him going to the United States to play high school and later on College basketball, however he stayed loyal to Virtus and signed a 5-year professional contract with the team in June 2013, his parents had to be present as he was still a minor at the time.

After twice being selected to take part in the league All Star Game (2014 and 2015), he was voted Best Player Under 22 in May 2015. That season would also see his first participation in the playoffs, scoring 10.3 points and grabbing 3.3 rebounds per game as Virtus were swept by title holders Olimpia Milano.

Fontecchio declared for the 2015 NBA draft on 25 April as an early entrant, two years before being automatically eligible in 2017. He attended a draft workout with the Boston Celtics in June 2015, whilst they declaredly considered picking in the second round, he withdrew his candidacy on 16 June 2015.

Player profile

Fontecchio is a good sized small forward that has in the past played as a Shooting guard, he has a solid though developing all-round game and is active off the ball.

More of a threat from outside the paint, where he can unleash his technically sound if inconsistent jump shot, he struggles more on post play due to a lack of upper body strength. Despite this, he is quite athletic, particularly in leg strength and can run the lanes well in offense or use his length to get past his defender, however he doesn't use these assets enough in rebounding. On the defensive end he always puts in the effort, not afraid the mark the opposition's star, he can stay in front of smaller, quicker players with his length but needs to be more aggressive.

All in all he is a promising player at only 19 and has the work ethic and physical attributes to succeed despite being far from a finished product as of 2015.

Personal life

He comes from a sporting family, his mother Malì Pomilio played for Italy and won two European titles for AS Vicenza in basketball, he cites her as an influence in his career choice. His father Daniele (in Italian) was a professional hurdler whilst his grandfather was also a basketball player, as is his older brother Luca who has played in the lower divisions after also coming through the youth ranks of Virtus.

Fontecchio moved to Bologna from his native Pescara at the age of 14, living in shared accommodation with other Virtus youth players.

Career statistics

Sources: Serie A

International career

Fontecchio has played for the under age teams of Italy since turning up for the U16's in the 2011 European Championship (10th place). Since then, he was involved with the U18's in the 2012 European Championship (7th place) and 2013 European Championship (10th place, best scorer for Italy) and the U20's in the 2014 European Championship (10th place).

He has not yet participated in an official game for the senior national team.