VITALS: 6-11, 235, Buducnost (Serbia) OVERVIEW: Cabarkapa is a Yugoslavian forward who has played the last two seasons for KK Buducnost, his professional team based in Serbia. Cabarkapa averaged a career-high 14.6 points and 4.7 rebounds last season and also played 13 Euroleague games in which he averaged 11.6 points and 4.8 rebounds. The 22-year-old Cabarkapa played his first three professional seasons with Beopetrol before being elevated to Buducnost, one of Europe's top clubs. Cabarkapa needs to gain more weight to adapt to the physical play in the NBA. Cabarkapa, who shot 68 percent last season, is a tremendous passer and possesses tremendous agility that allows him to get past bigger defenders. LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: Mid-first round. Everybody had Cabarkapa penciled in for Phoenix (17). Clubs believed that because he left the States after just his second NBA workout with the Suns, Cabarkapa was given a guarantee by Phoenix. Turns out that the medical emergency Cabarkapa claimed his mother had experienced probably was legitimate, because he recently returned to America to continue his workouts. Moreover, Cabarkapa was invited by the NBA to New York for the draft. Only projected lottery picks receive invitations, so someone else must also be high on the Zrenjanin native. COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Detlef Schrempf COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Jonathan Bender ROLE PROJECTION: Future starter POSITIVES: Few realize Zarko finished ahead of Darko is YUBA league scoring this season. That's right, Cabarkapa had a higher scoring average in Yugoslavia's domestic league than Darko Milicic, the projected No. 2 pick. Cabarkapa also is far more accomplished on the perimeter than Milicic, although both stand at roughly 7 feet. To be able to shoot the 3-pointer at that height is a tremendous advantage in any league, and that is why many are predicting success in the NBA for Cabarkapa. SHORTCOMINGS: Cabarkapa is a horrific rebounder who would be berated by an American coach for his soft play in the paint. That is partially because of his thin frame. Unlike many of his European counterparts in the draft, Cabarkapa already is 22 years old, meaning he is close to being a finished product. Given the fact that his body is still frail, there has to be cause for concern that Cabarkapa will physically never be NBA-tough. WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "He's intriguing because he is 6-11 and plays the 3-spot. He has big hands, Connie Hawkins-big. Doesn't have any inside game to speak of. Pretty good hops when he gets a jump on you. I think he is interesting to a lot of teams on a lot of different levels." Phoenix Suns international scout Tim Shea
well he would be a great backup at the 3 and 4 postition and maybe once he gets stronger play him at the 5
