This past weekend, Phenom Hoops held our Post Grad Nationals in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Each year, the event seems to grow in terms of noteworthy teams, players, and college coaches in attendance. In an event loaded with Division I talent, Daniil Glazkov, a 6-foot-5 Russian guard for IMG Academy easily stood out as the most impressive performer on display. He’s largely unknown by the masses, but it’s easy to see what separates him from others. Currently, Glazkov is ranked 69th by On3 and unranked by all other national outlets despite possessing all the makings of a high-major talent. We had the opportunity to conduct an interview with Glazkov and Jimmy Carr (his coach), so this article will take a closer look at his game, commitment to Loyola Chicago, and explore the possibilities of what the future holds…
In terms of his on-court identity, it’s easy to get drawn in by the sheer combination of IQ, size, skill, and athleticism. That being said, Glazkov simply moves differently than his peers. Every movement is purposeful. He sees the floor extremely well and is capable of making highly difficult passes appear routine. Glazkov utilizes his sharp first step, crafty handle, and general pace to consistently generate offense with the ball in his hands. He displayed the ability to hit jumpers off the catch or bounce while applying constant pressure as a downhill penetrator. Glazkov rebounds extremely well for his size and reliably pushes the break in transition. He highlighted the ability to defend multiple positions, offering toughness, physicality, and sharp instincts. Beyond his lack of exposure, it’s really difficult to comprehend why more schools weren’t pursuing him. Either way, Glazkov is shaping up to be an amazing get for Loyola Chicago and could outperform expectations as a freshman. Let’s breakdown the interview…
JB: Talk about what went into the process of committing to Loyola Chicago and how you see yourself fitting.
JC: They did an unbelievable job recruiting him. Drew Valentine is tremendous. What a great year they’re having; should be an NCAA tournament team. In terms of the city, Chicago is a great place. The A-10 is a great level, where I think he could have a huge impact—though he could impact a lot of levels. They did a terrific job recruiting him. Obviously, there were a lot of higher-level Power Five suitors, but the comfort level they had for him established it.
JB: Coming from Russia, talk about the differences in basketball between the two places'
DG: Some huge differences between the two. Contact level is higher. Refs will allow more physical or dirty play sometimes. That’s the only difference, I think.
JB: What is something you need to improve going forward'
DG: I think I need to improve all the stuff in my game.
JC: The main thing for Danii, the main thing for impacting his freshman year is decision-making with the ball in his hands, but he’s such a hard worker that he’ll be able to overcome anything at that level.
JB: Who are some players you watch'
DG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic.