New recruit brings ‘size, skill and versatility' to Dayton Flyers

The Dayton coaching staff’s ability to connect with Amzil and its reputation for developing pro prospects — Antetkounmpo was a second-round pick in 2018 and Toppin is expected to be a lottery pick on Wednesday — combined with opportunity to play in front of big crowds and convinced Amzil to sign with Dayton on Monday.

“I think I felt most comfortable with the Dayton coaches: coach (Anthony) Grant, coach (Ricardo) Greer and the rest of the staff,” Amzil said Monday night. “I feel I’ll be able to get better at Dayton and reach my goals. Dayton will help me get there. And also I will be able to have an impact, and the fan base is also very great.”

Amzil, a 6-foot-10 forward who’s now attending First Love Christian Academy in Washington, Pa., joins 6-8 forward DaRon Holmes, 6-7 forward Kaleb Washington and 6-0 guard Malachi Smith in Dayton’s 2021 class. Since he’s joining the team this season, Amzil also could be considered part of the 2020 freshman class that includes 6-5 guard Lukas Frazier and 6-6 guards Koby Brea and R.J. Blakney.

“We actually began recruiting him in the spring of 2019 as a potential 2020 recruit," Dayton coach Anthony Grant said in a press release. "He brings a combination of size, skill, and versatility that will fit our system and style of play very well.”

Compared to the other three players in the 2021 class, Amzil is the lowest-ranked recruit, but that’s deceiving. He would have risen in the rankings had his recruitment continued because the list of power-five programs recruiting him was growing by the week.

Amzil had a Zoom meeting with Indiana coach Archie Miller and his staff on Nov. 11. He visited the University of Pittsburgh. He had many scholarship offers to choose from and interest from other schools, such as Kentucky, that had not offered him a scholarship.

By picking Dayton, he filled the last of the program’s 13 scholarships. Amzil will join a team that lacks experience in the front court. The opportunity to play this season will be there, and even if he receives limited playing time or doesn’t find a significant role until late late February or March, the season won’t count against his eligibility because of the new NCAA rule in place during the pandemic. He could play four more seasons after this one.

“It depends on the situation, but from my standpoint, I’m ready to play,” Amzil said. “Of course, different things have an effect on that. If things go right, I’m ready to play, and I don’t see a reason not to play.”

Amzil has played basketball since he was 7. He started out as a soccer player but stuck to basketball. He said hockey and soccer at the biggest sports in Finland.

The most recent NBA player from Finland is Lauri Markkanen, a 7-0 center who played one season at Arizona before being selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Chicago Bulls.

Amzil, who’s from originally from Kotka, Finland, but lived in Helsinki, was home throughout the summer when most of the basketball world was shut down by the pandemic but was able to participate in workouts with the Finnish national team. He played for Finland at the U-18 European Championships in Latvia in 2019, averaging 12.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.

Amzil also played at the Helsinki Basketball Academy. Last season, he averaged 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists for HBA-Marsky, which finished 21-0 in Finland’s first division. Like the Flyers, that team saw its postseason dreams ended by the pandemic.

Amzil will be the the second-tallest Dayton player behind the 6-11 Jordy Tshimanga when he joins the roster. He said he’s always been tall but hit a growth spurt when he was 13 or 14 and was suddenly taller than everybody. He dunked for the first time when he was 15 or 16.

“I was the first guy on the team to dunk,” Amzil said. “I had some bragging rights. I’m not known for flashy dunks, but when I drive, defenders have to watch their heads. It’s something i can do. I can do a little bit of everything."

At First Love Christian Academy, Amzil has gotten the opportunity to practice with other top prospects, including Fray Nguimbi, a 6-8 forward in the 2022 class who received a Dayton scholarship offer in June. Two players in First Love’s graduate program, Federiko Federiko and Niki Juntunen, are from Finland, and that has made it easier for Amzil to adjust to life in the United States.

Amzil arrived in the United States in early October. He had twice previously visited the country, most recently last January when he played for the Omnia Basketball Academy in the Real Scout Big Apple Jamboree in New York City.

Amzil said it has been hard being away from his family for the first time, but it will be good for him in the long run. He said his parents were excited he picked Dayton.

“They want me to play with a good basketball program,” Amzil said, “but they also want me to get a good education. They think Dayton can provide that. They like the coaches, not only as coaches but as people.”