[European BallerParticipant]

NBA scouts were recently in Greece to see 14 year old center George Papagiannis. Papagiannis is 214 cm tall (7 feet ¼ inches) and weighs 107 kg (236 pounds). It is said that his wingspan is 229 cm (7 feet 6 inches). He is already playing in the professional Greek Basket League with Peristeriou Athens.

He is mainly known now at age 14 for his defense and rebounding, but his offensive game is also coming around. He has a decent turnaround jumper, face up jumper, and jump hook shot already.

Here I have the game video of him in a recent game against Panathinaikos Athens, whom are the Euroleague champions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1fqKGu6Lbo

Papagiannis is wearing the #19 yellow jersey and playing center. To understand the size of this 14 year old kid, the opposing center that he is guarding is Ian Vougioukas. Vougioukas is wearing the #14 green jersey. Vougioukas is 211 cm (6 feet 11 inches) and 122 kg (270 pounds).

And just so you know, Vougioukas is the best low post offensive center in Europe. So he wasn’t playing just any scrub.

According to Greek media, 2 NBA scouts were in attendance to see him and both said that he is listed as the current first pick of the 2016 NBA draft.

[bebopParticipant]

or was that some other crazy Greek guy? 

[European BallerParticipant]

Here is his Greek Basket League profile:

http://www.esake.gr/main/index.php?pl=12&lng=en&pfpar=cGxheWVyaWQ9MjA4MQ==

 

Keep in mind that in Greece the young players are listed in barefoot heights and the month is listed first, and the day second.

So this is his barefoot height, which is 210 cm (6’11") and his birthday is July 3, 1997.

[I May Be WrongParticipant]

 …..AND this site doesn’t have him in the 2016 Mock Draft!!!!!

 

[Wahoo757Participant]

Wow! 1 point and 1.4 boards a game! Sure fire number 1 pick in the 2016 draft. On a more serioud note, he definitely has a headstart on a lot of other prospects because he’s playing against really high levels of competition at a young age. Also, havig the growth spurt will allow him to adjust to his body and be more comfortable. in his frame and pack on more muscle.

He might have a chance ofmbeing drafted, but it’s WAY too early to tell.

[ChrisCrossParticipant]

FINALLY!!!!!….. European Baller has come back…….to nbadraft.net!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Future_Scout]

 it says a lot about the "professional Greek Basket League" when a 14 year old player is playing.

THEY ALL SUCK

 EDIT: against the top post player smh

[European BallerParticipant]

it says a lot about the "professional Greek Basket League" when a 14 year old player is playing. THEY ALL SUCK EDIT: against the top post player smh

 

Vougioukas is not the top player in the Greek League. He is the best low post offensive center in Europe. Not the best player in Greek League.

14 is the youngest player in the history of the Greek League. And that Spanish League must really SUCK since Rubio played in it at age 14, with no better stats than Papagiannis has.

There has never been a 14 year old playing in the Greek pro league before genius.

 

[slepchorParticipant]

 If you are a european baller you should know that Vougioukas is not, in any way, the best offensive low post player in europe. Stanko Barac or Erazem Lorbek or Sofo Schortsanitis would embarass him any given day. Please be serious.

[raybeasParticipant]

the Greek Paradigm.

Lets wait and see if we’re still talking about him in 2014.

My nephew Ethan for first pick in 2020! He’s eleven and doesn’t like basketball yet, but he’s taller than I was at that age, and skinny. Surely if I start him now he can develop into a top prospect.

*If they allow robots into the NBA he will definately build one by then.

[akhan786Participant]

I applaud you European Baller you didn’t have any immature attacks to the other posters on this site or Americans in general. You’re making progress.

And to the actual substance of your post, being 7 feet at 14 is slightly alarming. Do you know if doctors have checked him for Gigantism? If he’s medically cleared, and continues to progress (and grow) he’ll find himself in the NBA.

[Malik-UniversalParticipant]

 ^^^^^ LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Malik-UniversalParticipant]

 funny stuff raybeas

[scbe2223Participant]

 Euro Baller doesn’t have negs on a post. This is alarming.

[DurantsWingspan]

This is actually a good, informative post. I don’t know if he will be the #1 pick in 2016, but if he is 7’0 and 14 and not suffering for giantism or whatever, than I would see a good chance if he actually is a decent player and progresses.

[McDunkin]

  >

[pohani komaracParticipant]

He is menagers creation that NBA teams started to buy after Gasol, Hedo, Peja, Ilglauskas, and Dirk showed. Evrey player with size, mobility and touch were called new Dirk, Peja, Kukoc, Gasol, Sabonis etc…..but all of this guys, Podkolozine, Tskita, Korolev, Andriuskevicius had only some good abilitys, but non of them actually played some good basketball, they all lacked IQ and competitivnes. Just like at one point in US guys like Kwame were drafted to highy because abilitys, but non looked do they had those things that make difrece. Those things become forgaten and unimportant to many people  

[pohani komaracParticipant]

Last coment was about Pavel picture

[frogmanParticipant]

 Poor kid must get treated like a monster at school.  Hope he makes it.

[M-EazyParticipant]

I bet he wouldn’t even survive in HS basketball in America.

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

 very agree with akhan786 :

EB do you know if he has been treated for gigantism  ? SO big so young, it could be hard for him to keep being able to move enough to play basket. Lots of euro giants faced that kind of issue and never managed to get through it.

In france vincent pourchot is a big kid (older) in nancy who faced nearly the same issue. He’s not enough strong and "moveable" and he’s facing injuries regularly.

PS : "Vougioukas is the best low post offensive center in Europe." NO that’s not true. Vougioukas is a very solid pro and a very effective big man to face in europe, but he’s not the best low post offensive center. You can not stop overrating greek players every time you post…

[European BallerParticipant]

PS : "Vougioukas is the best low post offensive center in Europe." NO that’s not true. Vougioukas is a very solid pro and a very effective big man to face in europe, but he’s not the best low post offensive center. You can not stop overrating greek players every time you post…

Vougioukas is the best low post center in Europe. He has the same role Pekovic had in PAO and he is better than Pekovic ever was in the low post.

The same Pekovic that was making the best NBA centers his little bitch.

Sorry, but you have not seen a Panathinaikos game in about 2 years if you don’t know how unstoppable Vougioukas is in the low post. No one in Europe can guard him. He is always getting double teams and fouled in Euroleague by every opponent.

He’s noticeably stronger than Schortsanitis and Pekovic.

You need to STOP underrating players simply because they are Greek.

[slepchorParticipant]

 Man are you in love with vougioukas or something? He is stronger than Sofo?? Whatever.. Pekovic in PAO was UNSTOPPABLE. He shot like 10-10 and scored 20 points in 15 minutes in the league, let alone in Euroleague. Vougioukas had some good games in the finals this year, and some earlier in the season, he is a good center, but let us stop fooling around for a moment. I have seen most of PAO’s games in the last two years, as I had seen most of Panellhnios’ games 3 years ago, as I had seen some St Lewis’ games back in the day when Ian was a college player, and no, I have not seen how unstoppable he is. In fact I have witnessed many big men taking the best out of him because they are bigger, stronger, or better in general. From Sofo to Pekovic and the list goes on.. If he is THAT good, how come he is not in the NBA already? 30 teams don’t know their scouting so they’re just ignoring him? It’s like you’re describing Hakeem or Kareem, with all those things you say.. Relax dude, we all have our favourite guys, let’s not be out of our minds, uh? 😉

[bball1997Participant]

Hello, I am George Papagiannis Father. Please stop talking or wondering about Gigantism because i am 2.03 cm and his mother is 1.85. According to this it is very logical George be 2.12 in his age. Also i was a basketball player for 28 years.In facebook profile kanellos papagiannis see the photo my number is 9.And the next summer august 2013 george come to high scool

thanks for your time

 

[Allen_Iverson_3Participant]

I bet there would be no contest if he played against you 1-on-1.

[ggyyParticipant]

Go check on some of his videos on youtube. If you see how quick he can move, you would not think that he has gigantism. 

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Hope he does well. Seems to move pretty well, still a long ways to the 2016 Draft but it seems like this kid is off to a great start. Playing pro at 14 and a half is incredibly impressive. He looks like he struggled a bit in the clip you showed, but he did not look completely lost. Would be hard for me to believe that any class of 2015 HS big man would look much better (Karl Towns, Horace Spencer, Diamond Stone, Levi Cook) than Papagiannis did in the post at this point in time against that competition.

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

 he indeed seems to move pretty well for a young big guy… he clearly and normaly needs to add weights but he shows some promise.

Still I think this is very very dangerous for a young guy to be so big so early. Almost all the big guys are injury prone when they show the same giant frame and don’t manage to be really effective. 

Maybe he could have a futur à la ante tomic….

[rwd5035Participant]

A 14 year old playing professionally is impressive. Hopefully his game continues to develop.

[European BallerParticipant]

And to the actual substance of your post, being 7 feet at 14 is slightly alarming. Do you know if doctors have checked him for Gigantism?

I have not heard anything about it. The first time I heard of him was when he was 13 playing in the junior high club of Peristeri. I can tell you that he has grown 1.5 inches in the last year though.

I don’t know how this compares to heights of some others like Bradley, Yao, Muresan and guys like that at similar ages. But I do know that Yao did not have the disease, so it is possible to be that height without it. I am not sure how tall this kid will be, so it would be interesting to compare his height to those others at similar ages.

Bradley had the disease supposedly and Yao did not. Does anyone know how tall they were at age 14 for comparison? Papagiannis was measured at 6-9 1/2 barefoot when he hit age 14, and now has already grown another 1.5 inches before he has turned 15. So he will be measuring at 6-11 barefoot, or maybe taller by the time he hits age 15.

It would be interesting to see the comparison to guys like Bradley and Yao., Muresan, Bol and those types of players.

From what I can find, Shaq was measured at 6-8 in shoes at age 13 and Kareem was measured at 6-8 barefoot at age 12. Yao was measured at 6-7 barefoot at age 12. So, I think it is safe to say that Papagiannis is not done growing yet.

I am sure though that since now he is in the top senior team of Peristeri and playing in the pro league that he will be tested. In Greece’s pro league there is a rule that all players have to go through a very thorough medical exam.

But, to be honest, I do not know if gigantism is a part of the test.

 

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

 "You need to STOP underrating players simply because they are Greek."

I don’t do that. I like the way greek players are playing the game (bourrousis and diamantidis are two players I truly love) but if I hear you every good greek player is the best in europe… I think you exaggerate and  it doesn’t give you much credit.

… I think this tall kid could be a greek version of ante tomic : big, skilled, high IQ, more toughness, good mobility…. but injuries are a plague for young big teens who want to play bball professionaly. Let’s hope playing professionaly so young will give him good habits (food, way of life, focus on basket, patience…) 

[European BallerParticipant]

I don’t do that. I like the way greek players are playing the game (bourrousis and diamantidis are two players I truly love) but if I hear you every good greek player is the best in europe… I think you exaggerate and it doesn’t give you much credit. … I think this tall kid could be a greek version of ante tomic : big, skilled, high IQ, more toughness, good mobility…. but injuries are a plague for young big teens who want to play bball professionaly. Let’s hope playing professionaly so young will give him good habits (food, way of life, focus on basket, patience…)

 

I do not overrate Greek players. You just keep saying that and it isn’t true. You keep saying things like that to make me look bad. I am not overrating a single Greek player.

Also, Diamantidis and Bourousis are great players, but Spanoulis is the best Greek player.

As far as comparing Papagiannis to Tomic……Tomic is a really skilled offensive player, but he is absolutely horrible on defense. Papagiannis is a mobile really big guy that is known for defense and rebounding.

Papagiannis at age 14 is a better defender already than Tomic is. If you said he could be like Tomic plus good defense, then maybe you would have a comparison. Tomic is absolutely horrible on defense, and that is why his career has been going nowhere, despite so much size and skill.

Papagiannis can already defend pro centers decently at age 14.

[aamir543Participant]

This kid will be great, but what about my boy Satnam Singh? He’s 15 now and he’s 7’0. Future of the league, along with Papagianas, and Thon Maker, as long as far as U-15 prospects go.

[NbanflguyParticipant]

Europeanballer: I do not overrate Greek players.

Europeanballer:

• Sofoklis Schortsanitis is the next Shaq
• Spanoulis is better than every point guard in the NBA except maybe Nash and Williams
• Pekovic Is the best center in the NBA right now and it is not even close

[European BallerParticipant]

Europeanballer: I do not overrate Greek players.

Europeanballer:

• Sofoklis Schortsanitis is the next Shaq
• Spanoulis is better than every point guard in the NBA except maybe Nash and Williams
• Pekovic Is the best center in the NBA right now and it is not even close

I never said Sofo was the next Shaq.

Spanoulis is better than every single point guard in the NBA.

Pekovic is the best offensive low post center.

Stop lying.

I do not overrate Greek players, but you purposely underrate them solely based on their nationality. You are at the least a xenophobe, and are much more likely a racist.

 

[OrangeJuiceJonesParticipant]

Knowing that this was a European Baller topic, I came for the .gif pictures. I leave disappointed…. and quite parched.

[pohani komaracParticipant]

as much as euroballer is kind of troll on evrey site, it’s very impresive for such a young kid to debute at such a high level. and this is very high level. as his comparison to tomic it’s way to early. tomic with 16 years was 6’6 PG and went almost without club. in year he grew to 7’1. with 18 years tomich reached 7’2 and had like 200lbs. tomich luckly main problem is not injurys, it’s softness and lack of strenght. how this kid will develope time will tell

………………………………………………………………………………………

few words about 97. euro generation…..even it’s way to early this could be best euro generation ever. 92 had kanter and valanciunas as sure nba prospects, 94. saric, 95. hezonja. but this 97. generation looks to be phenomenal wich could produce lot saric, hezonja, kanter, valanciunas level prospects. look out for that generation

Lovro Mazalin-Croatia, Stefan Peno-Serbia, Nedim Djedovic-B&H, Okben Ulubay-Turkey and this kid George Papagiannis are standouts that show promise of being top prospects

 

[NbanflguyParticipant]

Spanoulis is better than every single point guard in the NBA.

I do not overrate Greek players, but you purposely underrate them solely based on their nationality. You are at the least a xenophobe, and are much more likely a racist.

How can you say you dont overrate Greek players when you just said Spanoulis is better than every pg in the NBA? He played in the NBA and was one of the worst and most inefficiant pg in the league. I dont care about nationality and you dont know me so dont you dare call me a racist. Racists are the scum of the earth and you dont just throw that word around.

[European BallerParticipant]

How can you say you dont overrate Greek players when you just said Spanoulis is better than every pg in the NBA? He played in the NBA and was one of the worst and most inefficiant pg in the league. I dont care about nationality and you dont know me so dont you dare call me a racist. Racists are the scum of the earth and you dont just throw that word around.

So you automatically overrate all players that are in the NBA. You automatically underrate all players that play in Europe. You don’t rate players based on how good they actually are, but rather whether or not they play in the NBA.

You clearly also overrate black and American players and clearly underrate white and European players. You get angry and mad at anyone that tries to tell the truth about the level of players in the NBA and the Euroleague and accuse them of some kind of nationalist xenophobia, even if it isn’t true. While you yourself are guilty of it.

If you are not racist, then you are at the very least  ignorant.

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

 EB why are you talking about black and white ?… what is the link with what Nbanfalguy said ?

[NbanflguyParticipant]

So you automatically overrate all players that are in the NBA. You automatically underrate all players that play in Europe. You don’t rate players based on how good they actually are, but rather whether or not they play in the NBA.

You clearly also overrate black and American players and clearly underrate white and European players. You get angry and mad at anyone that tries to tell the truth about the level of players in the NBA and the Euroleague and accuse them of some kind of nationalist xenophobia, even if it isn’t true. While you yourself are guilty of it.

If you are not racist, then you are at the very least an ignorant dumb ass.

Dude I have nothing against European Players. Rubio and Pekovic are some of my favorite players in the NBA. I have a problem with YOU. I am just going to edit your post and send it back to you.

So you automatically overrate all players that are in Europe. You automatically underrate all players that play in the NBA. You don’t rate players based on how good they actually are, but rather whether or not they play in the European league.

You clearly also overrate white and European players and underreate black and american players.  You get angry and mad at anyone that tries to tell the truth about the level of players in the NBA and the Euroleague and accuse them of some kind of nationalist xenophobia, even if it isn’t true. While you yourself are guilty of it.

If you are not racist, then you are at the very least an ignorant dumb ass.

ps. Who do you think is the best player in the world right now?

[NbanflguyParticipant]

EB why are you talking about black and white ?… what is the link with what Nbanfalguy said ?

He doesnt have a link to anything he says. He just pulls random thoughts out of his ass and claims them as facts. I have asked him before for links on some of his stuff, but he never responds. I have never once brought race into this.

[European BallerParticipant]

Real Madrid is already interested in signing him.

 

http://thehoop.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/real-madrid-set-sights-on-georgios.html

The youngest ever player to play in the big league…

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

But Euroballer, how is his development going to be impacted by the country’s decent into chaos and anarchy when your elected fascist politicians are slapping around communists on live television.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBT_adiaBkY  

 

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

But Euroballer, how is his development going to be impacted by the country’s decent into chaos and anarchy when your elected fascist politicians are slapping around communists on live television.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBT_adiaBkY  

 

[European BallerParticipant]

Update – Papagiannis is now ranked as the top European prospect by Eurohopes.

 

http://www.eurohopes.com/player/1675/georgios-papagiannis/

 

What is hilarious is that not a single American site even has him listed as a prospect……..if he was from Spain or one of the former Yugoslav countries, or France or whatever, he would have ESPN articles already written about him………

But of course since he is from Greece, it’s like he does not even exist.

 

[MkadozaParticipant]

 Top European prospect born in 97. Give him time. He’s still 4 years from being draft elegible. Name a player 4 years away from being draft elegible that has articles written on them? Karl Towns? Mickey Mitchell? Anyone else?

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Tend to only rank players who play at domestic schools (ie. play high school in the US). Yes, I know Ben Simmons has had some cred, but he played well at a domestic camp (Pangos), which is why everyone was in a buzz. It is not a racism thing, they just do not just rank anybody. For the people they do end up ranking, a majority of the time it will be after they sign with a NCAA school.

So, that is the reason why Papagiannis is not among High School rankings. If he comes to the US (doubtful, as he is already playing professionally and seems to be headed down that route), I am sure there will be articles written about him. In the mean time, once again, you are full of $hit with your "racism" argument. He is freaking 15! Give him time, have him keep showing improvement, he could end up being a very big deal. Just do not understand your overall bitterness regarding how everything coming out of Greece is handled.

[bball1997Participant]

george papagiannis come in usa in january 2013

[European BallerParticipant]

Because on a daily basis everything related to Greece and Greeks is bashed in US media. We get almost as bad press in USA as Iran does.

Instead of Americans realizing this is all USA media lies and propaganda, you just take it as fact and then mock the same way and say anyone calling it into question is complaining or moaning or whatever.

I am sorry, but it’s beyond pathetic.

[Allen_Iverson_3Participant]

Dude we’re here to talk about basketball, not about politics or economics. So stop making non-founded links between basketball and politics, and also stop posing yourself as a victim of a racist conspiracy. If there are any other Greek readers on this site, I think that they are ashamed of you and of the negative image you give about your country. It’s a thing to want to point out your local prospects, it’s another thing to brag about how they are the best in the world.

[A Lil EnglishParticipant]

and if you really think you’re leaving a good impression of Greek people then you are delusional beyond pathetic.

And I’m not sorry.

[pohani komaracParticipant]

……..if he was from Spain or one of the former Yugoslav countries,

from all stupid thing you wrote this one is best. I guess there is special intrest for Stern that he promotes NBA basketball in Croatia with Saric and Hezonja. To countrie with 4,2 milion population and avrege pay about 800$ a mounth, just like they did with Montenegrians Pekovic and Vucevic. After all it’s huge base for selling TV rights to countrie of 700 000 population with standard abot 500$ per mo. LOL.

Yeah, I realy have to agree on this. It’s place of speciall intrest to NBA, becqause Stern does not wannt to miss such huge and rich population like former Yugoslavian states. LOL

[LerinErinParticipant]

 This guys makes no sense…. Let’s say there was a North Korean version of Dirk, a Cuban version of Manu, an Iranian version of John Wall or a Greek version of  any NBA sixth man there is not one gm who would black ball them. 

Hoping EB understands sarcasm

[European BallerParticipant]

……..if he was from Spain or one of the former Yugoslav countries,

from all stupid thing you wrote this one is best. I guess there is special intrest for Stern that he promotes NBA basketball in Croatia with Saric and Hezonja. To countrie with 4,2 milion population and avrege pay about 800$ a mounth, just like they did with Montenegrians Pekovic and Vucevic. After all it’s huge base for selling TV rights to countrie of 700 000 population with standard abot 500$ per mo. LOL.

Yeah, I realy have to agree on this. It’s place of speciall intrest to NBA, becqause Stern does not wannt to miss such huge and rich population like former Yugoslavian states. LOL

 

You are troll in interbasket, realgm, and here.

[pohani komaracParticipant]

yes i’m troll….but you can’t handle the truth about Greek players

[tortueParticipant]

 The problem for Greek players is that they don’t match the NBA standards in terms of athleticism, frame and length.

Greek prospects have a lot of technical skills, basketball IQ but don’t shine by their physical prowess. Greece is a major country for international basketball, but greek players are not attractive for NBA : you don’t have mobile 7 footers, athletic swingmen, ultra-speed point-guard. This is a major concern for scouts and history showed that a lot of NCAA players and foreign players (not only greeks) did not succeed because of this lack of physical abilities.

However there is one NBA prospect that you don’t talk about : Lynos Chrysikopoulos, an athletic 6’9 forward, which is under draftexpress and NBAdraft.net radar since a long time despite having a bad season and injuries. So there is no reason to be paranoiac, when there is a real NBA Prospect, scouts look for them regardless of their nationality.

[European BallerParticipant]

Spanoulis is a suoper quick and athletic point guard, even for NBA levels. Never once has any Team USA guard been able to stay in front of him.

So again you just make up nonsense that Greece has no good athletic players. It has nothing to do with any of that.

 

I can name Greek players with super athletic levels

 

Spanoulis

Pelekanos

Vasilopoulos (before his injury problems – but certainly at time he was not drafted)

 

and so forth. Pelekanos and Vasilopoulos were absolute freaks on athletic scale of NBA. Neither were drafted by the NBA.

 

Say whatever you want, there is a clear and obvious bias by the NBA to on purpose ignore Greek players.

 

And every single person that says there is not is either delusional, ignorant, or lying.

[European BallerParticipant]

Also there are mobile centers. What the hell is Bourousis? Much more mobile than 90% of NBA centers.

 

So yes there are ultra quick point guards (Spanoulis)

super athletic swing men (Pelekanos, Vasilopoulos before injury)

mobile 7 footers (Bourousis) – Mavrokefalidis also if you count him (he is 6-11)

Please just stop the lies.

[tortueParticipant]

The player you quote are far from being athletic specimen at their position by NBA standards. They are by european standards but that’s not enough.

And why is Chrysikopoulos considered NBA prospect, if it’s not because he’s big and athletic by NBA standard, explain me that ?

[European BallerParticipant]

tortue you are a true MORON

[European BallerParticipant]

Papagiannis led the FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship in blocks per game:

 

http://u16men.fibaeurope.com/en/default.asp?cid={F48B5859-256A-44CD-A585-D541E90136D0}&pageID={54B82AC0-381F-4621-A17E-A63EB4D80127}&compID={89EB60F8-7F8F-4FFB-9427-6103055F3511}&roundID=8814&season=2012&statCat=BS

 

Keep in mind that he is playing in an age group that is generally one year older than he is. He will still be playing at the same tournament next year.

For comparison, Papagiannis averaged 5.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in this tournament.

Jonas Valanciunas averaged 2.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in this same tournament, at the same age.

[bball1997Participant]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY5xMRooeUA

[bball1997Participant]

dear
the george go to usa in 11 january
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxu6oLNgf0o

[Author]

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