17-year-old playmaker for the Russian national team and CSKA-2, Ilya Ermakov shared in an interview with "SE" that he quickly adapted to the level of the Super League.
— You are in your second season, averaging 23+ minutes in the Super League. Isn't that too much strain on your body?
— When I first signed a contract with CSKA, I started working with the youth team, where most of the players were born in 2003 (Ilya Ermakov was born on August 2, 2007. — Note from "SE"). At first, it was challenging, but by the end of the season, I was getting better and managing the loads, although I struggled with the speed of decision-making. However, in my second year with the army team, I was already playing in the Super League. The contact here is very tough, and the pace is different compared to the youth league. So, for the first three to four months of last season, I couldn't show anything at all. But gradually, Coach Ivan Kucheryov began to trust me with playing time, for which I am very grateful to him. In the second half of the season, I played a lot, and one could say it significantly boosted my development. This season, we have almost a new roster, and the head coach has changed as well. Anton Yudin continues to trust me and share his extensive experience. I am also very thankful to him.
As for the numbers, I don't really think about that at all. There isn't much in the way of statistics at this level. All my coaches, including Zoran Lukic, have said the same. It all comes down to decision-making and defense. I just try to play my basketball and enjoy it. In that case, everything will be fine with the numbers too.
— I've noticed that all the young players speak highly of working with Anton Yudin.
— Anton Nikolaevich is a true professional. He was a strong player and was part of Dimitris Itoudis's coaching staff for many years, winning the EuroLeague several times. It's clear that he has a deep understanding of basketball; when he points out mistakes during a game or practice, you realize that you should have played that way. I really enjoy working with him. The most important thing is that Anton Nikolaevich trusts me and believes in my potential.