Oleksiy Pecherov's immediate future is in Europe instead of the NBA, the Washington Wizards have confirmed.

The 210-cm center, selected 18th overall this summer, averaged 9.8 points and 6.2 rebounds this past month in EuroBasket Division A qualifying games for Ukraine.

With major minutes unlikely in the NBA, the 20-year old is expected to hone his game with BC Kyiv in the EuroCup.

Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld said: "I don't feel it's good for any young player, if it can be avoided, to just sit on the bench without playing.

"The only way young players get better is by being out on the court, playing in real game type situations.

"The games they play over there are in front of a lot of people.

"They're pressure-packed type of games where you have big plays and big shots. The players are physical and every game means something.

"That's much more important than just working on fundamentals every single day, without the banging and real game type of experience."

Pecherov spent last season on loan from Kyiv at Paris Basket Racing.

Kyiv, which made it to the EuroCup Final Four last year, will also attempt to avenge last season's defeat to Azovmash in the Ukraine play-off finals.