Who is up and down in my European youth power rankings?
NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – Now that the various age group tournaments have finished in Europe, we can catch our breath and reflect on how the Federations might be assessing their respective overall performances.
Here are the choice of my winners and losers from an eventful 2017 – although if I was working in a Federation, my only metric of youth events would be how many potential future senior players are coming through!
Cause for celebration
France were the most consistent nation across all categories by some distance in terms of the numbers, with their three finishes only adding up to a number as low as 8. It could have been better had the U20 team not blown a great chance of the podium in Matosinhos, but the way France finished the summer with a 7-0 record on home soil at the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship 2017 where they won the title for the first time in a decade was sensational.
I have not seen a team as athletic at that level or with as much potential. This generation could possibly dominate for the next 4-5 years and certainly does have some future senior stars in it – and not just MVP Iliana Rupert.
Hungary were also a model of consistency during the summer and deserve huge praise. They reached the U16 Final in Bourges for the first time in four decades, were probably only denied a medal in Sopron at U18 because of an injury to star performer Dorka Juhasz and were so entertaining to watch during their top 5 finish at U20.
That feeling when your nation reaches the Final of #FIBAU16Europe for the first time in 41 years - Congratulations 🇭🇺 Team-ball! 💪@FIBA pic.twitter.com/ve1vMKiHIU
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) August 11, 2017
I particularly enjoyed the explosive Agnes Studer, who I was thrilled still made the All-Star Five. It seems like Hungary could really come alive at senior level in the next 5-10 years if these players make the transition as anticipated.
Slovenia made history at the FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship when they won silver and reached the podium for the first-time which was important because it came off the back of their senior side playing at EuroBasket Women Final Round for the first time.
History for @kzs_si - First time Semi-Finalists #FIBAU20Europe and turning out to be a historic year all-round after #EuroBasketWomen2017 pic.twitter.com/s23EpC6ke7
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) July 13, 2017
They showed outstanding teamwork and while Annamaria Prezelj rightly won the plaudits, I was so impressed with her colleagues Larisa Ocvirk and Zala Friskovec – as well as head coach Damir Grgic, who coached the seniors in Prague too.
Belgium will not forget 2017 in a hurry after play-caller Arvid Diels led his side to what was an unlikely but superb triumph at the FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship.
They also made the Quarter-Finals at U20 and wrapped up a fine summer [which also witnessed that historic senior bronze medal at EuroBasket Women 2017] by gaining promotion to Division A when competing last weekend at U16 in Skopje.
Germany won a double promotion at U20 and U18 so will be very content, with Satou and Nyara Sabally completing a magnificent sister act, by both being named MVP at the respective events and producing one of the stories of the summer.
It would have been a fairytale for Germany had the U16 team also managed to make the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup, but they were just squeezed out.
Denmark are celebrating a historic promotion and indeed a gold medal at the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship Division B and I have to give credit to a FIBA colleague of mine who messaged me within minutes of their opening game to tell me they were the real deal. He has a good eye for spotting talent and they delivered on his assessment in a big way. It was a pity they did not manage to field a team as planned in Dublin for the U18 tournament, but this bodes well for the future and a lot of attention will now switch to what they are doing.
Cause for reflection
Spain. What to say about the most successful nation of the modern era? Well, it started brilliantly with the successful defense of their title at U20 in Matosinhos – only to fade away with successive fifth place finishes in Sopron and Bourges – two results which followed an uninspiring outing in Udine at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup. When you are Spain, you are held to a higher standard [rightly or wrongly], but what is important is that I saw an array of players who could be senior stars and as I said earlier – this is the key.
Ireland have an argument to be up in that first section I guess. They were admired hosts of the FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship Division B where the support was tremendous and they deservedly gained a historic promotion to Division A. But, amidst this wonderful accomplishment is the reality check that they did it off the back of an amazing player in Claire Melia and also have an incredibly hard job ahead in securing funding for the sport.
Talented young players in Ireland are being potentially frozen out due to being financially excluded, since they are unable to contribute towards the costs of playing the sport. But with some good things happening at the Federation and hopefully the sport being put more centrally on the radar, hopefully players won’t have to contribute financially to participate in the longer term.
Cause for concern
In reality, Lithuania suffered a humiliating triple relegation which came off the back of the senior team missing out on a spot at EuroBasket Women 2017. Only the fact they are hosting the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship means they will have at least one team in the top flight next year as they were given special dispensation to avoid the drop. But, serious questions will probably be asked about the state of women’s basketball in Lithuania right now. I hope it is a temporary blip as they have a long tradition.
ALERT @musukrepsinis can NOT be relegated #FIBAU16Europe Special rule as 2018 Div A hosts. Only 2 promoted from Div B Skopje if LTU bottom 3 pic.twitter.com/gdE1pP6Wp7
— Paul Nilsen (@basketmedia365) August 11, 2017
Turkey continues to be a cause for concern. They have had super success at senior level, have a great domestic league, do well in European club competitions, show a great passion for the women’s game, but had three combined finishes at this summer’s youth events totalling 41 – including relegation at U20 in Matosinhos. I have also not seen many potential future senior talents, although Sevgi Uzun did shine.
Finally, Netherlands had a bit of a boom through the youth categories from circa 2010 onwards and looked like they had really established themselves, but their combined finishes this summer were a rather eye-watering 53 and they look to be on a worrying slide.
Paul Nilsen
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