REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - Those watching the FIBA U20 European Championship 2016 have definitely noticed Omer Yurtseven and Kostja Mushidi putting together impressive performances for Turkey and Germany, respectively. But the fact that they are leaders on those teams is really just as impressive.

Despite being two years younger than the rest of the competition, both Yurtseven and Mushidi have guided their teams into the Quarter-Finals of the U20 European Championship and been able to take on leadership roles in squads which have already had success and developed a structure of leadership within them. 

Turkey have won all four games thus far in Helsinki - including wins over fellow powers such as Lithuania, Germany and France - and face a final eight showdown against Italy. Yurtseven leads Turkey in scoring (12.5 points), rebounds (5.5 rpg) and blocks (1.0 bpg) despite playing less than 19 minutes a game. 

And Omer Ugurata's team has a strong core of multiple-time European champions, which makes Yurtseven's integration all the more impressive. 

Berk Ugurlu and Okben Ulubay have collected five podium finishes since 2012, winning the 2012 FIBA U16 European Championship and 2013 and 2014 FIBA U18 European Championships crowns and taking third at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship and 2015 FIBA U20 European Championship. 

Ogulcan Baykan and Egemen Guven both won all three of the European titles and played at last summer's U19 Worlds while Tolga Gecim and Ege Arar missed only the 2013 FIBA U18 European Championship - as they were a year younger.

Add to that Kadir Bayram winning the titles in 2012 and 2014 and playing at last summer's U19 Worlds with Dogus Ozdemiroglu winning the 2014 U18 crown and playing both championships last summer. Yigit Arslan was on board at the 2014 U18 Euros and the 2015 FIBA U19 Worlds while Mert Cevik returns to the national team for the first time since helping the group win the 2012 U16 title and Metehan Akyel was on the 2014 U18 championship team. 

That leaves Yurtseven - some may argue the U20 team's best player - as the only player without a title, having finished "only" second at last summer's FIBA U18 European Championship after taking fourth and seventh place in two summers at the U16 European Championship level. 

But the 2.13m center - Ugurata's tallest player - has gradually gotten better and better over the course of the tournament, picking 19 points and 9 rebounds in Turkey's Round of 16 battle against France and even fending off an injured finger.

While Turkish fans hope Yurtseven can help the Ugurlu and Ulubay group to another title in Helsinki, they are also anxiously awaiting him for the U18 team, which will be going for a third FIBA U18 European Championship crown in the last four summers - with last summer’s second place being the "failure". 

Mushidi's ascension into the leadership of the German squad isn't quite as impressive but the Germans do have a solid core of four players who helped Germany earn promotion back to the Division A at the U18 European Championship in 2014 in Andreas Obst, Mahir Agva, Jan Niklas Wimberg and Joschka Ferner. Obst, Agva and Wimberg were Germany's top three scorers back in 2014 and are joined by Mushidi in the top four in Helsinki. 

Mushidi's ability to take over games helped Germany beat Lithuania as he scored 26 points in 22 minutes including the game-tying and game-winning free throws with no time left on the clock. 

Mushidi has spent the last two summers with the 1998 generation at the 2014 FIBA U16 European Championship and 2015 FIBA U18 European Championship. But he has a chance to make history for Germany in the U20 Quarter-Finals against Ukraine. Germany namely have never won a Quarter-Final game in a men's FIBA or FIBA Europe youth competition. To do that Germany must beat a Ukrainian team, which has revenge on their minds as Germany beat them in the 2014 U18 Division B final.

Those enjoying watching Yurtseven and Mushidi don't have to worry about the end of the U20 European Championship coming up soon. Both are expected to play at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2016 for two of the top contenders for the title - albeit on teams where it's no surprise they are leaders.

David Hein

FIBA

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