MUNICH (Germany) - The final window of the First Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers is here, with 24 teams looking to secure a place in the Second Round, and move one step closer on the road to Qatar.
While the competition enters a high-stakes stage, teams still bank on their young players to make an impact and contribute to winning.
In this piece, we highlight 12 players, born in 2003 or later, who could make a difference for their teams in the upcoming window.
Bilal Coulibaly - France
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: July 26, 2004 (21 years old) Height: 2.03m (6ft 8in) Team: Washington Wizards (NBA)
Despite already having qualified for the Second Round, France bring plenty of NBA talent to this window, including Coulibaly, who, at just 21 years old, has already become a staple of the national team after seeing minutes at both the Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament in 2024 and FIBA EuroBasket 2025.
Coulibaly's versatility as a 2.01m forward who can handle the ball, shoot threes, make plays for others and defend multiple positions will be incredibly valuable for France as it continues to build its squad around Victor Wembanyama.
Hugo Gonzalez - Spain
Forward
Birth Date: February 5, 2006 (20 years old) Height: 1.99m (6ft 6in) Team: Boston Celtics (NBA)
Gonzalez returns to the Spanish national team after making his debut during the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers, now with a full NBA season under his belt in which he was a valuable piece off the bench for the Boston Celtics.
The former Real Madrid player will add another layer of defensive intensity and versatility, as well as improved three-point shooting, to a squad that is firing on all cylinders after winning all four of its qualifying games and securing a place in the Second Round.
Matas Buzelis - Lithuania
Forward
Birth Date: October 13, 2004 (21 years old) Height: 2.08m (6ft 10in) Team: Chicago Bulls (NBA)
Buzelis will make his long-awaited senior national team debut during the third window of the European Qualifiers, and it comes at a crucial moment for a Lithuanian squad that has yet to qualify for the next round.
The 21-year-old is coming off his second NBA season, during which his minutes and offensive responsibilities increased significantly from his rookie campaign, while also showing improvement on both ends of the floor. His profile as a 2.08m forward who can create his own shot, space the floor and make plays defensively is rare and should be tremendously valuable for Lithuania.
Adem Bona - Türkiye
Power Forward
Birth Date: March 28, 2003 (23 years old) Height: 2.06m (6ft 9in) Team: Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
Bona is coming off a solid second NBA season in which he played important minutes off the bench for the Philadelphia 76ers behind superstar center Joel Embiid, making an impact with his offensive rebounding, interior defense, and ability to finish around the rim in transition and in the pick-and-roll game.
Bona will give Türkiye an explosive lob threat and rim protector, adding another dimension to a team that is undefeated and has already qualified for the Second Round.
Nikola Jovic - Serbia
Power Forward
Birth Date: June 9, 2003 (23 years old) Height: 2.08m (6ft 10in) Team: Miami Heat (NBA)
Serbia heads into the third window looking to secure its place in the Second Round, and it will bring NBA talent to do so, including Nikola Jovic, the team's second-leading scorer at last year's FIBA EuroBasket, who is quickly becoming one of the key pieces of the Serbian national team alongside superstar Nikola Jokic.
The 23-year-old just wrapped up his fourth season with the Miami Heat, where he saw a slight decline in minutes, efficiency, and offensive production. However, his combination of size, three-point shooting, and ball movement could earn him an expanded role for the new-look Heat after the addition of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Stefan Joksimovic - Slovenia
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: November 16, 2008 (17 years old) Height: 2.01m (6ft 7in) Team: Saski Baskonia (ESP)
At just 17 years old, Joksimovic already looks like one of the cornerstones of this Slovenian national team. He's one of just four players to have appeared in every qualifying game and has already delivered standout performances, including a 15-point, six-rebound outing against Czechia back in February.
With his name already being mentioned as a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, Joksimovic will have the opportunity to further raise his NBA stock while helping Slovenia qualify for the Second Round during this upcoming window.
Elliot Cadeau - Sweden
Point Guard
Birth Date: September 04, 2004 (21 years old) Height: 1.85m (6ft 1in) Team: University of Michigan (USA - NCAA)
Cadeau brings championship pedigree to this Swedish squad after winning an NCAA national title with the Michigan Wolverines, where he was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Cadeau's elite passing and pull-up scoring ability will be a huge factor for a Sweden team that will likely need to win both of its games during this window to qualify for the next round, as it currently sits at the bottom of Group H.
Michael Rataj - Germany
Forward
Birth Date: October 12, 2003 (22 years old) Height: 2.02m (6ft 8in) Team: ALBA Berlin (GER)
Rataj could make his senior national team debut during this qualifying window. The 22-year-old finished his college career at Baylor before joining ALBA Berlin, where he helped the club capture its 12th Basketball Bundesliga title during the 2025-26 season.
Rataj's profile as a strong 2.02m forward who can knock down spot-up threes, score in the paint and make plays defensively makes him a natural fit alongside Germany's current core, as a player who doesn’t need the ball in his hands to make an impact.
Quinn Ellis - Great Britain
Guard
Birth Date: April 1, 2003 (23 years old) Height: 1.83m (6ft 0in) Team: AJX Olimpia Milano (ITA)
It's slightly inaccurate to call Ellis a rising star, considering he already has three full seasons as one of the standout players in Italy's Serie A and has been Great Britain's best player in each of his national team appearances - all at just 23 years old.
Ellis is an offensive engine who can create for himself while also setting up teammates. With Great Britain sitting in last place in Group D, his shot creation will be key in the team's push to qualify for the Second Round.
Stefan Vaaks - Estonia
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: May 08, 2005 (21 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Team: University of Illinois (USA - NCAA)
Vaaks returns to the senior national team after a breakout freshman season at Providence, where he averaged 15.8 points per game and led his team in assists.
The 21-year-old is capable of making an impact without the ball in his hands as a spot-up shooter, while also stepping into a secondary playmaking role when needed. His offensive versatility could be a key factor for Estonia as it attempts to qualify for the Second Round during this window.
Davide Casarin - Italy
Guard
Birth Date: May 22, 2003 (23 years old) Height: 1.94m (6ft 4in) Team: Vanoli Cremona (ITA)
Casarin is already a veteran, with six seasons of experience in Italy's Serie A, but this past season was something of a breakout campaign. In his first year with Vanoli Cremona, he averaged 10.9 points and 5.2 assists per game and was named the league's Most Improved Player.
That improvement has also been evident with the national team, where he is averaging 7.3 points per game while shooting 57.1 percent from the field during the qualifiers. His continued development could make him an important piece of Italy's backcourt for years to come.
Update: Casarin will miss the window through injury.
Michael Ruzic - Croatia
Power Forward
Birth Date: October 04, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 2.03m (6ft 8in) Team: Asisa Joventut (ESP)
Ruzic has been a key piece for a Croatian squad that sits at 3-1 and has already qualified for the next round. The 19-year-old has appeared in every qualifying game, averaging 9.8 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 66.7 percent from the field.
Coming off a strong season in the Spanish ACB with Joventut, where he saw increased playing time and offensive responsibility, Ruzic's unique profile as a 2.11m big man who can shoot from three, create for himself in the paint and contribute defensively should be a huge asset for Croatia moving forward.
FIBA