TRENTINO (Italy) - The Group Phase of FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2026 is in the books after three days of competition, and one thing has become clear: there is more than one recipe for success.
For some teams, it has been about strength in numbers, with squads like Türkiye, Serbia, and the host nation, Italy, finding success by sharing responsibilities.
Other teams, like Estonia, Slovakia, and Lithuania, have been clearly powered by one player, with Roman Avdejev, Bruno Randuska, and Ignas Stombergas, respectively, doing nearly everything for their squads.
Then there's the happy medium: two dynamic duos that have shined in Trentino. Aviv Aronov and David Musis are averaging a combined 50.7 points and 17.3 rebounds for an undefeated Israel squad, while Slovenia's Igor Stjepanovic and Stefan Joksimovic have emerged as one of the most effective one-two punches in the competition.
So, as the teams head into the Round of 16, here are 10 players that have shined the brightest in Trentino so far.
David Musis - Israel
Center
Birth Date: July 21, 2008 (18 years old) Height: 2.11m (6ft 11in) Tournament Stats: 24.0 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 1.7 BPG, 0.7 APG
Musis has been one of the breakout players so far. The Israeli center is the tournament's second-leading scorer, top rebounder, and one of the top 10 shot blockers so far. While the numbers speak for themselves, the tape is even more impressive.
Standing at 2.11m, Musis plays the role of a big man to perfection, dominating the glass, finishing plays around the basket, and blocking shots. But he's also shown the ability to knock down jumpers, proving to be a legitimate threat in the pick-and-pop game.
As one of the most statistically dominant players in the competition and with Israel still undefeated, Musis has established himself as a strong MVP candidate in Trentino.
Aviv Aronov - Israel
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: April 04, 2008 (18 years old) Height: 1.95m (6ft 5in) Tournament Stats: 26.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.3 BPG
The other half of Israel's dynamic duo is Aronov, who started the tournament on a heater, dropping back-to-back 30-plus-point games against Greece and France. Currently leading the tournament in points per game, the Eastern Michigan guard has showcased his polish and versatility as a scorer, creating shots for himself with his smooth ball handling and touch from multiple levels of the floor. Israel will head into a Round of 16 matchup against Denmark, but its Group Phase performances have shown the team has the talent not only to reach the podium for the first time at the U18 level, but also to win it all.
Stefan Joksimovic - Slovenia
Point Guard
Birth Date: November 16, 2008 (17 years old) Height: 2.04m (6ft 8in) Tournament Stats: 18.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG
While the efficient scoring of Igor Stjepanovic was key for Slovenia's 2-1 Group Phase record, we highlight Joksimovic, who once again shined with his versatility. The Baskonia forward ranks among the tournament's top five scorers while also leading Slovenia in assists and rebounds.
He has displayed a rare combination of ball handling, pull-up shooting, and secondary playmaking for a player standing 2.04m, allowing him to create shots both for himself and for others. With the dynamic duo of Stjepanovic and Joksimovic, Slovenia has the talent and offensive firepower to be one of the favorites to win it all in Trentino.
Fabian Kayser - Germany
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: March 25, 2009 (17 years old) Height: 2.02m (6ft 8in) Tournament Stats: 14.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Kayser, who was born in 2009, is one year younger than most of the players in the competition, but that hasn't stopped him from making an impact. He's proving to be one of the tournament's best three-point shooters, converting 50 percent of his attempts, while also contributing defensively by averaging 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. Germany is firing on all cylinders heading into the Round of 16 after going undefeated during the Group Phase. With one of the competition's most talented players in Kayser, they should be considered one of the favorites to win it all in Trentino.
Hugo Yimga - France
Small Forward
Birth Date: July 3, 2008 (18 years old) Height: 2.04m (6ft 8in) Tournament Stats: 15 PPG, 7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.3 SPG
Yimga is living up to the pre-tournament hype. From a statistical standpoint, he ranks among the tournament's top 10 scorers while also leading France in both points and rebounds per game. The eye test has been even more impressive, as few, if any, players in his age group possess his combination of size, strength, speed, and ball-handling ability, which has made him a constant threat going downhill. France will face Slovakia in the Round of 16 after finishing the Group Phase with a 2-1 record, and with Yimga leading the way, they'll look to claim their first U18 title in a decade.
Gerard Fernandez - Spain
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: August 23, 2008 (17 years old) Height: 1.85m (6ft 1in) Tournament Stats: 17 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.0 SPG
Spain will head into the Round of 16 undefeated, playing up to the standard of a U18 powerhouse that has won three titles since 2019. One of the team's key players during the Group Phase was Fernandez, who emerged as one of the top three-point shooters in Trentino.
The Manresa prospect is currently shooting 42.1 percent from beyond the arc on 6.3 attempts per game. His efficiency as a spot-up shooter gives Spain a dangerous weapon that could prove to be the difference-maker in the team's quest for its seventh U18 title.
Roman Avdejev - Estonia
Center
Birth Date: February 02, 2008 (18 years old) Height: 2.03m (6ft 8in) Tournament Stats: 12.3 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 2.7 BPG, 1.7 SPG
Avdejev has carried a tremendous workload for Estonia during the Group Phase, leading his team in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals while providing a strong interior presence capable of rebounding, protecting the rim, and finishing around the basket. Despite going winless during the Group Phase, Avdejev's performances have already cemented him as one of the top prospects in attendance in Trentino. He'll have the opportunity to further prove himself in the Round of 16, where Estonia will face an undefeated German squad.
Bruno Randuska - Slovakia
Point Guard
Birth Date: April 11, 2008 (18 years old) Height: 1.99m (6ft 6in) Tournament Stats: 23.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Randuska played only two games during the Group Phase, but his impact for Slovakia has been tremendous. He ranks among the tournament's top three scorers and top 10 rebounders, and has already delivered one of the standout performances of the competition with 36 points and nine rebounds against Denmark, leading Slovakia to its lone Group Phase victory. Randuska was a key part of the Slovakian team that earned promotion in last year's Division B tournament, and this year he's playing an even bigger role for a team looking to avoid relegation in only its second-ever appearance in the top flight.
Ignas Stombergas - Lithuania
Center
Birth Date: February 21, 2008 (18 years old) Height: 2.08m (6ft 10in) Tournament Stats: 16.7 PPG, 8 RPG, 3.0 BPG, 2.7 APG, 1.0 SPG
Stombergas came out of the gates storming, posting 27 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks in his opening game against Slovenia. But the Lithuanian center has contributed in every game, averaging 16.7 points per game on 69 percent shooting from the field while also making a major defensive impact, grabbing eight rebounds and ranking as the Group Phase's second-leading shot blocker with three blocks per game. After finishing the Group Phase 1-2, Lithuania now faces the host nation in what promises to be a difficult Round of 16 matchup, but Stombergas' dominance around the basket on both ends of the floor could be the key to carrying his team into the decisive stages of the tournament.
Chrysostomos Chatzilamprou - Greece
Forward
Birth Date: July 12, 2008 (18 years old) Height: 2.00m (6ft 7in) Tournament Stats: 16.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.3 SPG
Chatzilamprou has been tremendously productive for Greece. He ranks among the tournament's top 10 scorers and has proven to be one of the best shooters in Trentino, converting 38.5 percent of his three-point attempts on high volume. The Aris forward has also made an impact offensively with his slashing ability and passing on the move, while contributing defensively with his rebounding. Greece will face Serbia next in what should be one of the marquee Round of 16 matchups. Chatzilamprou could be the key to Greece pulling off the upset and reaching the Quarter-Finals for the first time since 2023.
FIBA