11–20 Jul
    2025

    10 players to watch at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket 2025, Division B

    Preview
    There's plenty on the line in Yerevan as nations battle for promotion to Division A

    Which players will shine brightest in Yerevan?

    Author
    Ignacio Rissotto

    YEREVAN (Armenia) - The eyes of scouts and youth basketball fans turn to Europe, as the start of the FIBA U20 EuroBasket, Division B, approaches.

    This year, Yerevan will host the 21 teams that will be competing to claim the Division B title, as well as one of the promotion spots to play in Division A next year.

    Among many young talented players that will shine in the tournament, we selected ten players that you should be keeping an eye through the competition, as they will be key factors for their teams.

    Emre Melih Tunca - Türkiye

    Point Guard

    Birth Date: October 13, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 1.96m (6ft 5in) Team: Turk Telekom (TUR)

    Türkiye will be making their Division B debut, as a result of last year's 14th-place finish in Division A, which meant they were relegated. The silver lining from last year's tournament was Tunca, who was one of the most impactful players in the tournament despite his team's performance. The Penn State commit averaged 17.6 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 53.3 percent from the field. This year, Tunca figures to be a key piece for Türkiye in their quest to make a quick return to the top division. His combination of elite positional size, slashing ability, and creative playmaking for others is certainly unique, and he will be difficult to contain for opposing defenders in the tournament.

    Samuel Obenjo - Sweden

    Forward

    Birth Date: August 27, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 2.08m (6ft 10in) Team: Layton Christians (USA)

    Obenjo was one of the key players in last year's Sweden U18 EuroBasket squad that secured the country's first top eight finish since 1988. The Robert Morris commit averaged 14.9 points per game while shooting 67.7 percent from the field and also led the team in rebounds and blocks per game. The 18-year-old forward possesses a unique profile: his 2.08m size and length make him a threat as an interior finisher, rebounder, and rim protector, but he also has the quickness and fluidity of a perimeter player, which allows him to create drives and attack the rim. This versatility should be one of Sweden's top weapons in the tournament and could be a key factor as they look to return to Division A for the first time since 2018.

    Niko Sare - Croatia

    Guard

    Birth Date: April 20, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 1.91m (6ft 3in) Team: Cedevita Junior (CRO)

    Sare will play in his second U20 EuroBasket in a row, as he was part of last year's Croatia squad, averaging 6.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in his debut in FIBA competitions. Sare then joined Cedevita ahead of the 2024–25 season, where he became an important rotation piece for the team in the Croatian first division. Sare's calling card is his shooting; he converted 41.3 percent of his three-point attempts last season, showing a compact, lightning-quick shooting stroke. He combines his shooting ability with ball-handling skills, which allow him to convert self-created jumpers or use the gravity he generates as a shooter to create driving lanes. Croatia will be playing their second season in Division B, and Sare's shooting should be one of the keys if the team ends up making a run in Yerevan.

    Avtandil Bakhtadze - Georgia

    Center

    Birth Date: September 19, 2007 (17 years old) Height: 2.10m (6ft 11in) Team: BC Zalgiris (LTU)

    Despite being one of the youngest players in the tournament at just 17 years old, Bakhtadze is already a veteran, having appeared in 37 FIBA games across six different competitions, including an All-Star Five nod at the 2023 FIBA U16 EuroBasket, Division B. Bakhtadze has all the tools and skills of a prototypical center, with his 2.10m size, length, touch around the basket, rebounding instincts, and rim protection ability. The Zalgiris center combines these skills with flashes of three-point shooting, which make him a threat in the pick-and-pop game. Georgia came close to promotion in last year's tournament after finishing in fifth place, and this year they will look to return to Division A for the first time since 2013, with Bakhtadze as one of their top players.

    Marko Lukanoski - North Macedonia

    Marko Lukanoski - North Macedonia

    Center

    Birth Date: March 6, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 2.09m (6ft 10in) Team: Student Igokea (BIH)

    Lukanoski is back after being a key piece in North Macedonia's title run at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket, Division B last year. The 19-year-old center earned an All-Star Five nod in the tournament after averaging 13.6 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Lukanoski has played an important role for North Macedonia, providing his team with a strong presence in the paint, where he utilizes his 2.09m size and strength to finish plays around the basket and dominate the glass on both ends. He's also able to create his own shot in the post with a combination of polished footwork and soft touch below the rim. These skills will be crucial for a North Macedonia squad that was relegated in last year's U20 EuroBasket and is looking to make a quick return to the top division.

    Fynn Schott - Austria

    Flynn Schott - Austria

    Center

    Birth Date: April 13, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 2.03m (6ft 8in) Team: CB Gran Canaria (ESP)

    Schott is already a well-known name in scouting circles, as he has been one of the top players in the youth ranks of Gran Canaria over the past couple of seasons. He also found success with Austria, last year leading the team to a promotion spot at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket, Division B for the first time in the country's history, earning an All-Star Five nod in the process. The 2.03m center makes an impact on both ends of the floor with his prolific rebounding, dominant rim protection, and creative interior scoring, while also being a factor as a passer, able to find teammates with passes out of the post. Schott, who has already made his debut for the Austrian senior national team, has been one of the best prospects in Austrian basketball in recent years and will look to take his team to yet another landmark win in Yerevan.

    Luka Durovic - Montenegro

    Forward

    Birth Date: March 30, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 2.02m (6ft 8in) Team: SC Derby (MNE)

    Montenegro returns to Division B for the first time since 2016, after finishing in 16th place in last year's Division A tournament. The team will look for a quick turnaround in Yerevan, and Luka Durovic is one of the standout names in a roster that has enough talent to win it all. Durovic is coming off back-to-back top-five campaigns for Montenegro at the U18 level, and last year he was one of the top performers on the team, averaging 7.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. His combination of optimal size for a wing, ability to handle the ball, secondary passing, and occasional three-point shooting makes him one of the X-factors on the roster.

    Simm-Marten Saadi - Estonia

    Power Forward

    Birth Date: August 31, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.05m (6ft 9in) Team: TalTech (EST)

    Saadi has been consistently productive for Estonia in FIBA competitions. Last year, he averaged 11.9 points and 6.6 rebounds for the Estonian team that finished in 11th place at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket, Division B. The Wyoming commit is a multi-level scoring threat, who utilizes his 2.05m size and strong frame to set screens and impose himself as a pick-and-roll target, but he shows enough potential as a shooter to also be a threat from beyond the three-point line. Estonia played in Division A as recently as 2023, and with Saadi as one of their top offensive weapons, they will be one of the teams to watch in Yerevan.

    Juris Vitols - Latvia

    Guard

    Birth Date: July 29, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 1.87m (6ft 2in) Team: Rigas Zelli (LAT)

    Vitols was part of the Latvian team that won the 2023 FIBA U18 EuroBasket, Division B, where he averaged 9.3 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 56.0 percent from the field. This year, he will attempt to be one of the key pieces in bringing Latvia back to Division A at the U20 level for the first time since 2019. Despite his young age, Vitols is already an experienced floor general, having played over 100 games in the Estonian-Latvian Basketball League—and that experience shows in the way he plays. He's a solid decision-maker with the ball in his hands who can distribute to teammates with both precision and creativity. Vitols's ability to set the table and control the tempo of the game will be key for Latvia in their attempt to return to Division A.

    Niklas Polonowski - Denmark

    Guard

    Birth Date: January 11, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Team: University of Pennsylvania (USA)

    Denmark returns to U20 competitions after a 13-year absence, and they will have Polonowski as one of the top players on their roster. The 20-year-old wing was an important piece for Denmark in his last FIBA tournament, the U18 EuroBasket 2023, where he averaged 8.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Polonowski finished his sophomore season in the NCAA for the University of Pennsylvania, where he played an important role off the bench as an off-ball wing who can hit three-pointers off movement, finish cuts, and attack closeouts. His combination of prototypical wing size and his ability to make an impact with or without the ball in his hands should be important for Denmark during their run in Yerevan.

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