MUNICH (Germany) — With the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers underway, 32 national teams return to action for the second window, each aiming to move one step closer on the road to Qatar.
As the competition reaches a new level of intensity, the platform is once again set for a new wave of young talent to prove itself at the senior level and make an impact for their respective countries.
In this piece, we highlight 10 players born in 2003 or later who could play key roles for their teams in the upcoming window.
Alexandros Samodurov - Greece
Power Forward
Birth Date: April 20, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 2.11m (6ft 11in) Club: Panathinaikos BC OPAP (GRE)
Samodurov, who made his senior national team debut at last year's FIBA EuroBasket, had a terrific start to the World Cup Qualifiers, averaging 14 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals during the first window. The Panathinaikos forward has always been an intriguing prospect with his combination of elite size, ball-handling ability and flashes of passing, shooting and defensive playmaking, and at just 20 years old, he already seems to have developed into an important piece of the Greek national team.
Michael Ruzic - Croatia
Power Forward
Birth Date: October 04, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 2.03m (6ft 8in) Club: Asisa Joventut (ESP)
Ruzic put together one of the best individual performances of the first qualifying window, posting 23 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists in a win against Israel. After three seasons as a rotational piece for Joventut in Spain, the 19-year-old has developed into a key contributor for Croatia, with his ability to convert shots around the basket and hit jumpers from beyond the arc, while also making an impact as a rebounder and rim protector.
Izan Almansa - Spain
Power Forward
Birth Date: June 7, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 2.07m (6ft 9in) Club: Real Madrid (ESP)
After a prolific career at the junior levels, the first steps of Almansa's national team career have been equally as productive, as evidenced by his 12-point, 9-rebound, 3-block performance during the first qualifying window against Georgia.
With his ability to score around the basket, protect the rim, and his flashes of ball-handling and passing, Almansa is establishing himself in Spain's rotation, and it's easy to envision him developing into the team's center of the future.
Quinn Ellis - Great Britain
Guard
Birth Date: April 1, 2003 (22 years old) Height: 1.83m (6ft 0in) Club: AJX Olimpia Milano (ITA)
It feels strange to call Ellis a rising star when he has been consistently impactful for Great Britain ever since making his national team debut in 2022.
Ellis, who is still only 22 years old, has already established himself as the lead guard for the team and as one of the best floor generals in Europe for Olimpia Milano - running the offense with a combination of passing vision and poise as a ball-handler.
Miikka Muurinen - Finland
Forward
Birth Date: March 04, 2007 (18 years old) Height: 2.10m (6ft 11in) Club: Partizan NIS (SRB)
Muurinen is not having the best 2025-26 season with Partizan, as he has struggled to find consistent playing time for one of the top teams in Europe. Still, the 18-year-old is one of the most electric players on the continent and has earned a rotation spot for Finland's national team, providing a level of athleticism and explosiveness that makes him a threat in transition and allows him to make an impact as a defender and interior finisher.
Jack Kayil - Germany
Point Guard
Birth Date: January 27, 2006 (20 years old) Height: 1.91m (6ft 3in) Club: ALBA Berlin (GER)
Kayil is having an impressive season in Germany with ALBA Berlin and played an important role for Germany during the first qualifying window, averaging 8 points and 4.5 assists over two games. Possessing the offensive versatility to create his own shot, act as a facilitator for teammates and contribute as an off-ball scorer, Kayil's ability to fill multiple roles has been valuable for Germany in the early stretch of the Qualifiers.
Luigi Suigo - Italy
Center
Birth Date: January 29, 2007 (19 years old) Height: 2.16m (7ft 1in) Club: BC Mega Basket Beograd (SRB)
Suigo made his senior national team debut during the first window and saw extended playing time in Italy's win over Lithuania. The 19-year-old is having a breakthrough season with Mega in the Adriatic League, which has put him on NBA radars. With his massive 2.16m size, ability to score around the basket, block shots and his shooting potential, Suigo is one of the highest-ceiling prospects in Europe and could develop into a difference-maker for Italy.
Savo Drezgic - Serbia
Guard
Birth Date: August 11, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 1.92m (6ft 4in) Club: BC Mega Basket Beograd (SRB)
Drezgic had a brief appearance during the first qualifying window, but his impressive season with Mega in the Adriatic League, where he's averaging 16.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4 assists per game, suggests that he could see extended playing time with Serbia soon. The 19-year-old is a creative ball-handler and shot-maker who has also shown the ability to make plays for others on a secondary level. His offensive creativity could be valuable for Serbia during the Qualifiers.
Stefan Joksimovic - Slovenia
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: November 16, 2008 (17 years old) Height: 2.01m (6ft 7in) Club: Saski Baskonia (ESP)
Despite being just 17 years old, it's clear that Joksimovic has earned the trust of Slovenia's coaching staff, as he not only made his debut but also saw extended playing time during the first qualifying window, averaging 6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
The Baskonia prospect is a gifted scorer who has shown at the junior levels the ability to create and convert shots from multiple areas of the floor. Continuing to gain senior-level experience will be valuable for Joksimovic, who is viewed as one key pieces of the Slovenian national team's future.
Tobias Jensen - Denmark
Guard
Birth Date: May 08, 2004 (21 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Club: Ratiopharm Ulm (GER)
Jensen is one of the key players on a very young Denmark national team, and he delivered one of the best individual performances of the first qualifying window with 20 points and 6 rebounds in a loss against Spain. The 21-year-old is also having a tremendous season with Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany, and his combination of elite size, smooth ball-handling ability and shooting efficiency has allowed him to step into a lead guard role for Denmark.
FIBA