TBILISI (Georgia) - Serbia returned to the top at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket, winning their first U16 title in nearly two decades propelled by Nikola Kusturica, who was ultimately named MVP of the tournament.
Before the eyes of the basketball world turn to FIBA EuroBasket 2025, starting on August 27, we look back at the 10 players who turned heads in Tbilisi, plus the MVP of the Division B tournament in Skopje.
You might want to remember these names, as they're primed to shape the future of European basketball over the next few years.
MVP: Nikola Kusturica - Serbia
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: April 30, 2009 (16 years old) Height: 2.02m (6ft 8in) Tournament Stats: 20.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.4 APG, 2.1 SPG, 1.6 BPG
One of the most productive players in Tbilisi, who finished the tournament ranked top five in both points and blocks per game, Kusturica's two-way impact led Serbia to its first U16 title since 2007. The Barcelona prospect showed a versatile scoring skill set, getting to the rim and making tough, self-created jumpers on the perimeter. Defensively, he was active on multiple levels of the floor, defending opposing ball-handlers, contesting jump shots and acting as a weakside rim protector.
Kusturica's mix of size, scoring ability, and defensive productivity made him a more than deserving MVP of the FIBA U16 EuroBasket and established him as one of the top long-term prospects in his age group.
Nathan Soliman - France
Power Forward
Birth Date: May 14, 2009 (16 years old) Height: 2.03m (6ft 8in) Tournament Stats: 20.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.1 SPG, 1.9 BPG
Despite falling short in their quest to repeat as U16 champions and missing the podium for the first time since 2016, France still qualified for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2026. One of the main reasons for the team's qualification was Nathan Soliman. The 2.03m forward was arguably the most productive player in Tbilisi, leading the tournament in blocks, finishing second in rebounding, and third in scoring.
With his fluid ball-handling ability, passing vision, and defensive productivity, Soliman established himself as one of the top players in his age group. If he suits up for France in next year's U17 World Cup, they will undoubtedly have a shot at winning the title.
Gabrielius Buivydas - Lithuania
Guard
Birth Date: March 28, 2009 (16 years old) Height: 1.95m (6ft 5in) Tournament Stats: 16.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.3 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Buivydas' masterful performance in the Final (26 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists) wasn't enough for Lithuania to beat Serbia, but it added more evidence to the 1.95m guard's case as one of the best shot creators in Tbilisi. Buivydas made a tremendous offensive impact for Lithuania, creating his own shots with his smooth ball-handling and versatile shooting touch, while also making plays for others, consistently finding teammates on the move.
While Lithuania fell short in the Final, they will certainly be one of the teams to watch in next year's U17 World Cup, especially if Buivydas leads them as he did in Tbilisi.
Lun Jarc - Slovenia
Power Forward
Birth Date: January 26, 2009 (16 years old) Height: 2.06m (6ft 9in) Tournament Stats: 14.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Jarc was named to the All-Star Five after leading Slovenia to their best-ever finish at the U16 level, earning the country its first-ever medal in the competition. With his combination of 2.06m size, strong frame, straight-line speed, and fluidity with the ball in his hands, Jarc put a lot of pressure on opposing defenders, being a threat to attack the rim on closeouts and in transition. The Slovenian forward also showed an impressive shooting ability, converting 37.9 percent of his three-point attempts on considerable volume.
With his combination of size and multi-level scoring ability, Jarc was tremendously impactful in Tbilisi, and it's easy to envision a productive pro career for him in the coming years.
Petar Bjelica - Serbia
Power Forward
Birth Date: February 14, 2009 (16 years old) Height: 2.08m (6ft 10in) Tournament Stats: 15.0 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.1 BPG"
Bjelica shined with a 25-point, 9-rebound performance in the Final against Lithuania, but he was an important piece for Serbia throughout the tournament with his efficient interior finishing and prolific rebounding. The 2.08m forward also showed flashes of a perimeter game, converting the occasional jump shot and, more importantly, making plays for teammates, as he led his team in assists and routinely made creative passes, finding teammates through traffic.
The big three of Kusturica, Bjelica, and sharpshooting guard Ognjen Simjanovski were too much for opposing teams in Tbilisi, making Serbia one of the lead contenders to win it all at next year's FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup.
Omer Kutluay - Türkiye
Point Guard
Birth Date: March 27, 2009 (16 years old) Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in) Tournament Stats: 24.1 PPG, 6.0 APG, 4.0 RPG, 2.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Kutluay came into the tournament with lofty expectations, and he did not disappoint, finishing as the competition's leading scorer and the second-leading assist man. The Real Madrid product was the offensive engine for Türkiye, creating shots for teammates with creative and accurate passing deliveries while also calling his own number via drives and jumpshots off-the-dribble.
Kutluay's prolific scoring and playmaking for others cemented him as one of the top guards in his age group; it's easy to envision him developing into a top-level pro and a potential cornerstone of the Turkish national team in a few years.
Benjamin Berrouet - Latvia
Forward
Birth Date: June 10, 2010 (15 years old) Height: 2.03m (6ft 8in) Tournament Stats: 11.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.6 BPG, 0.3 SPG
Berrouet was one of the keys to Latvia's sixth-place finish, their best result at the U16 level in over a decade. The 2.03m forward was an absolute force in the paint, dominating the glass, creating extra possessions at a tremendous rate (4.1 offensive rebounds per game), finishing tough shots in traffic, and blocking shots.
Born in 2010, Berrouet will be eligible for next year's U16 EuroBasket. If he returns, Latvia will certainly be one of the teams to watch, as they will have one of the top players in the tournament on their roster.
Mario Machetti - Italy
Guard
Birth Date: April 13, 2009 (16 years old) Height: 1.83m (6ft 0in) Tournament Stats: 11.9 PPG, 4.9 APG, 2.9 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Italy secured qualification for next year's FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup after making their third U16 Semi-Finals appearance in the past five editions of the tournament. While it was a balanced team effort, Machetti stepped up in a decisive Quarter-Finals game against France, where he exploded for 27 points and 4 assists.
The 1.83m guard impressed with his shifty ball-handling, versatile shot-making, and prolific passing ability in Tbilisi, and he will be one of the players to watch if he suits for Italy at next year's U17 World Cup.
Roger Villarejo - Spain
Forward
Birth Date: March 14, 2009 (16 years old) Height: 2.01m (6ft 7in) Tournament Stats: 13.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Spain couldn't extend their streak of five consecutive U16 Final appearances, bowing out in the Quarter-Finals. One of the bright spots for the team was Roger Villarejo, an athletic 2.01m wing who utilized his combination of size, length, speed, and body control to attack and finish strongly at the rim while also making a versatile impact on defense, and spacing the floor effectively off-the-catch.
With his optimal size for a wing and his 3-and-D profile, it's easy to envision Villarejo developing into an important piece for the Spanish national team down the line.
Angelos Zoupas - Greece
Forward
Birth Date: November 4, 2009 (15 years old) Height: 2.00m (6ft 7in) Tournament Stats: 20.6 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Zoupas came out the gates storming, putting up a 28-point, 7-rebound, 4-block masterpiece in the first game of the tournament against Latvia. The Greek wing finished the tournament second in points per game, and showcased an impressive combination of size, strength, shooting touch and ball-handling ability which made him a multi-level threat as a scorer.
Greece finished outside the top eight for the first time since 2016, but in Zoupas they have found one of the top long-term prospects in his age group, which could pay big dividends for the national team in a few years.
Division B MVP: Aaron Ona Embo - Belgium
Point Guard
Birth Date: April 14, 2009 (16 years old) Height: 1.80m (5ft 11in) Tournament Stats: 21.0 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.6 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Ona Embo was named MVP of the Division B tournament in Skopje, a rare honor for someone not playing for the championship team, which speaks volumes about the impact he made for Belgium. The Real Madrid prospect was one of the top offensive engines in the competition, finishing in the top five for both points and assists per game, while showing his creativity as a ball-handler and playmaking for others.
After leading Belgium back to Division A, Ona Embo capped a tremendously successful summer, having also been the leading scorer for Belgium at the U18 EuroBasket. His performance in Skopje adds further evidence to his projection as a future cornerstone of the Belgian national team.
FIBA