MUNICH (Germany) - The road to Qatar is just about to start, with 32 European teams set to compete for 12 spots in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027.
And, just like we see in every competition, there’s an abundance of young talent expected to play meaningful roles for their national teams during the qualifying process.
In this piece, we highlight 12 players born in 2003 or later, who are poised to make an impact for their teams during the first qualifying window.
Bogoljub Markovic - Serbia
Power Forward
Birth Date: July 12, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 2.10m (6ft 11in) Club: BC Mega Basket Beograd (SRB)
Markovic, drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of this year's NBA Draft, returned to Europe for the 2025–26 season, where he’s averaging 17 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists for Mega. He has already logged minutes for Serbia in the FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers and could again make an impact in the World Cup cycle thanks to his rare mix of 2.10m size, ball-handling, passing flashes and especially his shooting, which makes him a mismatch for opposing defenders.
Miikka Muurinen - Finland
Forward
Birth Date: March 04, 2007 (18 years old) Height: 2.11m (6ft 11in) Club: Partizan NIS (SRB)
Muurinen, who was named Rising Star at FIBA EuroBasket 2025, was the X-Factor behind Finland’s historic fourth-place finish in the competition; providing the team with a much-needed level of athleticism and energy off the bench. The 18-year-old possesses a rare combination of size, athleticism, shooting ability and ball-handling flashes that makes him one of the top young players in Europe and a potential difference-maker for Finland in the World Cup Qualifiers.
Alexandros Samodurov - Greece
Power Forward
Birth Date: April 20, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 2.11m (6ft 11in) Club: Panathinaikos BC OPAP (GRE)
Samodurov had an impressive 2025 with the Greek national team, earning All-Star Five honors at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket and later playing rotation minutes for the Greek squad at FIBA EuroBasket, where he averaged 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds across seven games. Samodurov's combination of 2.11m size, interior finishing, rim protection, and flashes of perimeter offense makes him one of the highest-upside prospects in Europe, and an intriguing X-Factor for the Greek senior national team.
Noam Yaacov - Israel
Point Guard
Birth Date: October 20, 2004 (21 years old) Height: 1.86m (6ft 1in) Club: Filou Oostende (BEL)
Yaacov is an experienced player who earned two All-Star Five selections at youth EuroBasket events with the Israeli youth national team, and has already played six games for the senior squad in previous World Cup and EuroBasket Qualifiers. Yaacov, who is in the midst of a productive season with Basketball Champions League side Filou Oostende, is poised to be the offensive engine for Israel during these qualifiers with his creative ball-handling, crafty finishing around the rim, reliable pull-up shooting and advanced playmaking for others.
Davide Casarin - Italy
Guard
Birth Date: May 22, 2003 (22 years old) Height: 1.94m (6ft 4in) Club: Vanoli Cremona (ITA)
Casarin is enjoying a breakout season in Italy with Vanoli Cremona, where he's averaging 12.1 points, 5.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game. The 22-year-old was a fixture for Italy’s youth teams in recent years, where he showed the ability to create shots for himself and others. With a pair of appearances for the senior national team already under his belt, and with his recent strong performances in the Italian Serie A, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Casarin making an impact for the Azzurri during this qualifying window.
Savo Drezgic - Serbia
Guard
Birth Date: August 11, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 1.92m (6ft 4in) Club: BC Mega Basket Beograd (SRB)
Drezgic has been a standout for Serbia's youth squads in recent years, including an All-Star Five nod at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket in 2024. The 19-year-old is having an impressive season in the Adriatic League, where he's ranked in the top 10 in points, rebounds, and assists per game. A creative ball-handler who is also making threes at a 45.5 percent clip during the current season, Drezgic could play an important role during this qualifying window with his versatile scoring and secondary playmaking for others, in what would be his senior national team debut.
Tobias Jensen - Denmark
Guard
Birth Date: May 08, 2004 (21 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Club: Ratiopharm Ulm (GER)
Jensen was a key figure for Denmark during the World Cup Pre-Qualifiers, where he averaged 12.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, while shooting 38.1 percent from three-point range. The Danish guard is having a breakout season in Germany for Ratiopharm Ulm, where his combination of 1.98m size, smooth ball-handling, versatile shooting and advanced playmaking has made him a tough cover for opposing guards. With his all-around game, he could help Denmark push for their first-ever World Cup berth.
Quinn Ellis - Great Britain
Guard
Birth Date: April 1, 2003 (22 years old) Height: 1.83m (6ft 0in) Club: AJX Olimpia Milano (ITA)
Ellis, despite his young age, is an experienced player who is entering his third season in the Italian Serie A and was already a key contributor for Great Britain during the Qualifiers for FIBA EuroBasket 2025. The 1.83m guard has shown the ability to act as a primary scorer who can get to the rim and convert three-pointers, but he can also create for teammates thanks to the gravity he generates as a scorer. With his well-rounded offensive profile and high-level experience, Ellis is poised to be the driving force of this British squad during the Qualifiers.
Michael Ruzic - Croatia
Power Forward
Birth Date: October 04, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 2.03m (6ft 8in) Club: Club Joventut Badalona (ESP)
Ruzic already saw action with Croatia in the Pre-Qualifiers, contributing to the team's 4-0 record with his size and versatile scoring. Standing at 2.03m, Ruzic is a threat in the paint with his footwork, ball-handling ability and touch around the basket, but he's also an impressive shooter from three-point range. With his multi-level scoring and his defensive impact, Ruzic is one of the most promising young players in Europe and could develop into a key piece for the Croatian national team.
Izan Almansa - Spain
Power Forward
Birth Date: June 7, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 2.07m (6ft 9in) Club: Real Madrid (ESP)
Almansa made his debut with the senior national team during the FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers after a tremendously decorated career at the junior levels, in which he won MVP at three different FIBA youth competitions. Now back with Real Madrid after stops in the NBA G League and the Australian NBL, Almansa continues to display an impressive combination of size, touch around the basket, rebounding ability and offensive IQ, which could make him an impactful player for Spain during the World Cup Qualifiers.
Diego Garavaglia - Italy
Power Forward
Birth Date: April 04, 2007 (18 years old) Height: 2.00m (6ft 7in) Club: Ratiopharm Ulm (GER) Garavaglia has been a consistent contributor for the Italian youth national teams, earning All-Star Five nods at both the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup and FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2025. This season, the 18-year-old has carved out a role in Ratiopharm Ulm’s rotation with his positional size, versatile defense and off-ball shooting. His two-way impact could prove to be an important asset for Italy during the World Cup Qualifiers.
Urban Kroflic - Slovenia
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: March 28, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Club: BC Mega Basket Beograd (SRB)
Kroflic made his senior national team debut with a brief appearance during the FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers. Since then, he played a major role for the Slovenian squad that won the bronze medal at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025, and is currently having a strong start to the season with Mega in the Adriatic league, where he's averaging 9.5 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 57.1 percent from three. His blend of size, fluid slashing and efficient shooting makes him an intriguing option for Slovenia during the qualifiers.
FIBA