MUNICH (Germany) - The road to the top of European basketball has often passed through FIBA Youth EuroBaskets. Year after year, the tournaments have served as a meeting point for the continent’s most exciting young talent.
The history of the events is filled with players who first gained attention there before building careers on major professional and international stages. A glance through past All-Star teams reveals many names that later became familiar across the basketball world.
So, what happened to the most recent winners?
Here's a look at the last five winners , how they performed at FIBA U16 EuroBasket, Division B, and where the game has taken them since.
2025: Aaron Ona Embo (BEL)
Then: Ona Embo shined so brightly that he was named MVP even though Belgium only finished second - losing to Division B champs Poland. The point guard collected 21.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
Now: That was actually the third U16 competition for the Belgian star guard, playing in Division A in 2023 and Division B in 2024. Ona Embo also played in the Division A of the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2025, though the country was relegated to Division B. He spent two seasons in Spain with Real Madrid and then moved to the United States last summer to play high school level basketball with the elite program Prolific Prep.
2024: Roman Avdejev (EST)
Then: Estonia have been taking steps forward in basketball for numerous years now, but 2024 was an important summer as the country got back to Division A at the U16 level. Avdejev averaged 12.7 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists as Estonia took the Division B title and moved back to Division for the first time since 2019.
Now: Avdejev gave Estonia fans more reason to be excited last summer in picking up 10.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks as the country finished second in the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2025, Division B and earn promotion to Division A. This past season he played a second year for RH Korvpallikool in the Estonian second division.
2023: Borna Katanovic (CRO)
Then: Croatia were in Division B for the first time in 2023 and Katanovic made sure the country moved back to Division A as he collected 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in winning MVP honors.
Now: Katanovic put on the Croatia jersey again last summer and played at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2025, Division B. He dominated with 18.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.4 steals per game but Croatia could not earn promotion. He has played the past three seasons with with Cibona Zagreb, competing this year in the Croatian top flight and the FIBA Europe Cup.
2022: Christian Anderson (GER)
Then: Anderson was wildly successful in his first tournament for Germany with 16.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists as the country returned to Division A.
Now: Anderson made history with Germany the following summer; helping them finish third at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2023 - the country's first-ever U18 podium finish. Anderson then made the All-Star Five as he carried Germany to the U18 EuroBasket crown in 2024. After his first season in college basketball for Texas Tech, Anderson was named to the All-Star Five of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 as Germany took second place. The guard finished his second season with Texas Tech and is expected to be selected in the 2026 NBA Draft.
2019: Jeremy Sochan (POL)
Then: Poland were spending their third summer at the Division B level before Sochan carried the country back to the top flight, averaging 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
Now: Sochan made his debut for Poland's senior national team in February 2021 in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers. He later dominated at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 Spain with 18.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 rebounds. After three seasons in the NBA with San Antonio, Sochan was waived in February 2026 and signed with New York.
FIBA