MUNICH (Germany) - Every summer, FIBA Youth EuroBaskets give Europe’s top young prospects the opportunity to showcase their talent on the international stage.
A look back at past All-Star Fives shows just how many future stars first made their mark at these tournaments before going on to succeed at the highest levels of the game.
Each competition also produces one player who stands out above everyone else — the MVP. It is an honor reserved for the player who leaves the biggest mark on the tournament.
So, what happened to the most recent winners?
Here's a look at the last five Most Valuable Players , how they performed at FIBA U18 EuroBasket, and where the game has taken them since.
2025: Ian Platteeuw (ESP)
Then: Platteeuw was a major factor in Spain winning their sixth title as he averaged 10.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
Now: Platteeuw helped Spain win the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023 crown and played in the U18 EuroBasket a summer earlier as well. The center grew up in the Joventut Badalona system, even debuting in the Spanish top flight in 2024-25. Platteeuw moved to the United States and played this past season with Davidson College.
2024: Ben Saraf (ISR)
Then: Israel last finished in the top four of a U18 EuroBasket in 1972. Saraf carried Israel to the Semi-Finals with one outstanding performance after the next, averaging 28.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists. The country ended up losing their final two games for fourth place but qualified for the first time to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
Now: Saraf debuted with the Israel senior national team in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers - playing in two windows. He moved from Israel to Germany in 2024 and played one season with ratiopharm Ulm and then was selected in the 2025 NBA Draft. And, he played this past season with the Brooklyn Nets.
2023: Nikola Topic (SRB)
Then: Topic dominated play from the point guard position for Serbia in leading the country to their third U18 EuroBasket crown in the last five editions, averaging 15.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists.
Now: Topic made his EuroLeague debut at age 18 in the 2023-24 season with Crvena Zvezda Belgrade. His season ended in May 2024 with a torn ACL but that didn't stop the Oklahoma City Thunder from taking him with the 12th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft. Topic did not play the entire 2024-25 season and only debuted in the NBA in February 2026 as he was also dealing with testicular cancer.
2022: Izan Almansa (ESP)
Then: Almansa continued to build his resume as he carried Spain to the title in Türkiye, averaging 15.7 points and 10.7 rebounds.
Now: The 2022 U18 EuroBasket was the middle tournament of a magical trio of youth events for Almansa, who took home MVP honors of all three competitions - the others being the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022, where Spain finished second; and the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023, where Spain took the title for the first time since 1999.
He played the next summer in the FIBA U20 EuroBasket 2024 and debuted in the Spanish senior national team in 2024-25 season, playing in two windows of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers despite playing professionally in Australia with Perth. He returned to Europe for this past season and played with Real Madrid while also competing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers.
2019: Santi Aldama (ESP)
Then: Spain finally reigned over the continent at the junior level again; winning the U18 EuroBasket for the first time since 2011. And, that was thanks in large part to Aldama, who collected 18.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
Now: Aldama would then move to the United States and attended college two seasons at Loyola (Maryland) before being drafted into the NBA in 2021. He just finished his fourth season in the NBA with Memphis. The big man debuted with the Spanish senior national team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and then was the MVP of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024, Spain. Aldama served as one of the leaders for Spain at the 2024 Olympics and also at FIBA EuroBasket 2025.
FIBA