Rising stars: Who impressed most at FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2025?

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    The future looks bright as the next generation of stars showed out in Belgrade

    These 10 players prove that the future is very bright for European basketball.

    Author
    Ignacio Rissotto

    BELGRADE (Serbia) – The FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2025 came to a close with Spain winning their sixth U18 title in tournament history.

    As always, the competition served as a showcase for some of the top young talent in Europe, with players stepping up in big moments and laying the foundation for what could become promising careers with their national teams.

    In this recap, we highlight 10 standout performers from Division A who left a strong impression in Belgrade, along with the MVP of the Division B tournament held in Pitesti.

    Ian Platteeuw - Spain

    Center

    Birth Date: November 3, 2007 (17 years old)  Height: 2.10m (6ft 11in) Tournament Stats: 10.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG

    Spain proved once again that they are a powerhouse at the youth level, winning their sixth U18 title, and their third in the last five editions of the tournament. Platteeuw was named MVP after showcasing one of the most versatile skill sets among all players in attendance. His combination of size, fluidity, and polish made him a threat as an interior scorer, but he also shined in the perimeter with his ability to create drives and make passes on the move.

    The Joventut prospect will head to the NCAA, where he will play for Davidson starting next season. With his unique profile as a center who can create offense for himself and others on the perimeter, it's easy to envision him making an impact from day one in the college game.

    Maxence Lemoine - France

    Point Guard

    Birth Date: June 19, 2007 (18 years old)  Height: 1.88m (6ft 2in) Tournament Stats: 14.6 PPG, 5.1 APG, 2.7 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG

    France was, once again, one of the top teams in the tournament, but their quest for a fifth U18 title ended in heartbreak with a dramatic, last-second loss to Spain in the Final. Lemoine, who finished in the top 10 in both assists and points per game, was France's offensive engine. He was able to set up teammates with a perfect mix of creativity and efficiency, posting a tremendous 9.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. He was also able to call his own number, playing with poise and fluidity as a driver and being a threat as a shooter off the dribble.

    The SIG Strasbourg product was instrumental in France's silver-medal run in Belgrade, and his consistency at creating offense for himself and others made his All-Star Five nod more than deserved.

    Diego Garavaglia - Italy

    Power Forward

    Birth Date: April 4, 2007 (18 years old)  Height: 2.00m (6ft 7in) Tournament Stats: 14.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.9 SPG, 2.6 APG, 1.0 BPG

    This has been a successful generation of Italian basketball that made the finals of both the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023 and the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024. In Belgrade, they added more silverware, returning to the U18 podium for the first time since 2016.

    One key contributor in all those tournaments was Diego Garavaglia. The 2.00m forward led Italy in points, rebounds, and steals, while also shooting 42.1 percent from three. His combination of elite positional size, two-way impact, and ability to contribute with or without the ball have been key for Italy's youth squads, and should make him an impactful player at the pro level in the near future.

    Valdis Valters - Latvia

    Guard

    Birth Date: October 13, 2007 (17 years old)  Height: 1.90m (6ft 2in) Tournament Stats: 14.4 PPG, 4.0 APG, 1.7 RPG, 1.0 SPG

    Latvia was one of the surprise teams of the U18 EuroBasket. After going 0-3 in the Group Phase, they knocked out title contenders Lithuania and Germany en route to their first top-four finish since 2018.  Valters' play also improved as the tournament progressed, and he showed up in the big moments, putting up 29-points and 5-assists in their win against Lithuania and making the game-winning layup against Germany in the Quarter-Finals.

    The 17-year-old guard carries a strong family legacy, with a FIBA Hall-of-Fame grandfather and a father who was a staple of the Latvian national team for nearly a decade. With his speed, creativity, shot-making prowess, and ability to step-up in the clutch moments, the youngest Valters didn’t just carry the family legacy: he made a name for himself in Belgrade.

    Read more on Valters

    Player Spotlight: Latvia's Valdis Valters carrying on family legacy

    Pavle Backo - Serbia

    Center

    Birth Date: July 11, 2007 (18 years old)  Height: 2.10m (6ft 10in) Tournament Stats: 16.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.2 BPG, 0.5 APG, 0.3 SPG

    Backo was one of the breakthrough performers in Belgrade for a Serbian squad that couldn't replicate their 2023 success, when they won the U18 title in front of a home crowd in Nis. In his first FIBA competition for the Serbian national team, Backo made an impact as a strong interior scorer whose combination of size, fluidity, and footwork allowed him to create his own shot in the low post. His most intriguing moments, however, came on the perimeter, where he showed an impressive ability to hit three-pointers, converting 46.2 percent of his attempts during the tournament.

    With his elite size and his multi-level scoring skillset, Backo stood out as one of the top long-term prospects in Belgrade. It's easy to envision Backo's game translating to the next level, and he could make a similar impact for Mega Basket starting next season.

    Mathieu Grujicic - Germany

    Guard

    Birth Date: June 2, 2007 (18 years old)  Height: 1.95m (6ft 5in) Tournament Stats: 24.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.4 SPG

    Germany couldn't defend their title in Belgrade, falling to Latvia on a last-second buzzer-beater by Valdis Valters in the Quarter-Finals. The brightest spot for Germany was Mathieu Grujicic, who emerged as one of the most productive players in the competition, leading the tournament in scoring and ranking second in rebounding, while also leading the team in assists.

    The Ohio State commit showcased a rare combination of size, physicality, smoothness, and multi-level shooting touch, which allowed him to make an impact as a slasher, rebounder, and three-point shooter. Grujicic was one of the most skilled scorers in Belgrade, and his freshman season with the Buckeyes will be one to watch.

    Mark Morano Mahmutovic - Slovenia

    Shooting Guard

    Birth Date: February 5, 2007 (18 years old)  Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tournament Stats: 20.1 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG

    This year's Slovenia team kept the streak alive, as the team has made the Quarter-Finals in each appearance since their return to Division A in 2019. One of the keys for Slovenia was Morano, who finished as the tournament’s second-leading scorer. He was both prolific and efficient offensively, shooting 60 percent from the field and a scorching 48.9 percent from three.

    The Cedevita Olimpija product once again proved why he's one of Europe's top young wings. His lethal, multi-level scoring ability makes it easy to envision him making an impact quickly at the next level.

    Panagiotis Lefas - Greece

    Guard

    Birth Date: February 6, 2007 (18 years old)  Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tournament Stats: 19.1 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.3 SPG

    It wasn't a strong showing for Greece in Belgrade, as they finished 11th with a 3-4 record. The silver lining, however, was Lefas’ breakthrough performance. The 1.98m wing finished top three in points per game and was one of the best three-point shooters in the tournament, making 40.5 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc on solid volume. He combined his floor-spacing with his solid finishing ability around the basket, which made him a threat in closeout and transition opportunities.

    Lefas didn't need the ball in his hands to make an impact, and his efficiency in his role is what could become his calling card at the next level: efficient off-ball scorers with good positional size are always valuable for pro and college teams.

    Dovydas Buika - Lithuania

    Power Forward

    Birth Date: January 3, 2007 (18 years old)  Height: 1.97m (6ft 6in) Tournament Stats: 16.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG

    Despite having the highest-scoring offense in the tournament, averaging over 100 points per game, and losing just one game during the competition, Lithuania was eliminated in the Round of 16 for only the second time in the past 15 years. One of the key players in Lithuania's high-octane offense was Dovydas Buika, who put himself in the conversation as one of the top young playmaking wings in Europe.

    The 18-year-old wing impressed with his versatile scoring, as he was a threat both as a slasher and three-point shooter, but also with his playmaking for others: he finished in the top 5 in assists in Belgrade, while showing reactiveness and vision as a passer.

    Daniel Hinkov - Bulgaria

    Power Forward

    Birth Date: November 22, 2007 (17 years old)  Height: 1.94m (6ft 4in) Tournament Stats: 18.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.1 SPG

    It was Bulgaria’s first year back in Division A in over a decade, and the team accomplished its main goal of avoiding relegation to Division B after defeating North Macedonia on the final day. A major reason for Bulgaria's successful return to the top flight was Daniel Hinkov, who finished in the top five in scoring and did it on tremendous efficiency, shooting 57.0 percent from the field and 40 percent from three.

    His combination of smooth slashing, floor-spacing, efficient interior finishing, and ability to show up in big games (highlighted by a 23-point, 11-rebound, 4-assist outing against North Macedonia) made Hinkov one of the most impactful players in Belgrade.

    Noah Norgaard - Denmark

    Point Guard

    Birth Date: September 20, 2007 (17 years old)  Height: 1.89m (6ft 2in) Tournament Stats: 18.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.0 SPG

    Denmark earned promotion to Division A after winning the Division B title in Pitesti. Noah Norgaard was named MVP after a productive and efficient performance, finishing in the top 5 in scoring in the competition, while shooting 37.7 percent from three. His biggest moments came when his team needed him the most, especially in the Final where he put up 30 points and 5 rebounds to beat Estonia.

    Check out more from Division B

    Norgaard takes home Division B MVP to lead All-Star Five

    Denmark take Division B title; Slovakia earn promotion

    Norgaard had already shown impressive flashes in previous FIBA EuroBasket competitions and the Youth BCL, but in Pitesti he took the next step, leading Denmark to their first-ever U18 Division B title.

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    FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2025

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    FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2025, Division B

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    FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2025

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