MUNICH (Germany) - Following one of the most memorable FIBA EuroBasket tournaments in recent memory, the road to the 2029 edition tips off with the Pre-Qualifiers, starting on Thursday.
There will be 10 teams competing, with four teams - the three group winners and the best-ranked runners-up advancing to the Second Round, where they will join eight teams from the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers First Round.
Here are six players to look out for during the Pre-Qualifiers.
Juljan Hamati - Albania
POWER FORWARD
Birth Date: Nov 16, 1992 (33 years old) Height: 200 cm / 6'7" Team: Beselidhja Lezhe (ALB)
Since making his international debut in 2019, Juljan Hamati has got better and better, avergaing 16 points and 7 rebounds in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifiers over the summer, steering Albania to a 1-3 record, which he hopes they can improve on during their EuroBasket Pre-Qualifiers.
Christian Vital - Armenia
GUARD
Birth Date: Mar 21, 1997 (28 years old) Height: 188 cm / 6'2" Team: Derthona Basket (ITA)
Armenia will boast one of the most potent scorers in the Qualifiers in the form of Christian Vital, who can attack the basket, shoot the ball from anywhere on the court and put up big numbers. He averaged 21.9 points and 4.6 rebounds for Legia Warszawa in the FIBA Europe Cup back in 2024, then last season with Dethrona, he posted 14.7 points in the Basketball Champions League.
Harald Frey - Norway
GUARD
Birth Date: May 27, 1997 (28 years old) Height: 188 cm / 6'2" Team: Surne Bilbao Basket (ESP)
One of Norway's most prolific scorers, Harald Frey's strength is his off-ball movement to find himself at the right place at the right time. A deadly shooter, especially from the wing, he is shooting 39 percent from three-point range in the FIBA Europe Cup for Bilbao this season. In Norway's last international competition, he averaged 19.7 points and 4.4 assists in the World Cup Pre-Qualifiers.
Sean Flood - Ireland
GUARD
Birth Date: Sep 10, 1996 (29 years old) Height: 188 cm / 6'2" Team: Tartu Ulikool Maks & Moorits (EST)
Ireland's main offensive threat and an accurate three-point shooter, Sean Flood will be Ireland's leader in these Pre-Qualifiers. He averaged 17.5 points on an incredible 57.1 percent on five three-point attempts and while it wasn't enough to seal Ireland's progression to the World Cup Qualifiers, he will look to guide his nation to the EuroBasket Qualifiers.
Jacob Wiley - North Macedonia
POWER FORWARD
Birth Date: Sep 4, 1994 (31 years old) Height: 203 cm / 6'8" Team: Rytas Vilnius (LTU)
Jacob Wiley was the focal point of North Macedonia's offense during the World Cup Pre-Qualifiers, averaging 21.3 points in four games. He will look to use his athleticism and and strong play around the basket to guide his side in their EuroBasket adventure. However, the squad also includes Omari Moore, and the national team will have a choice to make between two options.
Dee Bost - Bulgaria
POINT GUARD
Birth Date: Oct 12, 1989 (36 years old) Height: 188 cm / 6'2" Team: Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (BRA)
A veteran guard who has represented Bulgaria since 2016, Dee Bost has averaged 13.5 points and 5.5 assists per game during his time with the national side and is back for another campaign. In Bost's last EuroBasket in 2022, he posted 14 points and 8.4 assists in their five games before retiring.
FIBA