LJUBLJANA (Slovenia) – The FIBA U20 EuroBasket 2026 is now in the books, with Slovenia claiming its third U20 title, and its first in more than two decades.
The home team was propelled by the standout play of All-Star Five selection Urban Kroflic and eventual tournament MVP Mark Padjen.
This edition of the tournament produced a number of standout performances from players who emerged as potential future difference-makers for their national teams.
Before we turn our attention to the FIBA U18 EuroBasket, which tips off on July 25 in Trentino, Italy, we look back at the 10 players who made the biggest impact in Ljubljana and offered a glimpse of the future of European basketball.
Mark Padjen - Slovenia
Point Guard
Birth Date: January 25, 2006 (20 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tournament Stats: 15.7 PPG, 5.6 APG, 2.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Padjen was the MVP of the tournament, stepping up when Slovenia needed him most. After the team lost Urban Kroflic to injury, Padjen answered with a 25-point, 6-assist, 4-rebound performance in the Semi-Final against France, including a pair of clutch off-the-dribble threes late in the fourth quarter that all but sealed the win for his team.
The Murray State commit was also one of the most versatile offensive contributors in the tournament, as the only player who ranked in the top three in both points and assists per game.
Padjen's combination of size, speed, and quick decision-making made him a downhill threat in transition and early offense, as he was able to attack the basket and create for teammates at a high level. He should be one of the key players in the new generation of Slovenian basketball.
Urban Kroflic - Slovenia
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: March 28, 2006 (20 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tournament Stats: 14.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Before Padjen stepped up, it was Kroflic who was leading the way for the eventual champions, including an impressive 26-point, 7-rebound, 5-assist performance in a Quarter-Finals win over Türkiye.
Despite missing the Final and playing just eight minutes in the Semi-Final due to injury, Kroflic was named to the All-Star Five and displayed one of the most versatile offensive skill sets in the competition, creating his own shot both off drives and pull-up jumpers while also showing the creativity of a primary playmaker for others.
The 20-year-old has already developed into a key piece of the Slovenian senior national team during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers, and his performance in Ljubljana proves that he’s going to be one of the top players in Slovenia's next generation.
Nikola Dzepina - Serbia
Power Forward
Birth Date: July 31, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 2.07m (6ft 9in) Tournament Stats: 13.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.9 BPG
Dzepina was named to the All-Star Five after emerging as one of the top interior anchors in the tournament. The 2.07m center led Serbia in points and rebounds while also leading the entire tournament in blocks per game.
The 19-year-old made an impact in the paint on both ends of the floor, serving as Serbia's go-to post scorer while also contributing as a rebounder and rim protector. Dzepina also provided floor spacing, converting 32 percent of his three-point attempts.
Currently playing for the Washington Huskies in the NCAA, Dzepina showed in this tournament that he's primed for a breakout season with a team looking for its next interior anchor following Hannes Steinbach's departure to the NBA.
Mohamad Diakite - France
Power Forward
Birth Date: April 8, 2006 (20 years old) Height: 2.05m (6ft 9in) Tournament Stats: 11.3 PPG, 7 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.3 BPG
France reached its fourth consecutive Semi-Final and, on a balanced roster, Diakite was both the most consistent contributor and the most versatile player for Les Bleus. The 2.05m forward made an impact with his unique combination of size, length, and athleticism, contributing defensively by dominating the boards, defending multiple positions, and creating defensive events at a high rate.
Offensively, he was a factor in transition and showed improvement as a spot-up shooter, converting 36 percent of his three-point attempts.
Diakite earned his second All-Star Five selection in Ljubljana, an accolade he had already received at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022. His combination of physical tools, versatile defensive profile, and off-ball scoring potential gives the French national team yet another young option for its frontcourt.
Raul Villar - Spain
Point Guard
Birth Date: October 13, 2007 (18 years old) Height: 1.94m (6ft 4in) Tournament Stats: 8.9 PPG, 7.0 APG, 3.7 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Villar earned a spot in the All-Star Five as one of the best floor generals in the tournament, leading the competition with 7.0 assists per game while serving as the player who controlled the tempo and made the Spanish offense click. While the 18-year-old didn't have his most efficient tournament as a scorer, he stepped up in key moments, including a 16-point, 12-assist double-double against Germany in the Quarter-Finals.
Villar, who will transfer to Elon for his sophomore season in the NCAA, showed in Ljubljana that he's a tremendously gifted passer and should develop into a productive floor general at the college level over the next few years.
Mantas Juzenas - Lithuania
Small Forward
Birth Date: November 16, 2007 (18 years old) Height: 2.00m (6ft 7in) Tournament Stats: 15.1 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Juzenas returned to the FIBA U20 EuroBasket after being named to last year's All-Star Five, and he did not disappoint, delivering one of the most memorable performances of the tournament with a 46-point, 12-rebound, 5-assist outing against Poland in the Group Phase, where he set the all-time FIBA U20 EuroBasket single-game scoring record.
Beyond the numbers, Juzenas showcased one of the most complete offensive skill sets in the competition, combining smooth ball handling, creative footwork, versatile shooting, and secondary playmaking. Based on his performance for Lithuania in this tournament, it's easy to envision Juzenas making an impact for the St. Mary's Gaels as early as next season.
Salih Altuntas - Türkiye
Center
Birth Date: February 27, 2006 (20 years old) Height: 2.08m (6ft 10in) Tournament Stats: 13.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 1.1 APG, 0.7 SPG
Türkiye made a strong return to Division A, finishing sixth and showcasing multiple young talents who should help the national team for years to come, such as Kaan Onat and Omer Kutluay. The most productive player, however, was Salih Altuntas, who finished as the tournament's second-leading rebounder and third-leading shot blocker.
The 20-year-old center made an impact offensively with his ability to finish around the rim and create shots for himself in the post. His size also gave Türkiye a strong defensive presence that protected the rim and controlled the glass.
Altuntas will enter his sophomore season in the NCAA, where he will join Mantas Juzenas at St. Mary's. His performance in Ljubljana showed that he has all the tools to develop into a productive college big man.
Panagiotis Pagonis - Greece
Power Forward
Birth Date: June 30, 2006 (20 years old) Height: 2.04m (6ft 8in) Tournament Stats: 14.9 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Greece solidified its place as one of the strongest U20 programs in Europe, finishing in the top five for the fourth consecutive year. This year, their top player was Pagonis, who finished as the team's leading scorer and rebounder while also emerging as one of the best three-point shooters in Ljubljana after connecting on 41.9 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Pagonis displayed a versatile scoring skill set, making an impact with his spot-up shooting, post scoring, and occasional drives to the basket.
With his combination of size and polished scoring ability, it's easy to envision him making an impact in the college game, as he's committed to Drexel for the upcoming 2025–26 season.
Dino Subasic - Croatia
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: August 21, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 1.94m (6ft 4in) Tournament Stats: 15.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.6 SPG
Subasic was a key player in last year's U20 Division B tournament, where Croatia earned promotion to Division A. This year, the 19-year-old stepped into a leading role, finishing as the tournament's third-leading scorer while doing so with tremendous efficiency, shooting 50 percent from the field, 43.2 percent from three-point range, and 94.1 percent from the free-throw line.
Subasic showcased a unique combination of shooting touch, smooth ball handling, and versatile finishing that made him a multi-level scoring threat every time he stepped on the floor for Croatia.
After developing with KK Cedevita Junior and earning regular rotation minutes with the senior team during the 2025–26 season, Subasic's performance in Ljubljana should make him one of the names to follow in the Croatian league next season.
Rany Belaga - Israel
Guard
Birth Date: June 21, 2006 (20 years old) Height: 1.99m (6ft 6in) Tournament Stats: 14.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 6.1 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Belaga was one of the most productive players in the tournament, finishing in the top ten in rebounds and second in assists per game. He also recorded just the eighth triple-double in FIBA U20 EuroBasket history with a 16-point, 12-assist, 10-rebound performance against Latvia.
The 1.99m guard acted as Israel's primary playmaker and was masterful operating in the pick-and-roll, utilizing screens to create space for his drives while displaying tremendous vision to find open teammates with creative and accurate deliveries.
As one of the highest-usage players in the tournament, his contributions were key to Israel's top-10 finish in Ljubljana.
FIBA