MUNICH (Germany) - The First Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers has passed its halfway point, and a number of young players have developed into key pieces for their teams, delivering strong performances that have moved their squads one step closer to the Second Round.
In this piece, we highlight 10 prospects born in 2003 or later who made an impact during the second qualifying window.
Fynn Schott - Austria
Center
Birth Date: April 13, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 2.03m (6ft 8in) Stats: 17.0 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.0 BPG
Schott was instrumental for Austria, delivering a pair of double-double performances and dominating the paint on both ends of the floor. The University of Utah commit shot 75 percent from the field and grabbed 13 rebounds per game. His efficiency and dominance on the glass were key in delivering Austria its sole win of the Qualifiers and keeping the dream of reaching the second round alive.
Saliou Niang - Italy
Forward
Birth Date: May 14, 2004 (21 years old) Height: 1.99m (6ft 6in) Stats: 16.0 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.5 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Niang was outstanding in back-to-back wins over Great Britain, averaging 16 points per game while shooting 72.2 percent from the field. Niang's athleticism and relentlessness to attack the rim gave Italy another dimension on offense, and with the team sitting atop Group D and firing on all cylinders, it's easy to envision him becoming a consistent part of the Italy’s rotation going forward.
Bogoljub Markovic - Serbia
Power Forward
Birth Date: July 12, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 2.10m (6ft 11in) Stats: 8.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 0.8 APG
Serbia dropped both games during the second window, but the silver lining was the emergence of Markovic, who delivered his best performance yet with the senior national team. The Milwaukee Bucks draftee had 19 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in the first game of the window, displaying a unique profile with his combination of size, three-point shooting and flashes of ball-handling and passing.
Urban Kroflic - Slovenia
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: March 28, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Stats: 10.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.7 SPG
Kroflic has established himself as a key player for a Slovenian team that went 2-0 during the second window. The 19-year-old averaged 11 points and made an impact with his floor spacing, shooting 50 percent from three-point range, and his perimeter defense. Slovenia has not qualified yet but is in a strong position heading into the final window, currently sitting atop Group H.
Tobias Jensen - Denmark
Guard
Birth Date: May 08, 2004 (21 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Stats: 13.0 PPG, 5.0 APG, 4.8 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Denmark remains winless in the Qualifiers, but they have one of the youngest teams in the field and Jensen, at just 21 years old, has stepped up as the leader of this new generation. The Ulm wing leads the team in points and assists per game, and with his combination of size, smooth ball-handling, passing vision and three-point shooting, Jensen has found a way to create advantages consistently, developing into Denmark's offensive engine.
Jack Kayil - Germany
Point Guard
Birth Date: January 27, 2006 (20 years old) Height: 1.91m (6ft 3in) Stats: 11.3 PPG, 5.0 APG, 1.3 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Despite dropping one game during the window, Germany has qualified for the second round, and Kayil has already established himself as one of the team’s top contributors, scoring in double digits in both games during this window, while also averaging 5.5 assists per game. Kayil's ability to create for himself, make plays for others and play off the ball will be valuable for Germany going forward.
Quinn Ellis - Great Britain
Guard
Birth Date: April 1, 2003 (22 years old) Height: 1.83m (6ft 0in) Stats: 17.5 PPG, 7.0 APG, 2.5 RPG, 2.5 SPG
Ellis appeared in just one game during this window, but it was enough to show that Great Britain plays like a different team with him on the lineup. Ellis had 19 points and 6 assists against Italy, and, as usual, served as the offensive engine for Britain, creating shots for himself, making plays for teammates and getting to the free throw line at a tremendous rate. His team will need him once again in the final window as they attempt to climb out of the elimination spot and qualify for the second round.
Djordje Jovanovic - Montenegro
Guard
Birth Date: May 15, 2003 (22 years old) Height: 1.97m (6ft 6in) Stats: 6.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.5 SPG
Jovanovic was a key piece in a statement win against Greece that has put Montenegro in a strong position to qualify for the second round heading into the final window. The 22-year-old wing has made an impact as a complementary offensive piece, being able to finish cuts, attack closeouts and hit three-point shots.
Wilhelm Falk - Sweden
Small Forward
Birth Date: June 25, 2003 (22 years old) Height: 2.01m (6ft 7in) Stats: 4.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.3 SPG
After a pair of scoreless games during the first qualifying window, Falk delivered his best performance yet with an 11-point, 7-rebound outing in a win against Estonia, in which he made an impact with his defense, rebounding, cutting and finishing at the rim. Falk is playing his best basketball and he could be an x-factor for a Swedish team that will look to climb out of the elimination spot in the final qualifying window.
Stefan Joksimovic - Slovenia
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: November 16, 2008 (17 years old) Height: 2.01m (6ft 7in) Stats: 7.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.3 BPG
Joksimovic has stepped into an important role for Slovenia during these Qualifiers, and he delivered his best performance yet with the senior national team, posting 15 points and 6 rebounds in the first game against Czechia. The sky is the limit for Joksimovic, who at just 17 years old is already a versatile scoring threat with his combination of size, ball-handling and multi-level shooting ability.
FIBA