ORADEA (Romania) - FIBA U16 EuroBasket will be held in Romania for the first time ever, with the host nation joining 15 other teams in the battle for the U16 title in the tournament's 38th edition.
Once again, the competition is stacked with high-level talent. In this piece, we highlight 10 players expected to shine in Oradea and who could ultimately help shape the future of European basketball.
Be sure to also check out our list of players to watch in the Division B tournament, which will take place in Gevgelija and Skopje, North Macedonia.
Benjamin Berrouet - Latvia
Forward
Birth Date: June 10, 2010 (16 years old) Height: 2.03m (6ft 8in) Team: Dynamic Prep (USA)
Berrouet enters the tournament with massive hype. He was not only Latvia's leading scorer and one of its top five rebounders at last year's U16 EuroBasket, but he's also one of the highest-rated high school prospects in the United States, currently ranked as a five-star recruit.
Berrouet makes an impact at every level of the floor. His size makes him a threat as a screener, interior scorer, and rebounder, but he also possesses the perimeter skills to create drives and convert jumpers, all while making an impact defensively.
Latvia's sixth-place finish in last year's tournament was its best result since its silver-medal run in 2014. With Berrouet, a star in the making and certainly one of the top prospects in Oradea, the team will look to reach new heights at this year's U16 EuroBasket.
Jan Cerdan - Spain
Power Forward
Birth Date: March 22, 2010 (16 years old) Height: 2.07m (6ft 9in) Team: FC Barcelona (ESP)
Spain will welcome back Cerdan, who was already an important contributor during last year's U16 campaign, averaging 11 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game. Cerdan is a versatile offensive player who can contribute both on and off the ball with his ability to move the ball, attack the rim in transition, and shoot threes.
Defensively, he has also made an impact as a help-side rim protector and by switching onto smaller players on the perimeter.
Spain is coming off a down year. After making five consecutive Finals, the team finished eighth - its worst result since 1981. Cerdan's versatility and two-way impact will be key as Spain looks for a return to form in Oradea.
Maor Sela - Israel
Forward
Birth Date: October 12, 2010 (15 years old) Height: 2.01m (6ft 7in) Team: Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR)
At just 15 years old, Sela emerged as one of the top long-term prospects at this year's NGE, where he averaged 10.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting an extremely efficient 56.7 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range.
The Maccabi Tel Aviv prospect possesses elite positional tools that allow him to make an impact as a defensive rebounder and rim protector, and he's also a factor on the perimeter with the lateral mobility to defend smaller players and the shooting touch to be a reliable spot-up threat.
It's been nearly 30 years since Israel's lone U16 podium finish in 1997, and with Sela's rare combination of interior defense and three-point shooting, this could be the year the team finally returns to title contention.
Arda Ozturk - Türkiye
Power Forward
Birth Date: June 08, 2010 (16 years old) Height: 2.04m (6ft 8in) Team: Anadolu Efes SK (TUR)
Ozturk played rotational minutes during Türkiye's Semi-Final run at this year's FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup, and despite playing one year up in age, he still delivered standout performances, including a 10-point, 3-rebound outing against Slovenia during the Group Phase.
The Anadolu Efes prospect is a powerful forward who makes an impact as a screener, defensive rebounder, and interior scorer, the latter thanks to his rare blend of size, coordination, footwork, and touch against contact.
Türkiye was one of the dominant nations at the U16 level for nearly two decades, winning two titles and reaching the Semi-Finals 12 times between 1999 and 2018. This year, the team will look to turn the page in Oradea after failing to advance past the Quarter-Finals since then.
Vukasin Velimirovic - Serbia
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: March 2, 2010 (16 years old) Height: 1.96m (6ft 5in) Team: Spartak Office Shoes (SRB)
Serbia will defend its U16 crown in Oradea with an entirely new roster, as none of the players from last year's championship team return.
One of the newcomers is Velimirovic, who was one of Serbia's most impactful players during the pre-tournament friendlies and a solid contributor for Spartak in the most recent Youth Basketball Champions League, averaging 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Velimirovic is a lanky wing who attacks the rim with creative ball-handling and tremendous body control for his size. He complements his slashing ability with secondary playmaking and three-point shooting, making him a complete offensive threat who could be key in Serbia's bid to repeat as U16 EuroBasket champions.
Messie-Guethan Iwani - France
Power Forward
Birth Date: October 26, 2010 (15 years old) Height: 2.05m (6ft 9in) Team: Pole France (FRA)
Iwani will make his debut with the French national team after an impressive season with Pole France, where he emerged as one of the country's top long-term prospects thanks to his performances in both invitational tournaments and the French third division.
At just 15 years old, Iwani already possesses the elite physical tools to make an impact around the basket offensively, while also showing consistency as a three-point shooter.
Alongside Pole France teammate Liam Kabeya, Iwani headlines yet another outstanding generation of French talent for a country that enters every U16 EuroBasket with the lofty expectations of a powerhouse nation: France has won four titles and reached the Semi-Finals in six of its last seven tournament appearances.
Mattia Sguazzin - Italy
Forward
Birth Date: March 3, 2010 (16 years old) Height: 2.00m (6ft 7in) Team: Olimpia Milano (ITA)
Despite averaging just 15.6 minutes per game at last year's U16 EuroBasket, Sguazzin was one of Italy's most productive players, putting up 7.3 points and 5.1 assists per game in Tbilisi. The Olimpia Milano forward is a downhill threat thanks to his combination of size, strength, ball-handling ability, and touch around the basket, allowing him to create drives and finish through contact.
He also contributes defensively with his rebounding and ability to contest shots around the rim.
Italy has enjoyed a return to prominence at the U16 level, finishing in the top six in every edition since 2019, including a bronze medal in 2019 and a runner-up finish in 2023. Sguazzin should be one of the key players as the team chases its first U16 title since 1991.
Lukas Andrulis - Lithuania
Center
Birth Date: January 09, 2010 (16 years old) Height: 2.01m (6ft 7in) Team: Vsi Siauliu Krepsinio Akademijia Saule (LTU)
Andrulis is coming off a stellar season with Šiauliai in the Lithuanian U16 league, where he averaged 24.6 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 63.3 percent from the field. The 16-year-old has carried that productivity into Lithuania's pre-tournament friendlies, making an impact as a rebounder and interior scorer with his size and length while also showing intriguing ball-handling ability and flashes as a passer.
Lithuania reached the Final last year before falling to Serbia. This time, with Andrulis and Zalgiris guard Danielius Jasikevicius leading the way, they'll attempt to capture their third U16 EuroBasket title despite not returning a single player from last year's silver-medal team.
Roman Kolka - Slovenia
Small Forward
Birth Date: April 5, 2010 (16 years old) Height: 2.01m (6ft 7in) Team: Cedevita Olimpija (SLO)
Kolka turned heads at this year's NGE tournament where, despite playing two years up, he averaged 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists over seven games while playing an important role for Cedevita Olimpija. With his combination of 2.01m size, ball-handling ability, and finishing versatility, Kolka is a dangerous slasher who has also shown flashes as a pull-up shooter and situational playmaker.
With Kolka's versatile skill set, Slovenia will look to secure its second consecutive podium finish and continue the country's remarkable run following recent U20 and U18 EuroBasket titles.
Marko Volf - Germany
Guard
Birth Date: April 30, 2010 (16 years old) Height: 1.88m (6ft 2in) Team: ratiopharm Ulm (GER)
Volf will compete in his second U16 EuroBasket after making valuable contributions to last year's German team, averaging 8.3 points in just 15.2 minutes per game. The ratiopharm Ulm combo guard stood out with his ball-handling, secondary playmaking, and especially his three-point shooting, showcasing a consistent stroke that made him a dangerous spot-up threat while also displaying the versatility to hit shots off the dribble.
Despite its recent success at other youth levels, Germany is still searching for its breakthrough at the U16 level, with fifth-place finishes in 2012 and 2023 representing its best results this century.
If Germany is finally able to get over the hump in Oradea, Volf's ability to space the floor and create both for himself and his teammates will be a major factor.
FIBA