BUENOS AIRES (Argentina) – The launch of the Youth Basketball Champions League Americas (Youth BCL Americas) is already creating excitement among players who know firsthand about the journey to the professional level. During the Basketball Champions League Americas 2025-26 Final Four in Buenos Aires, four stars from the senior competition shared their thoughts on FIBA Americas’ new youth tournament: Gui Deodato (Flamengo), Lucas Dias (SESI Franca), Nicolás Stenta (Boca Juniors) and Luciano Parodi (Nacional). All four agreed on one key point: Youth BCL Americas can become an essential tool to boost the next generation.
An opportunity to grow faster
Brazilian shooting guard Gui Deodato said that an international league for young players represents a major step forward in player development.
“I began to stand out playing in a development league in Brazil. Thinking that there will now be an international competition helps growth even more. It gives players responsibility at a stage when they need to develop,” he explained. For Deodato, these types of tournaments also demand early maturity and better prepare young talent for the transition to the professional ranks.
Big competition, big dreams
Lucas Dias is one of the leading figures of SESI Franca and the Brazilian National Team. He recalled the impact that playing in Brazil’s Development League (LDB) had on his career. “If I hadn’t played in the LDB, I wouldn’t be the Lucas Dias I am today,” he said. “It makes me very happy that BCL Americas is doing this for young people, who are the future of the sport.”
Dias also emphasized that a competition of this level can open doors for hundreds of players across the region. “When we are young, we don’t realize how far we can go. That’s why we have to dream big, take risks, and work extremely hard,” he added.
Facing the best
From Argentina, Nicolás Stenta, who won his country’s development league title with Boca Juniors, highlighted the competitive value of facing talented players from other countries at an early age.
Having international leagues allows the best players and the best teams to compete against each other. That raises the level and creates very valuable experiences.”
The forward also stressed the importance of having qualified coaches and solid structures to support young players’ growth.
Much more than basketball
Luciano Parodi focused on the human impact that Youth BCL Americas can have. For the Uruguayan point guard, traveling, living together with delegations, and sharing experiences with players from other cultures provides lessons that go beyond the final result. “Competing internationally gives you an extra edge. Not only in basketball terms, but also personally. Those experiences enrich a player tremendously,” he said.
He also highlighted an essential factor for the project’s success: continuity.
The most important thing is that it builds an identity and lasts over time, so kids want to be part of that league.”
The inaugural edition of Youth BCL Americas will be played in 2026 with clubs from Argentina, Brazil, the United States, and Uruguay, marking another strategic step in the development of youth basketball across the continent. With the backing of established players who went through similar pathways, the message seems clear: Youth BCL Americas is being launched not only as a tournament, but as a platform to drive the next generation of stars.
FIBA