'Born leader' Radovanovic insists big-thinking Serbia full of talents

BELGRADE (Serbia) - Nikola Radovanovic is one of the top players in the 2003-born generation of Europe. But the small forward insists that he is just one of many talents that Serbia have heading into the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019.

Radovanovic's game has observers high on the Nevesinje native's future and he expects to be one of the main pillars for Serbia in Udine, where the team hopes to claim the second U16 continental crown following 2007.

"We are preparing strong every single day and expectations are always high," said Radovanovic, who plays in the Partizan Belgrade youth ranks. "First place of course is on our mind."

"I AM A BORN LEADER, BUT THIS IS A TEAM WITH 11 OTHER TALENTS, AND I AM SURE THAT IF EVERY PLAYER GIVES HIS 100 PERCENT WE CAN DO SOMETHING BIG."- Radovanovic

Since taking the title in 2007, Serbia have collected four podium finishes, including third place two summers ago in Montenegro. That performance earned Serbia a spot in the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018 after having missed the event in 2016. And Radovanovic says the team's main thought going into the August 9-17 tournament is a spot in the top five to qualify for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2020, which will be played in Bulgaria.

"Qualification for the FIBA U17 World Cup is our primary goal this summer, so it would mean a lot for me if we manage to do it," said Radovanovic, who along with his teammates have been drawn into Group D with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece and France.

"It can be a very hard group for us. All of the teams are prepared well for sure and we expect three hard games, but we also expect to be on the top of the group," he said.

Even though Radovanovic was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he doesn't expect the game against his native homeland to have any special meaning. "It is the same as any other game of the championship," he said.

Serbia definitely have the talent level to get the job done with Radovanovic be joined by the likes of Nikola Jovic and Matija Belic.

"I am a born leader, but this is a team with 11 other talents, and I am sure that if every player gives his 100 percent we can do something big," he said.

Radovanovic and Co. definitely are thinking big.

FIBA