Group C Preview: France want third title; Italy and Russia hungry to end droughts

PODGORICA (FIBA U16 European Championship 2017) - The FIBA U16 European Championship 2017 teams are getting anxious with the games starting on August 11. In addition to the glory of the 2017 title and podium, there are also five spots at stake for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018. The next preview is Group C which includes underdogs Estonia, two-time champions France, the 1991 winners Italy and Russia, who have never won the tournament.

Estonia

Kerr Kriisa will play a major role in Estonia's chances at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2017.

Players to Watch: Estonia's main weapon will be Kaspar Kitsing, who is playing for an Italian club and is the younger brother of Estonian international Kristian Kitsing. The younger Kitsing is a major talent for Estonia who can play both spots on the wing and will be a jack-of-all-trades for the northern Europeans. Kerr Kriisa meanwhile is the one player back from Estonia's first-ever appearance in the FIBA U16 European Championship Division A last summer. The point guard will be well-served by that experience as he will be called on to be a leader of the team with Kitsing. Another player to watch is Johannes Kirsipuu and his defense.

Outlook: Estonia were able to avoid relegation from Division A in their final game by knocking off the actual reigning champions Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Classification Game for 13th to 14th place. That gave the Estonians at least one more summer in Division A. The team comes to Montenegro with the number one goal of staving off the drop to Division B. That will go a long way in helping the country establish itself as a Division A team.

France

Theo Maledon can do it all for France, and he will lead the team after playing at the U16 tournament last summer.

Players to Watch: The main man will be the only player back from last year's U16 team, Theo Maledon. The point guard has all the tools to be a great leader, especially on the offensive end. But Maledon is just part of a loaded French roster. Killian Hayes, whose American father DeRon Hayes played professionally in France, is a great athlete and terrific slasher. Timothe Crusol is a guard who gets after it on defense and can knock down a three-pointer while Essome Miyem is an athletic raw center who is improving rapidly.

Outlook: France have captured two FIBA U16 European Championship titles and both the 2004 and 2014 winners went on to do the European double and won the FIBA U18 European Championship in 2006 and 2016, respectively. The French of course will be looking for the title - and also have the talent to grab a third crown. But the first goal for the team will be to secure a top-five finish and thereby book their ticket to their fourth straight FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup.

Italy

Nico Mannion will play for Italy at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2017 after failing to make the United States team for FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2017.

Players to Watch: Italy are one of three countries without a player coming back with experience from the U16 level last summer. One of the leaders of the Italians in Montenegro will be Lorenzo Donadio, who has a high basketball IQ and can play off the ball. Another of the keys will be Sasha Grant, a 2002-born forward with Jamaican and English roots as well. But Italy's chances may come down to Nico Mannion as the American combo guard will try to adapt to the international game. Mannion, who failed to make the United States team for the FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2017, only arrived in Europe about a week ago and missed nearly all of Italy's preparations.

Outlook: After failing to come up with consistently good results during the 90's and 00's the past decade has been more favorable for Italy. They have appeared at two straight FIBA U19 Basketball World Cups - and grabbed second place last month in Cairo. Italy also took fourth place at the FIBA U16 European Championship in 2012 and 2013. But at this level, their last podium dates back to 1991, when the Italians won their one-and-only U16 title. A top-five finish would be a strong result as it would get Italy back to the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup after they missed the event in 2016.

Russia

Gleb Bednyakov can help the Russia team in many ways and will be one of the team leaders.

Players to Watch: Russia have no returnees from the U16 team which earned promotion to Division A last summer. But they will have a balanced team. One of the leaders will be Pavel Zakharov, a forward who could lead the team in scoring. Ivan Belousov is the team's starting shooting guard and will help carry the scoring load while Gleb Bednyakov is sort of the jack-of-all-trades who can light up the scoreboard if needed. Dmitry Kadoshnikov will be a major contributor as well.

Outlook: Russia did not waste any time in getting back to Division A, winning the Division B crown last summer, after being relegated in 2015 when the Federation was suspended. Russia are back and hungry for their first U16 crown after four second-placed finishes between 1997 and 2006. The performance in 2006 was the last time Russia reached the top four. A top-five finish in Montenegro would secure Russia their first-ever trip to the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup.

FIBA