MUNICH (Germany) - The final window of FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers is almost here and, so far, we have seen an abundance of young talent making an impact for their teams, in their quest to grab one of the coveted spots in the Final Round. In this piece, we highlight 12 players born 2002 or later, who are primed to see big minutes and play an important role for their teams during this window.
Matthew Strazel - France
Guard
Birth Date: August 5, 2002 (22 years old) Height: 1.84m (6ft 0in) Club: AS Monaco (FRA)
Strazel has quickly established himself as the point guard of the future for the French national team. He was a key piece in France's silver-medal run at the Paris 2024 Olympics, including a miraculous four-point play that sent France's game against Japan to OT. Strazel's role and impact for Les Bleus have only increased since then, the Monaco guard is averaging 11.5 points per game during these EuroBasket Qualifiers while shooting 50 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three.
Hugo Gonzalez - Spain
Forward
Birth Date: February 5, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in) Club: Real Madrid (ESP)
With Spain already having qualified for the Final Round, this upcoming window seems to be about preparing Spain for the future, with multiple young players included in Scariolo's list, including Gonzalez. The 19-year-old wing could be making his first appearance for the senior national team after a tremendous career at the junior levels and a recent stretch of strong play for Real Madrid, where he has made an impact with his powerful slashing ability and his versatile defense.
Yannick Kraag - Netherlands
Forward
Birth Date: October 16, 2002 (22 years old) Height: 2.02m (6ft 8in) Club: Joventut (ESP)
Kraag has been tremendous for the Netherlands, leading the team in minutes, making an impact with his slashing and spacing the floor at an elite level. The Joventut wing has converted 41.2 percent of his three-point attempts during the competition and the Netherlands will need Kraag to continue to be on point, as the team is sitting at a 1-3 record and they will be eliminated with a loss during this window.
Ben Saraf - Israel
Guard
Birth Date: April 14, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 1.99m (6ft 6in) Club: Ratiopharm Ulm (GER)
Saraf had a tremendous run over the last 12 months. He was on fire at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024, where he was named MVP after averaging 28.1 points, 5.3 assists and 4.0 steals per game, and in November he made his debut with the senior national team, putting up 11 points and 4 assists in a game against Ukraine. Saraf has quickly developed into one of Europe's most impactful young players, and the NBA will certainly be paying attention to Saraf's performance during this window, as he's currently projected as a top 20 pick in this year's draft.
David Mirkovic - Montenegro
Forward
Birth Date: January 6, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 2.05m (6ft 9in) Club: Studentski Centar Podgorica (MNE)
Mirkovic could be making his senior national team debut during this window, for a Montenegro squad currently sitting atop Group D. Despite being only 19 years old, Mirkovic has profuse experience at the professional level, having played nearly 100 games for Podgorica, where he has made an impact with his combination of size and polished scoring ability, which he utilizes to create his own shot in the paint and hit jumpers from three-point range.
Vangelis Zougris - Greece
Forward
Birth Date: October 14, 2004 (20 years old) Height: 2.02m (6ft 8in) Club: Peristeri Domino's (GRE)
After standing out during the past two FIBA U20 EuroBasket events, Zougris established himself as a viable frontcourt option for Greece's senior national team. The Peristeri forward was productive during November's qualifying window, averaging 8 points and 6.5 rebounds in a pair of games against Great Britain, where he also shot 70 percent from the field. Zougris will provide a strong presence in the paint once again during this qualifying window for a Greek squad that sits atop Group F and will qualify for the Final Round with a win.
Quinn Ellis - Great Britain
Guard
Birth Date: April 1, 2003 (21 years old) Height: 1.83m (6ft 0in) Club: Aquila Basket Trento (ITA)
Ellis was tremendous during November's qualifying window, which included a 15-point, 8-assist performance in Britain's 73-72 upset against Greece. The 21 year old is a floor general who controls the tempo of the game, creates shots for teammates and is able to also score from multiple levels of the floor. Great Britain controls its own destiny heading into the final qualifying window, as they will make the Final Round with a win against the Netherlands and Ellis should be expected to have a big role in Britain's quest to qualify for the main event.
Neoklis Avdalas - Greece
Forward
Birth Date: February 4, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 2.00m (6ft 7in) Club: Peristeri Domino's (GRE)
Avdalas made his senior national team debut during November's qualifying window, putting up 3 points and 5 rebounds in 12 minutes of play against Great Britain. The 19-year-old has been one of the breakthrough performers this year in the Greek league and the Basketball Champions League for Peristeri, and could play a big role for Greece going forward with his versatile offensive repertoire, which he utilizes to get to the rim, convert jumpers and create shots for teammates, acting as a point forward for the team.
Izan Almansa - Spain
Center
Birth Date: June 7, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.07m (6ft 9in) Club: Perth Wildcats (AUS)
Almansa, one of the most decorated players in the history of FIBA youth competitions, made his long-awaited debut with the senior Spanish national team during November's qualifying window and he did not disappoint, putting up 10 points and 1 rebound in only 10 minutes of play against Slovakia, while shooting 4-for-7 from the field. Almansa's combination of size, length, touch around the basket and defensive productivity will be in full display during the final qualifying window, with Spain likely to trot out a team comprised of multiple young players.
Gabriele Procida - Italy
Guard
Birth Date: June 1, 2002 (22 years old) Height: 2.00m (6ft 7in) Club: ALBA Berlin (GER)
Despite his young age, Procida has an impressive amount of experience with the Italian national team, having been part of the rotation in the previous EuroBasket Qualifiers, as well as the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Procida is currently averaging 8.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game in the competition, providing an Italy squad that already qualified for the Final Round, with a much-needed level of three-point shooting and perimeter defense.
Bogoljub Markovic - Serbia
Forward
Birth Date: July 12, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.10m (6ft 11in) Club: BC Mega Basket Beograd (SRB)
Over the past two seasons, Markovic has developed into one of the highest-ceiling prospects in Europe with his elite combination of 2.10m size, three-point shooting and ball-handling flashes. The 19-year-old forward made his debut with the Serbian national team during November's window, when he put up 3 points, 4 rebounds and 1 block in 14 minutes of play against Denmark. With Serbia already qualified for the Final Round, the upcoming window could be a good opportunity for Markovic to continue to find his place in Serbia's frontcourt rotation.
Mario Saint-Supery - Spain
Guard
Birth Date: April 14, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 1.90m (6ft 3in) Club: BAXI MAnresa (ESP)
It's clear that the final qualifying window will be an opportunity for Spain to put their young core to the test. Spain's youth movement includes Saint-Supery, who made his senior national team debut in the previous window after an impressive career at the junior levels, where he consistently made an impact with his versatile offensive repertoire, creating shots both for himself and for teammates.
FIBA