Six players to watch at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket, Division B

    Preview

    Who will be the impact players at Skopje?

    Author
    Ignacio Rissotto

    SKOPJE (North Macedonia) - The FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2024, Division B returns to a familiar place, as Skopje will host the tournament after hosting both the 2022 and 2023 editions of Division A.

    There are many talented players across all 22 teams that will be in attendance at the tournament.

    We've selected six players who have made an impact at different levels of basketball despite their young age, and are primed to make an impact during the competition. You can vote below for which player you think will make the biggest impact in this year's competition.

    Make sure to also check out the players to watch in the Division A tournament, which will be taking place in Heraklion, Greece.

    Djordje Djukanovic - Montenegro

    Power Forward

    Birth Date: December 13, 2008 (15 years old)  Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in) Club: KK Lovcen 1947 (MNE)

    Montenegro couldn't avoid relegation in last year's Division A tournament, but they will return Djukanovic, who was their top rebounder and second-leading scorer in the tournament. Standing at 1.93m, Djukanovic plays bigger than his size, being able to finish plays around the basket and collect rebounds, while also making an impact with his three-point shooting off the catch.

    In what will be just their second Division B appearance over the past ten years, Montenegro will need Djukanovic's imposing interior presence to make a quick return to the U16 top flight.

    Roman Avdejev - Estonia

    Forward

    Birth Date: February 2, 2008 (16 years old)  Height: 2.02m (6ft 8in) Club: Reinar Halliku Korvpallikool (EST)

    Estonia was one of the best teams in last year's U16 EuroBasket, where they finished in sixth place. This year they will be, once again, a contender in the division with Ramus Vuks' passing, Kaspar Vuks' prolific perimeter scoring and, especially with Roman Avdejev providing a strong presence in the paint for rebounds, blocks and finishes around the basket. The 6'8” forward can also add a level of floor-spacing to the mix, as he shows a compact shooting stroke.

    Bruno Randuska - Slovakia

    Point Guard

    Birth Date: April 11, 2008 (16 years old)  Height: 1.91m (6ft 3in) Club: Inter Bratislava (SVK)

    Randuska already made an impact in last year's U16 EuroBasket Division B, leading Slovakia in minutes and averaging 9.4 points per game. Randuska is an aggressive scorer who can get to the rim with his physicality and his fluid ball-handling, but he's also effective from beyond the arc, being a threat as a jump shooter.

    Slovakia will look to build upon last year's seventh-place finish, and contend for one of the promotion spots in Skopje, which would take them to Division A for the first time ever.

    Gjorgji Cvetovski - North Macedonia

    Guard

    Birth Date: May 28, 2008 (16 years old)  Height: 1.83m (6ft 0in) Club: Feniks 2010 (MNE)

    North Macedonia is back in Division B after spending the last three editions of the tournament in the top flight.

    Cvetovski will make his debut for the host team, but he has already seen minutes at the professional level for Feniks 2010 despite his young age. The 1.83m is a downhill threat with his combination of body control and open court speed, utilizing changes of speeds and directions to avoid defenders on his way to the rim and finishing around the basket with his length.

    Aaron Ona Embo - Belgium

    Point Guard

    Birth Date: April 14, 2009 (15 years old)  Height: 1.75m (5ft 9in) Club: Real Madrid (ESP)

    Ona Embo saw significant minutes for Belgium in last year's U16 EuroBasket Division A, despite playing two years up in age. While he struggled with offensive efficiency, he showed interesting flashes of quick and creative ball-handling, and tough shot-making both around the basket and from beyond the arc. His ability to create offense should be a key for Belgium in their quest to return to the top division. 

    Mico Milovanovic - Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Guard

    Birth Date: September 19, 2008 (15 years old)  Height: 1.91m (6ft 3in) Club: Igokea m:tel (BIH)

    Despite his young age, Milovanovic will bring a level of experience to the Bosnia and Herzegovina squad, as he led the team in assists per game and minutes in last year's U16 EuroBasket, and he was an impactful player for Igokea in the 2024 Youth Basketball Champions League, despite playing three years up in age. With Milovanovic's versatile shooting and his perimeter defense, Bosnia should be in the mix for one of the three promotion spots at the end of the tournament.

    FIBA

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