HERAKLION (Greece) - The FIBA U16 EuroBasket concluded this weekend with France taking their first title since 2017.
There multiple standout performances in Heraklion, with players already showing potential as future impact players at the professional level. In this recap, we look at 10 players who made their mark at the U16 EuroBasket, plus the MVP of the Division B tournament in Skopje.
Cameron Houindo - France
Power Forward
Birth Date: January 10, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 2.02m (6ft 8in) Tournament Stats: 13.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.3 SPG, 2.3 BPG, 0.3 APG
France finally got over the hump in Heraklion, capturing their first U16 title since 2017, breaking a streak of four-straight top four finishes without a championship. Houindo was the MVP of the tournament and he made a tremendous impact with his two-way game, leading France in scoring with his ability to finish around the basket while also being one of the most productive defenders of the tournament, ranking second in blocks and fourth in steals.
Houindo positioned himself as one of the top prospects in attendance in Heraklion with his productivity and his physical tools, as his combination of 2.02m size, speed and explosiveness overwhelmed opponents on both ends of the floor.
Marcos Zurita - Spain
Guard
Birth Date: March 24, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.91m (6ft 3in) Tournament Stats: 16.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 1.9 APG
Spain continued their strong run at the U16 EuroBasket, making their fifth straight Final in the event. Although they fell short in Heraklion, they left the tournament with plenty of reasons to be optimistic for the future. One of those reasons is Zurita, who led Spain in scoring. The 1.91m guard put pressure on opposing defenses with his fluid ball-handling and his versatile finishing ability, while also contributing with spot-up shooting, passing on the move and perimeter defense.
Zurita's 21 points in the Final weren't enough for Spain to overcome France, but they were proof that Zurita is one of Spain's players to watch for the future.
Andrej Bjelic - Serbia
Guard
Birth Date: March 17, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.94m (6ft 4in) Tournament Stats: 18.4 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.0 SPG
Serbia returned to the podium for the first time since 2017 with a talented and versatile roster that included future professional standouts such as Jovan Bikic, Nikola Karalic and Vuk Danilovic. However, Bjelic was the clear standout as one of the most dynamic scorers in the competition. The Real Madrid product averaged 18.4 points per game with impressive three-point shooting numbers: 37.3 percent on 8.4 attempts per game.
Bjelic was an offensive force who delivered several highlights in Heraklion with his creative handles and versatile shooting ability, establishing himself as one of the top guards of his generation.
Chrysostomos Chatzilamprou - Greece
Forward
Birth Date: July 12, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tournament Stats: 17.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.7 BPG, 0.4 SPG
Chatzilamprou earned an All-Star Five nod in Heraklion after leading the home team to a fourth-place finish. The Aris wing, who led Greece in both scoring and rebounding, showed a unique combination of size, length and fluidity which made him a threat as a slasher, and also an effective perimeter defender who was able to stay in front of opponents. Chatzilamprou also impressed with his touch from multiple levels of the floor, which he utilized to convert tough layups in the paint and three-pointers off-movement.
Louka Letailleur - France
Small Forward
Birth Date: May 22, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tournament Stats: 10.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.7 BPG
Letailleur played a crucial role for a dominant French team that finished the tournament with a perfect 7-0 record, winning each of their first five games by a margin of at least 25 points. The 1.98m forward earned an All-Star Five nod by contributing in multiple areas for France, scoring through cuts, offensive rebounds and spot-up jumpers. Defensively, Letailleur showcased his athleticism, utilizing his tools to contest and block shots around the basket.
Omer Ege Ziyaettin - Türkiye
Point Guard
Birth Date: May 20, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.87m (6ft 2in) Tournament Stats: 17.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.0 SPG
The team with the second-most medals at the U16 EuroBasket didn’t exactly return to form in Heraklion, where they finished in eighth place. Türkiye, however, had one of the best individual performers of the tournament in Ziyaettin. The 1.87m guard was the engine of Türkiye's offense, averaging 17.7 points and 4.3 assists per game while posting tremendous numbers as a three-point shooter, converting 40.0 percent of his shots from beyond the arc on 7.1 attempts per game.
Ziyaettin lived up to his pre-tournament expectations as one of the most promising lead guards in Europe, and he will go back to Fenerbahce for the 2024-25 season, where he has already made his professional debut.
Ricards Aizpurs - Latvia
Forward
Birth Date: August 1, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tournament Stats: 18.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.1 BPG
Latvia had one of the strongest teams they've put together at the U16 level in Heraklion, with players like Gunars Grinvalds and Krists Ozers making an impact. However, it was Aizpurs who carried the team to their best finish in over a decade. The Stella Azzurra wing showed a complete offensive arsenal throughout the tournament, being a continuous threat as a slasher and a capable three-point shooter. Aizpurs was also able to get things done on the defensive end of the floor, where he averaged 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.
Ignas Stombergas - Lithuania
Power Forward
Birth Date: February 21, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tournament Stats: 10.6 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 3.1 BPG, 1.3 APG, 0.7 SPG
Lithuania didn't advance past the Round of 16 for only the second time in the last decade. Despite falling short of expectations, Lithuania had a dominant interior presence in Stombergas, who led the competition in blocks while also finishing second in rebounds per game. Though lacking elite size for a center, Stombergas showed an elite combination of polish, footwork, touch and instincts, making an impact around the basket by finishing plays, rebounding and protecting the rim. It will be interesting to see if Stombergas can develop his perimeter game in the future, but in this tournament, his interior presence was certainly a strong asset for Lithuania.
Federico Cattapan - Italy
Guard
Birth Date: May 27, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.95m (6ft 5in) Tournament Stats: 16.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Although Italy couldn’t replicate the success of last year's silver-medal run, they were one of the strongest teams in Heraklion, securing a fourth consecutive top-six finish. The key behind Italy's run was the perimeter firepower from their two leading scorers, Randy Livingston Jr. and Federico Cattapan. While the former was tasked with more creation for himself and others, Cattapan was prolific from beyond the arc, converting 35.3 percent of his three-pointers on 7.3 attempts per game. Cattapan also contributed for Italy with his rebounding and secondary playmaking.
Mate Khatiashvili - Georgia
Guard
Birth Date: November 7, 2008 (15 years old) Height: 1.91m (6ft 3in) Tournament Stats: 17.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Georgia's 13th-place finish was their best since 2007, ensuring that they will remain in Division A for next year. Khatiashvili showed promise as one of the top young guards in Europe with his three-point shooting and his playmaking for others and he was pivotal for Georgia, ranking in the top ten in scoring and top five in assists for the tournament. Most notably, the 1.91 guard showed up in the big moments, dropping 28 points and 13 rebounds to avoid relegation in the final game of the tournament.
Roman Avdejev - Estonia
Center
Birth Date: February 2, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 2.03m (6ft 8in) Tournament Stats: 12.7 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 1.3 APG, 2.1 BPG, 1.0 SPG
Estonia returns to Division A for the first time since 2019, after winning the Division B tournament in Skopje behind Avdejev's dominant performance. The 2.03m center led the competition in blocks and ranked fourth in rebounds per game, providing Estonia with a strong presence around the basket. Beyond his dominance in the paint, Avdejev showed an interesting combination of footwork, handles and quickness that allowed him to put pressure on the rim as a driver.
FIBA