MISKOLC (Hungary) - The Group Phase of the FIBA U16 Women's EuroBasket 2024 is right behind us and there were lots of exciting moments during the first three days of competition.
As teams get ready for their Round of 16 matchups, we've selected 10 players who made a strong impression during the Group Phase in Miskolc.
Annie Kibedi - Belgium
Forward
Birth Date: May 24, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.87m (6ft 2in) Stats: 20.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG
Fresh off a 36-point performance to end the Group Phase, Kibedi finished as the tournament's leading scorer after three games while also second in efficiency rating and 12th in rebounding. The Kangoeroes Mechelen prospect also had an impressive near double-double of 19 points with 9 rebounds against Finland.
Somtochukwu-Blessed Okafor - Spain
Guard
Birth Date: Sep 11, 2008 (15 years old) Height: 1.76m (5ft 9in) Stats: 15.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.3 SPG
Okafor has been consistent throughout helping lead Spain to a perfect 3-0 Group Phase record. The guard ranks in the top five in scoring after 17, 15 and 14-point outings while ranking fourth in efficiency rating. Making 54.3 percent of her field goals, she has also found ways to contribute across the board adding 7 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists and a steal to her 17-point performance against Latvia.
Alina Nikkila - Finland
Center
Birth Date: Jul 12, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.81m (5ft 11in) Stats: 8.7 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 2.0 SPG
Also proving a key piece in an unbeaten Group Phase nation was Nikkila, who leads the tournament so far in rebounding and ranks seventh in efficiency rating. Her reliable presence on the boards has helped Finland's 3-0 record and already produced a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds against Montenegro, also chipping in 4 blocks, 2 steals and 2 blocks in the game.
Thelma Leray - France
Center
Birth Date: Mar 1, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.81m (5ft 11in) Stats: 14.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.3 SPG
Another center getting to work is Leray, who is the tournament's eighth leading scorer after the Group Phase. Playing in a dominant France side who also went 3-0, Leray has helped them score at will with her size inside including a 23-point performance against Israel where she went 9-of-13 from the field and also contributed 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
Lori Zlatoper - Croatia
Small Forward
Birth Date: Feb 15, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.82m (6ft 0in) Stats: 16.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.0 SPG
Zlatoper left her fingerprints on all aspects of the game in the Group Phase, currently the third leading scorer while ranking sixth in assists and 16th in rebounding. She helped Croatia to a positive 2-1 record in doing so with performances such as her 17-point, 9-rebound, 3-assist and 2-steal showing against Sweden.
Ela Modric - Slovenia
Center
Birth Date: Sep 8, 2008 (15 years old) Height: 1.82m (6ft 0in) Stats: 10.7 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.7 SPG
Modric has been similarly multi-dimensional, proving to be the top rebounder in the Group Phase while also dropping dimes to rank second in assists. She also leads in efficiency rating, and her prowess on the boards has already led to one double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds with 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block against Belgium as her nation finished 2-1.
Lara Csaplar-Nagy - Hungary
Power Forward
Birth Date: Jun 11, 2009 (15 years old) Height: 1.89m (6ft 2in) Stats: 11.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.3 BPG
Two double-doubles from three games so far, Csaplar-Nagy has excelled in both scoring and rebounding duties ranked 3rd in rebounding after the Group Phase. The power-forward went a perfect 7-of-7 from the field against Israel on the way to a 16-point, 17-rebound double-double and would be eligible to play in the tournament again next year after not long turning 15 years of age.
Isabel Mohamud Mohamed Hassan - Italy
Forward
Birth Date: Jun 14, 2009 (15 years old) Height: 1.82m (6ft 0in) Stats: 14.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 3.0 SPG
Seventh in scoring, eighth in rebounding and ninth in steals, Mohamud Mohamed Hassan sure had an impressive Group Phase helping Italy to a positive 2-1 record. Also add being in the top 10 for efficiency rating and with two double-doubles, including 18 points and 10 rebounds against Sweden, for the prospect out of Umana Reyer Venice.
Marta Plorina - Latvia
Forward
Birth Date: Aug 19, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.80m (5ft 11in) Stats: 15.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.7 SPG
Plorina was Latvia's main scoring outlet as they finished with a positive 2-1 Group Phase record. The forward is the sixth highest scorer in the tournament so far. She has got her work done efficiently too, ranked fourth in efficiency rating and shooting 62.5 percent from the field. Against Poland in the Group Phase she also collected a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Milena Vujovic - Montenegro
Point Guard
Birth Date: Feb 12, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.69m (5ft 7in) Stats: 17.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.0 SPG
Montenegro found themselves on the end of three losses in the Group Phase, but if they are to turn around their fortunes it will come through point guard Vujovic. She has been their main scoring outlet, ranking second in tournament scoring overall after the Group Phase including 19, 18 and 15-point outings.
FIBA