GDYNIA (Poland) - France won their second title in a row at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket, even without Victor Wembanyama, Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr and many other NBA players who were eligible to play in the tournament. The wave of success that France is riding in FIBA youth competitions is a strong reflection of the quality of young talent in the country.
As France continues to celebrate their back-to-back titles, we look back at the tournament and select 10 players who made their mark at Gdynia, as well as the MVP of the Division B tournament in Pitesti.
Zacharie Perrin - France
Power Forward
Birth Date: August 29, 2004 (19 years old) Height: 2.08m (6ft 10in) Tournament Stats: 15.4 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.1 BPG, 1.0 SPG
Just like in last year’s FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, Perrin was a key factor for his team, with the difference that France was able to take the title home this time around. The 2.08m forward led France in scoring and was his team’s main source of offense, combining his size and strength with his smooth ball-handling ability, his passing vision and some flashes of three-point shooting. Perrin was also able to make an impact on the defensive end with his size and length, averaging 1.0 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.
His MVP performance at Gdynia followed a strong 2023-24 season in the French second division for Antibes. The 19 year old is a name to follow for the 2025 NBA Draft; he should be expected to make a strong impact and be one of the top young players in the French LNB next season for Nancy.
Noah Penda - France
Small Forward
Birth Date: January 6, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.02m (6ft 8in) Tournament Stats: 11.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG"
Penda hit the most memorable shot of the tournament, a buzzer beater that got France past a tough Spanish team in the Quarter-Finals. The 19 year old forward, however, was formidable through the entirety of the U20 EuroBasket, which earned him an All-Star Five nod. The 2.02m forward was able to showcase his fluid ball-handling and, especially his shooting stroke, as he converted 56.3 percent of his three-point attempts.
Penda will be eligible to play in next year’s U20 EuroBasket as well, but with his combination of size and perimeter skillset, it shouldn’t be a surprise if he found his way to the NBA by this time next year.
Urban Klavzar - Slovenia
Point Guard
Birth Date: May 26, 2004 (20 years old) Height: 1.85m (6ft 1in) Tournament Stats: 16.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Klavzar earned a spot in the tournament's All-Star Five, after leading Slovenia to the Final while finishing in the top five in points per game. Slovenia needed Klavzar to create offense and he was able to score with his crafty driving ability and especially with his versatile shooting, as he showed the ability to convert three-pointers both off-the-catch and off-the-dribble.
The former Real Madrid player has been one of the top young guards in Europe over the past few years and has already played four games for the Slovenian senior national team. His upcoming 2024-25 season for the Florida Gators in the NCAA will certainly be one to watch.
Nathan Missia-Dio - Belgium
Power Forward
Birth Date: November 16, 2004 (19 years old) Height: 2.08m (6ft 10in) Tournament Stats: 15.4 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.1 BPG
The Overtime Elite product made an impact across the board, leading his team in points, rebounds, steals and blocks, while also being the leading rebounder of the tournament. The 2.08m forward delivered some impressive performances in Gdynia, including a 35-point, 16-rebound outing against Iceland, and was instrumental for Belgium as they reached back-to-back semifinals.
Missia-Dio’s combination of size, ball-handling ability, shooting flashes and athleticism is certainly unique, and will be tremendously valuable for the Belgian senior national team, as he should undoubtedly be one of their key pieces in the near future.
Vangelis Zougris - Greece
Center
Birth Date: October 13, 2004 (19 years old) Height: 2.02m (6ft 8in) Tournament Stats: 11.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.4 BPG
Zougris made an impact across the board for Greece in their second-straight bronze medal run at FIBA U20 EuroBasket, leading his team in rebounds and assists while also making an impact with his scoring and rim protection. The 2.02m forward plays bigger than his size, being an effective interior scorer and approaching every possession with tremendous energy and toughness.
The 19 year old forward has put on a show, earning an All-Star Five nod on back-to-back U20 EuroBasket editions. With his combination of strength, motor and interior scoring game, Zougris, who already made his debut for the senior national team of Greece at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers, should develop into one of the top power forwards in Europe.
Jakub Necas - Czechia
Forward
Birth Date: January 29, 2004 (20 years old) Height: 2.01m (6ft 7in) Tournament Stats: 18.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.9 BPG
Necas finished as the top scorer of the tournament averaging 18.6 points per game on solid efficiency, shooting 38.8 percent from three-point range and 95.8 percent from the free-throw line. His impact for Czechia, however, was more important than his individual numbers, as he led his team to a sixth-place finish, tying Czechia’s best-ever final standing at FIBA U20 EuroBasket.
Necas will be heading to the NCAA for his sophomore season with the Duquesne Dukes. With his 2.01m size, versatile scoring game and ability to make plays for others on the move, the Czech wing will be a player to follow in the college and professional ranks during the next few years.
Paulius Murauskas - Lithuania
Forward
Birth Date: February 13, 2004 (20 years old) Height: 2.04m (6ft 8in) Tournament Stats: 18.1 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.9 BPG, 0.4 SPG
Murauskas closed the tournament on a strong note, with back-to-back 29-point games, leading Lithuania to a top five finish in Gdynia. The 2.04m forward was Lithuania's main source of offense during the entire competition, finishing as the second-leading scorer of the FIBA U20 EuroBasket, while also making his presence felt on the boards, as he finished second in rebounds per game.
Murauskas will be transferring to St. Mary’s for his sophomore season in the NCAA, joining fellow Lithuanian standout Augustas Marciulionis. If his play at Gdynia is any indication, he should make a tremendous two-way impact for the Gaels next season.
Emre Melih Tunca - Türkiye
Point Guard
Birth Date: October 12, 2005 (18 years old) Height: 1.96m (6ft 5in) Tournament Stats: 17.6 PPG, 6.4 APG, 2.3 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Tunca was the silver lining for a Turkish team that couldn’t avoid relegation after dropping their Classification Game 13-14 against Iceland, even with Tunca playing nearly every second of the game and putting up a 26-point, 9-assist, 5-rebound performance. The Anadolu Efes guard had a tremendous individual tournament, finishing in the top three in both points and assists per game.
Still 18 years old, Tunca will be eligible to play next year, when Türkiye makes their first-ever Division B appearance. His elite size for the point guard position, and his abilities to drive to the basket and to make plays for teammates both in transition and in the half-court, will be keys for Türkiye to make a quick return to the top division.
Izan Almansa - Spain
Power Forward
Birth Date: June 6, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.07m (6ft 9in) Tournament Stats: 15.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.7 BPG"
Spain failed to reach the Semi-Finals for the second year in a row, after finishing in the top four of the FIBA U20 EuroBasket in 13 of the 14 previous editions of the tournament. While it wasn’t the revenge tour that we might’ve expected from Spain, Izan Almansa had a tremendous individual performance, leading his team in both points and rebounds per game on impressive scoring efficiency.
Almansa will head to the Australian NBL for the 2024-25 season, and NBA teams will be watching, as his combination of size, fluidity, feel for the game and interior scoring ability make him one of the top international players for the 2025 NBA Draft.
Alexandros Samodurov - Greece
Power Forward
Birth Date: April 19, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.11m (6ft 11in) Tournament Stats: 9.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.9 BPG, 0.7 SPG
Samodurov didn’t dominate the game from an offensive standpoint, but he made his presence felt on the other end of the floor, averaging 1.9 blocks per game; the second best mark in Gdynia. The 2.11m forward, however, also contributed offensively with his unique combination of size, handling ability, playmaking for others and three-point shooting.
With his mix of perimeter skillset and elite physical tools, Samodurov will be one of the most intriguing names to follow during his 2024-25 season for Panathinaikos, ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Division B MVP: Dragos Lungu - Romania
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: September 1, 2004 (19 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Tournament Stats: 16.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Romania will be returning to Division A for only the third time ever, as they won the FIBA U20 EuroBasket, Division B 2024 in Pitesti, with Dragos Lungu as the star for the Romanian squad. The 1.98m wing finished as a top-five scorer in the tournament, but was also able to contribute as a playmaker for others and rebounder. Lungu is a smooth ball-handler, who can find his way to the rim and finish around the basket with his combination of length and touch. He combines his slashing ability with his versatile shooting profile and flashes of advanced passing.
Despite having shown some moments during his freshman season, the 19 year old wing made a limited impact during his 2023-24 campaign at the University of San Diego. His MVP performance at Pitesti might forecast a sophomore year leap for him in the NCAA ranks.
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