KLAIPEDA & VILNIUS (Lithuania) - As the dust settles on a fabulous edition of the FIBA U20 Women's EuroBasket, it's time to focus on those players who caught the eye with their efforts.
Here are the leading standout performers from this year's event.
Awa Fam - Spain
CENTER
Birth Date: June 17, 2006 (17 years old) Height: 1.92m (6ft 4in)
Stats: 18.1 EFF, 11.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.9 APG - 55.9% FG
Fam came to the competition with a big reputation and after a modest start, she soon turned up the heat and lived up to the billing with an MVP performance. Her massive performance efficiency scores of 26 and 31 in the Semi-Final and Final respectively speaks volumes.
Powerful, athletic and having cut her teeth in EuroLeague Women against seasoned pro-players, she showed that experience by saving her best for when it mattered most.
Marine Dursus - France
GUARD
Birth Date: August 26, 2005 (18 years old) Height: 1.76m (5ft 9in)
Stats: 14.0 EFF, 12.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.6 SPG - 54.7% FG, 83.3% FT
From start to finish, Dursus was the driving force for a French team that was never about individual stars putting up big numbers. That team ethic is perfect for the guard, who might the the one still standing out more than her teammates, but her play is so suited to the role.
An absolute rock, her shot selection and ability to treat the ball with so much respect under pressure was the pillar for France's title success. Dursus is a true leader in every way and it was not a surprise she took an All-Star Five slot.
Matilde Villa - Italy
GUARD
Birth Date: December 9, 2004 (19 years old) Height: 1.75m (5ft 9in)
Stats: 20.6 EFF, 17.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.1 APG, 2.6 SPG - 47.1% FG
Villa made everyone smile with her wonderful fusion of skills and do-it-all determination. Once again this resulted in some super numbers, plenty of plays for the highlight reels and ultimately success for Italy who departed Lithuanian soil clutching a bronze medal.
All-Star Five status was always a major possibility for this senior national team playmaker and Villa made the most of her last youth tournament by signing off in real trademark style.
Frieda Buhner - Germany
FORWARD
Birth Date: May 28, 2004 (20 years old) Height: 1.86m (6ft 1in)
Stats: 20.4 EFF, 18.6 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.3 APG - 47.4% FG, 85.7% FT
There may have been disappointment for Germany as they fell agonizingly shot of the last podium step with their fourth-placed finish, but no player probably done more to inspire their team. Buhner was epic throughout and the focal point for all of Germany's play.
A marquee name at this level and an interesting prospect for future senior team elevation, she led the competition in scoring - despite all of that extra defensive attention she received.
Elena Buenavida - Spain
GUARD
Birth Date: March 8 2004 (20 years old) Height: 1.75m (5ft 9in)
Stats: 14.0 EFF, 11.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 5.3 APG, 3.1 SPG
It was very much a bitter-sweet tournament for Buenavida who rode her way into the All-Star Five, but was left coming up short with Spain in the Final. The guard is another player who has shown so much in the pro-game both in EuroLeague and EuroCup Women with Valencia.
That expected level of composure and clutch was seen in patches and doing a very good solid job defensively, she finished in the tournament top three for both assists and steals.
Berfin Sertoglu - Türkiye
GUARD
Birth Date: August 19, 2004 (19 years old) Height: 1.75m (5ft 9in)
Stats: 15.4 EFF, 18.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.3 APG, 3.0 SPG - 40.9% FG, 75% FT
The guard was so active in every game for Türkiye at both ends and really set the fire for their challenge. They may had to have settled for seventh place at the end, but there is no doubt that Sertoglu is one of the reasons that Türkiye almost found themselves podium-worthy.
They lost that absolute tear-jerker by a single point in the Quarter-Finals against eventual champions France and things could have been different. Second top scorer in the tournament and top five for steals, Sertoglu could barely have done any more.
Carla Brito - Spain
GUARD
Birth Date: October 8, 2004 (19 years old) Height: 1.79m (5ft 10in)
Stats: 15.1 EFF, 12.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.9 SPG - 58.3% FG
A bonafide contender for the All-Star Five, Brito was not quite able to gain that prestigious individual honor. Yet she can look back with real pride on her contributions for the tournament runners-up.
Her classy 18-point show in the Semi-Finals win against Italy epitomized her efforts and that was pivotal to Spain making the title game. Shooting almost 60 percent from the field, this was the real impressive part of her game as Brito took smart shots and knocked plenty down.
Elif Istanbulluoglu - Türkiye
FORWARD
Birth Date: April 4, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 1.88m (6ft 2in)
Stats: 14.4 EFF, 16.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG - 44.7% FG
The forward worked in tandem with her teammate Berfin Sertoglu to really inspire Türkiye and take them to the brink of the Semi-Finals. Particularly outstanding during the Round of 16 and then the Quarter-Finals loss to France, her strength around the basket was evident.
More than anything, the wider context of her performance in the competition is that it showed she may be ready for more of an opportunity with the senior side moving forwards.
Lea Bartelme - Slovenia
GUARD
Birth Date: December 30, 2005 (18 years old) Height: 1.76m (5ft 9in)
Stats: 15.0 EFF, 11.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 5.0 APG - 43.3% FG, 92.3% FT
A smart and slick guard who also works hard for her team, it was enjoyable for neutrals seeing Bartelme put in some very eye-catching performances across the tournament, She provided the fuel for what turned out to be a creditable fifth place finish.
She showed exactly why she recently made a breakthrough to the senior set up and gained a few minutes in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers.
Jess-Mine Zodia - France
CENTER
Birth Date: December 22, 2004 (19 years old) Height: 1.90m (6ft 3in)
Stats: 12.3 EFF, 10.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG - 51.0% FG
Forget the relatively modest stats, Zodia deserves recognition for standing out as the anchor in the paint that champions France needed. While Dursus was the constant factor in the backcourt, the center did a lot of hard and sometimes unseen work in the paint.
It's also why Tango Bourges Basket were confident to give the rising star minutes in EuroLegue and EuroCup Women. As well as why she has since made people sit up and take notice last season with some strong games for Tarbes Gespe Bigorre.
Division B MVP: Nastja Claessens - Belgium
FORWARD
Birth Date: December 2, 2004 (19 years old) Height: 1.86m (6ft 1in)
Stats: 20.9 EFF, 17.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 3.3 SPG - 51.2% FG
No doubt disappointed to have left Sofia not clutching a winners' medal, there was some major consolation for Claessen. She was the turbo that drove promotion for Belgium and she was crowned MVP after a string of dominant displays.
The forward showed why she has been around the Cats setup. And, even if she missed out on the final cut for the Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament Paris 2024, it feels absolutely inevitable she will soon be balling in major senior comps.
FIBA