MUNICH (Germany) - The level of basketball talent coming out of Europe is certainly at an all-time high.
Established superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic have accounted for five of the last six NBA MVP awards, and the list of recent European All-Stars, which also included names like Luka Doncic, Lauri Markkanen and Domantas Sabonis, has welcomed two very young and very promising names this year: 22-year-old Alperen Sengun and 21-year-old Victor Wembanyama.
While we enjoy the most talented generation of European players the continent has ever seen, we look at the future, which might be just as bright as the present day.
For the second year in a row, we've taken on the titanic task of identifying the European players who are rising through the professional, college and NBA ranks, and should be making an impact for their national teams very soon.
As the name suggests, the 20 Under 20 list spotlights the top players born in 2005 or later, taking into account their achievements so far and, even more importantly, projecting their potential for the future.
The selection of players is not ranked, with players listed in alphabetical order.
Izan Almansa - Spain
Center Birth Date: June 7, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.07m (6ft 9in) Club: Perth Wildcats (AUS)
One of the most decorated players in the history of FIBA Youth competitions after being named MVP at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022, the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2022 and the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup World Cup 2023, Almansa has made the move to the Australian NBL to play for the Perth Wildcats after a one-year stint in the NBA G League. The Spanish forward has been a valuable contributor at every stop in his career with his combination of 2.07m size, touch around the basket, defensive productivity and offensive IQ.
Almansa has made his debut with the senior national team of Spain during November's FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers window, and he should be a consistent contributor for Spain going forward with his interior scoring, rebounding and his winning pedigree.
Christian Anderson - Germany
Guard Birth Date: April 2, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 1.88m (6ft 2in) Club: Texas Tech Red Raiders (USA - NCAA)
Anderson has been a key factor in Germany's two recent youth EuroBasket titles: the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022, Division B (where he was also named MVP) and the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024. The German guard followed his success at the junior level with an impressive freshman campaign with Texas Tech, where he's currently averaging 9.1 points per game while shooting 39.3 percent from three-point range for one of the top teams in the NCAA.
With Dennis Schroder turning 32 this year, Germany might have to start thinking about a long term option at the point guard position. If Anderson continues to perform the way he does, he should be high in the line of succession for the current world champions.
Pacome Dadiet - France
Small Forward Birth Date: July 27, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.00m (6ft 7in) Club: New York Knicks (NBA)
Playing time has been hard to come by for Dadiet in a contending Knicks team that currently ranks third in the Eastern Conference. The French wing, however, has shown impressive flashes in the opportunities he got early in the season, as well as with the Westchester Knicks in the G League.
Dadiet's profile as a 2.00m wing who can create his own shots both via pull-ups or drives to the basket, while also being able to contribute as a passer and perimeter defender is certainly enticing and it's easy to envision the former Ratiopharm Ulm prospect developing into a reliable two-way player for both the Knicks and the French national team during the next few years.
Sergio de Larrea - Spain
Guard Birth Date: December 4, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 1.97m (6ft 6in) Club: Valencia (ESP)
De Larrea has been one of the pearls of Valencia's youth squads over the past few years and has made his mark with the Spanish junior national team, especially during the team's title run at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023. This season, however, De Larrea has taken the leap and developed into a significant contributor for Valencia. The 1.97m wing has been tremendously efficient from beyond the arc, currently shooting 45.2 percent from three-point range, while also making an impact with his slashing and his secondary playmaking ability.
The Spanish wing is projected as a potential selection in the next NBA Draft and his ability to be productive both with and without the ball in his hands should make him a valuable addition for any club in the world, as well as a potential perimeter weapon for Spain going forward.
Egor Demin
Guard Birth Date: March 3, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 2.00m (6ft 7in) Club: BYU Cougars (USA - NCAA)
Demin left Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid after the 2023-24 season to join the NCAA ranks and the move has paid off massively for him, as his draft stock has grown exponentially since joining BYU. Demin's profile fits the mold of a modern-day NBA on-ball wing. Standing at 2.00m, he utilizes his elite positional size and fluid ball-handling ability to drive to the basket, but it's the versatile shooting off-the-dribble and his creative passing vision what has him placed, according to most draft outlets, as a potential top 20 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
With BYU currently projected to make the NCAA tournament, Demin will have plenty of opportunity during the next few weeks to showcase his potential as an offensive creator for himself and others, and secure a spot among the top players in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Noa Essengue - France
Power Forward Birth Date: December 18, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 2.09m (6ft 10in) Club: Ratiopharm Ulm (GER)
Essengue, who has been one of the leaders for France in recent FIBA youth competitions, made his debut with the senior national team in a pair of FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers games against Cyprus back in November. Currently playing for Ratiopharm Ulm, Essengue has blossomed into one of the highest-ceiling prospects in Europe with his elite size and high-flying athleticism.
The French forward is a force in the open court, where he utilizes his unique combination of 2.09m size, speed and ball-handling ability to attack the basket. The French forward is also able to make an impact on defense with his rebounding and his ability to create defensive events both in the perimeter and in the paint. With his unique combination of physical tools and on-ball skills, it's easy to see why Essengue is projected as a top 20 pick in this year's NBA Draft.
Alvaro Folgueiras - Spain
Forward Birth Date: April 1, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.05m (6ft 9in) Club: Robert Morris Colonials (USA - NCAA)
Folgueiras has been a consistent presence for the Spanish junior national teams over the past few years, but this season he took an astronomical leap in his sophomore campaign at Robert Morris. The Spanish forward has stepped into a starting role and is stuffing the stat sheet, averaging 12.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 block per game.
Standing at 2.05m, Folgueiras is a physical interior presence who can defend the post, collect rebounds and block shots as a help defender. Offensively, Folgueiras is a tough finisher around the basket, but his shooting stroke has been the key to his success, as he converted 37.1 percent of his three-point attempts so far. Folgueiras has ascended quickly through the college ranks and is now one of the most productive sophomores in the entire NCAA. With his combination of positional size, defensive productivity and shooting potential, the sky's the limit for him.
Hugo Gonzalez - Spain
Forward Birth Date: February 5, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in) Club: Real Madrid (ESP)
Gonzalez has been considered as one of the top players in the 2006 generation for a number of years and his performances at the junior level have more than lived up to the hype. In last year's FIBA U18 EuroBasket, Gonzalez ranked in the top five in points, steals and blocks, showing why he's one of the top two-way wing prospects to come out of Europe in the past decade.
The Spanish wing makes an impact on the defensive end of the floor with his mix of physical tools, lateral mobility and defensive motor, but he can also contribute on offense with his aggressive slashing and his secondary passing abilities. While playing time has not been plenty for Gonzalez during his current season with Real Madrid, the flashes he shows in each appearance, as well as his previous performances at the youth levels are enough to project him to develop into an impactful player, both at the NBA level and for the Spanish National Team.
Johann Grunloh - Germany
Center Birth Date: August 14, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.09m (6ft 10in) Club: SC Rasta Vechta (GER)
Grunloh is one of the most unique prospects in Europe due to his combination of rim protection and impact as a three-point shooter. On the defensive end of the floor, Grunloh makes his presence felt around the basket, being able to contest and block shots with his size and length. On offense, Grunloh also makes an impact at the rim, but he's more than just an interior scorer, being able to step out and convert three-pointers off the catch, as shown by his 38.6 percent mark from three-point range during the 2024-25 season.
Named as the Young Player of the Year in the German Bundesliga last season, Grunloh has been one of the most impressive centers to come out of Germany in the past few years, and he should be an option for the German national team during upcoming competitions if they are in need of big man depth.
Kasparas Jakucionis - Lithuania
Forward Birth Date: May 29, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Club: Illinois Fighting Illini (USA - NCAA)
Jakucionis spent his formative years as one of the top players in Barcelona's junior squads, before deciding to go the college route and join Illinois, where he's currently having an incredible freshman season, averaging 16.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists for a team ranked in the AP Top 25. Standing at 1.98m, the Lithuanian guard makes an impact with his creative passes, his powerful drives and his versatile shooting ability, which allows him to make an impact both with and without the ball in his hands.
Jakucionis' offensive versatility has him projected by draft outlets as a potential top ten pick in this year's NBA Draft, and despite not having played for the senior national team yet, Jakucionis is one of the best prospects to come out of Lithuania over the past few years: he should certainly be a big part of the team's future.
Bogoljub Markovic - Serbia
Forward Birth Date: July 12, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.10m (6ft 11in) Club: Mega Basket (SRB)
Markovic had a breakthrough 2023-24 campaign which started with a title and an All-Star Five nod at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2023, and continued with him cracking the rotation for Mega Basket in the Adriatic League. This season, Markovic has taken yet another leap, starting every game for Mega, making his debut with the senior national team at the FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers and putting himself in the NBA Draft conversation.
Markovic is a lanky wing with elite size and length for the position, who is able to convert three-pointers, put the ball on the floor to lead the break and to attack the basket in closeout opportunities, while also making an impact on the defensive end of the court, creating events with his length. The unique combination of 2.10m size and perimeter skillset makes Markovic a high ceiling bet that could be enticing for NBA teams in this year's draft.
Miikka Muurinen - Finland
Forward Birth Date: March 4, 2007 (17 years old) Height: 2.08m (6ft 10in) Club: AZ Compass Prep Dragons (USA - High School)
Muurinen is not only one of the top European prospects in the 2007 generation: he's one of the best young prospects in the world. Currently playing in the States for AZ Compass Prep, Muurinen is ranked as a consensus top 10 recruit in the high school class of 2026, thanks to his unique combination of 2.08m size, fluid ball-handling, versatile shotmaking and defensive productivity, all aspects that he put in full display at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023, where he led the competition in blocks and finished in the top five in scoring.
Finland's basketball has been on the rise, having qualified to two of the last three FIBA World Cups after never making the tournament before that. With Muurinen, the Finnish might've found a second star who they can pair with Lauri Markkanen, and potentially someone who can step in as a leader of the team for the long term.
Noah Penda - France
Power Forward Birth Date: January 7, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 2.02m (6ft 8in) Club: Le Mans Sarthe (FRA)
After spending a pair of seasons with JA Vichy in the second division of France, Penda has taken a leap over the past 12 months and is now firmly on NBA radars ahead of the 2025 Draft. Penda shot the lights out in last year's FIBA U20 EuroBasket, where his floor-spacing and his versatile defense were instrumental in France's title run. Following the tournament, the French forward made the move to Le Mans Sarthe of the LNB Elite, where his combination of size, strong frame, defensive productivity and off-ball shooting have turned him into one of the most promising young players in the French league.
The French national team's frontcourt looks incredibly loaded with young talent, as evidenced by the multiple French players in this list, but Penda should develop into a high-level pro and could find a spot with Les Bleus in a low-usage role thanks to his impact as a defender and play finisher on multiple levels of the floor.
Zaccharie Risacher - France
Forward Birth Date: April 8, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.03m (6ft 8in) Club: Atlanta Hawks (NBA)
Risacher became the second consecutive first overall pick in the NBA draft to come out of France last year after an illustrious career at the junior levels, where he led France to the podium at both the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup in 2022 and the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in 2023. The start of Risacher's NBA career has had its ups and downs, but the French wing has seemed to find his groove as of late, averaging 12.2 points per game while shooting 39.3 percent from three-point range.
Risacher, who has already made his debut with the French national team, should become an important piece of the future for both the Atlanta Hawks and Les Bleus, with his versatile perimeter defense and his ability to make an impact offensively with his three-point shooting.
Michael Ruzic - Croatia
Forward Birth Date: October 4, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 2.06m (6ft 9in) Club: Joventut Badalona (ESP)
Ruzic put himself on NBA radars last season after cracking Joventut Badalona's rotation and having a productive campaign as a shooter, making 41.5 percent of his three-point attempts. A lanky 2.06m forward, Ruzic makes an impact with his multi-level scoring package. He's able to step out and make threes but he's more than just a stretch-four, also being able to create his own shot in the post. The Croatian forward is also able to make things happen on the defensive end of the floor, operating as an off-ball defender who can protect the rim from the weak side.
Ruzic is still trying to find his groove back, after a hand injury had him sidelined for three months during the 2024-25 season. Once he's fully healthy, he should continue to make an impact for Joventut and, potentially, be selected in this year's NBA Draft.
Tidjane Salaun - France
Forward Birth Date: August 10, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.05m (6ft 9in) Club: Charlotte Hornets (NBA)
After an impressive performance at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2023 and a similarly impactful campaign in last season's Basketball Champions League where he was named as the Best Young Player in the competition, Salaun was selected with the sixth overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. One of the youngest players in last year's draft, Salaun is still getting acclimated with the NBA game and has struggled to score efficiently, but he has shown many flashes of brilliance with his combination of 2.05m size, athleticism and creativity off the dribble.
Salaun has shown his potential in recent G League contests for the Greensboro Swarm, where he's averaging 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. With enough time to develop, he could make a similar impact at the NBA level in the near future.
Ben Saraf - Israel
Guard Birth Date: April 14, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 1.95m (6ft 5in) Club: Ratiopharm Ulm (GER)
Saraf has been a consistent contributor for Israel in Youth EuroBasket competitions, but last year he took it to the next level, averaging 28.1 points, 5.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 steals at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket: impressive numbers which earned him the MVP award of the tournament. The Israeli wing made the move to Ulm this year where he has also made a strong impression with his combination of 1.95m size, fluid ball-handling, tough shotmaking and secondary passing abilities.
Currently projected as a lottery pick in this year's NBA Draft, Saraf, who made his debut with the Israeli national team during the past FIBA EuroBasket qualifying window, should be the answer at the wing for Israel for years to come.
Alex Sarr - France
Center Birth Date: April 26, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.13m (7ft 0in) Club: Washington Wizards (NBA)
Sarr has been one of the few bright spots in what has been a difficult 2024-25 campaign for the Washington Wizards. The French center was awarded Rookie of the Month honors for December 2024 and he's ranked in the top 10 in the NBA in blocks per game. Sarr's offense continues to be a work in progress, as he has struggled to score efficiently, especially around the basket but his rim protection and his ability to affect the game on the perimeter has translated seemingly overnight to the NBA.
Sarr is yet to make his debut with the French national team but he should be a huge part of the team's future, as his versatile defense could make him part of a monstrous defensive duo with Victor Wembanyama.
Nikola Topic - Serbia
Point Guard Birth Date: August 10, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 1.95m (6ft 5in) Club: Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)
Topic was selected with the 12th overall pick of last year's NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder after promising performances in his championship run with Serbia at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2023, where he was also named MVP of the competition, and with Mega Basket and Crvena Zvezda during the 2023-24 Adriatic League season.
An untimely ACL tear in May 2024 has kept the Serbian guard from making his NBA debut, but Topic, who is expected to make a full recovery for the 2025-26 season, is a masterful playmaker for others who utilizes his passing vision, ball-handling ability and 1.95m size to create open shots for teammates, while also also being a tough slasher who is able to put pressure on opposing defenders and attack the basket. Once he's back on the court, he has all the talent to bounce back quickly and continue to show why he's one of the top guards to come out of Serbia in the last decade.
Nolan Traore - France
Point Guard Birth Date: May 28, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 1.92m (6ft 4in) Club: Saint Quentin (FRA)
For a French national team that possesses tremendous depth in terms of young, talented wings, forwards and bigs, the point guard position could be seen as the missing piece of the puzzle. Enter Nolan Traore, who made his debut for Les Bleus back in November, after a standout career at the junior levels with the French national team.
Standing at 1.92m, Traore utilizes his combination of size, speed and athleticism to put constant pressure on opposing defenders and attack the rim. The French guard is also able to make plays for teammates, utilizing the gravity he generates as a slasher. The jumpshot is still a work in progress (he's shooting 27.8 percent from beyond the arc this season), but at just 18 years old, Traore is projected to be one of the top point guards taken in the 2025 NBA Draft and a potential long-term answer at the position for France.
The Next Five
No list would be complete without some tough cuts and this one is no exception. Some of the toughest omissions were:
David Mirkovic (Montenegro), a polished 2.06m multi-level scorer who has been making an impact at the pro level for a number of years despite his young age.
Joan Beringer (France), a late bloomer who is leading the Adriatic League in blocks and whose combination of physical tools, athleticism and defensive potential have put him on NBA Radars.
Jayden Hodge (Belgium) a versatile on-ball wing who holds multiple offers from high-major college programs in the US.
Cameron Houindo (France) a defensive dynamo who was named MVP of the latest FIBA U16 EuroBasket.
Fabian Kayser (Germany) a 15-year-old wing who recently signed with Real Madrid and has shown a skillset well beyond his years in last year's FIBA U16 EuroBasket and in this year's ANGT.
All of them deserve a mention and are prime candidates to make this list next year.
FIBA