By Luca Virgilio

 

Italian 5'11'' PG Federico Mussini ('96) is one of the most awaited players of the national team that will participate in U16 European Championships. Italy has been included in the "group of death" with Croatia, Turkey and England, and the young Italian players are working very hard in the gym in order to be ready for the competition. Tomorrow the national team will take part at the tournament in Guadalajara with Turkey, Serbia and England and this will be a very important test for evaluating the condition of the team.


On July 19th it will start in Ventspils the U16 European Championship against Croatia. Are you ready for this important event? Which is the team to beat?
In this moment I’m thinking to do the pre-european tournaments, I feel ready and I am looking forward to start! From what I have heard the Turkish team is the favorite one, and it will be very challenging for us to paly against them during the first round, but I also heard that the Croatia of Arapovic it's a tough team! Anyway, we will do our best to beat them.

After the Benevento's tournament what are your impressions on the team? What are your goals for this European Championship?
Well, I think we are a good team altough we did not obtained great results in Benevento (one win against Czech Republic and two losses against Serbia and Germany). In spite of the absence of two players of our quintet such as Rossato and Oliva (they will be recovered for the European) what I can say is that we are aiming to reach the top! We will do our best without fear of anyone.

This year you took part in the Jordan Classic in Charlotte resulting the top scorer of the match with 21 points. Do you think it was an important experience for your growth?
The Jordan Brand Classic was undoubtedly the best basketball experience of my life and I think that this helped me a lot because I played against players from all around the world! I had the opportunity to compare my self within the best players of my age and I think this was such a great experience for me.

Which is the strongest Italian player that you played against? And which the foreign player?
I think that the strongest Italian player I've ever played against was Matteo Imbrò of Virtus Bologna, even if I think that the strongest foreign players were Lucas Silva Dias and Marko Arapovic. I feel lucky because I had the chance to play with both of them during the last Jordan Classic.

Have you ever thought to finish your studies in United States and try to go in the NCAA as well as Amedeo Della Valle did?
Yes, The States attract me very much, and I have thought quite often to go finishing school there.. It would be such a great experience! But I think my parents would not let me go, so I’m trying to do the best I can here in Italy.

 

Twitter of the author: @lucavirgilio

 

Photo: www.jumpman23.com