By Albert Juncà

Athens will host this upcoming weekend the final stage of the Adidas Next Generation Tournament and the senior Final Four. In the Greek city, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Žalgiris Kaunas, INSEP Paris, Crvena Zvezda, Cedevita Olimpija, Next Gen 3SSB, and Panathinaikos will fight for the U18 European crown.

Our Director of Scouting, Albert Juncà, and our Editor-in-Chief, Pietro Cristofori, will attend the event in Athens. With this article, Juncà wants to highlight some of the main storylines to follow during the weekend.

Zalgiris Kaunas the title-defender

Three-time champion Žalgiris Kaunas will defend the European trophy they earned last season with a renewed roster. After the departure of the 2007 generation, players like Ignas Stombergas and Maksim Brnovic are the only ones who played minutes in last year’s final against Olimpia Milano. Mistautas and Cerneckis were also on the roster, but they didn’t play that day.

During this rebuilding process, the Lithuanian powerhouse signed several interesting Baltic prospects to maintain its competitiveness and continue competing at the highest level in this tournament. Sten Markus Adamson, alongside Emils Steckis and Jokubas Kukta, were the three main additions last summer.

In the Abu Dhabi stage, despite the tournament being suspended, the Lithuanian team showed a better version than the one seen in Hospitalet back in December. It is true that a key piece like Maksim Brnovic is now fully recovered and able to bring his versatility and scoring skills back to the team. In addition, Sten Markus Adamson, acting as the main operator, stood out in those two games, averaging 17.5 points.

At this final stage, there are no easy opponents, so being consistent and solid on both ends of the floor will be crucial. Details and avoiding mistakes will play a huge role, especially against teams like Barcelona or Real Madrid, which can punish even the smallest error and quickly build momentum on the scoreboard thanks to their impressive offensive talent.


Real Madrid will search his 6th European trophy 

After winning both the U18 Spanish Championship and the Liga U title in recent weeks, defeating FC Barcelona in both finals, and doing so in the U18 Spanish Championship with a very reduced roster, Real Madrid will arrive in Athens with the mission of lifting its sixth ANGE title.

The Spanish team faced the same situation as Žalgiris in Abu Dhabi and only played two games during that stage. Russian forward Egor Amosov, the recent MVP of the Spanish Championship, will play a crucial role for this team thanks to his ability to score at all three levels and the high floor he currently provides. Another player to highlight on this roster is German wing Fabian Kayser, who has taken a step forward since the tournament in Huelva, where he played an important role in the team’s scoring duties. After a slow start to the season, the former Paderborn player is finding his place within the team, acting as a secondary creator and showing great shooting ability from the perimeter.

Other players such as Frolov, Diarra, and Kutluay will also help Madrid raise its competitive ceiling and establish itself as a clear contender for the European crown. Madrid’s offensive depth was also on display this past weekend in the Liga U final. Despite having several veteran players on the roster, the U18 core still played an important role, with five players scoring in double figures. Kayser and Kutluay finished with 14 points each in the final, while Hugo Alonso led the team with 16 points and earned MVP honors.


FC Barcelona wants to reach the top of the youth european basketball

The 2015–16 season was the last time FC Barcelona won the Adidas Next Generation Tournament, with 1998-generation players such as Eric Vila, Aleix Font, and 1999-born forward Sergi Martínez on the roster.

Ten years later, the team led by Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje arrives in Athens as one of the strongest teams in the tournament so far, after winning the Bologna stage with very consistent performances throughout the weekend. The team’s other leader, Nikola Kusturica, got injured in Huelva, and it remains unclear if he will be available for the final stage of the ANGE. Despite this setback, the event will also be an opportunity to avenge the loss against Real Madrid two weeks ago in Huelva during the U18 Spanish Championship, as well as the defeat in the Liga U final this past weekend.

This tournament will mark the last dance with the Catalan team for Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje and Sayon Keita, both committed for next season to the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Tar Heels. JBB has been playing at a very high level over the last few months, averaging 16.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in the Spanish Championship, while displaying elite shooting ability with 41.4% from the perimeter and great instincts crashing the boards.


INSEP Paris ready to impact in Athens

After winning the Belgrade stage, INSEP Paris arrives in Athens with two very intriguing 2009-generation prospects. The first one is Nathan Soliman, the leader of the team, who is finishing the season with Nantes in the ProB. The French forward has shown important physical improvements, looking stronger and bigger than he did in September. Soliman is averaging 10.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in the ProB. His mix of size and skill gives him great versatility, allowing him to score in multiple ways, with the added advantage that U18 bodies are very different from professional ones, which could help him dominate physically during the tournament.

Another name to highlight is Messi Yangala, who has made impressive progress throughout the season, increasing his impact on the team. Back in September in Abu Dhabi, Yangala was trying to explore his face-up game in static situations and had many limitations playing in tight spaces. During the Belgrade stage, he combined the 4 and the 5 positions, but it was at the 5 where he truly showcased his ability as a rim runner, relying on his powerful legs and mobility to cut to the rim and finish with impressive touch.


ABA League talents heading to Athens

Two teams from the ABA League will participate in Athens this year. One of them is Cedevita Olimpija, which earned its ticket to Athens during the first stage in Ulm, beating Mega Belgrade in the final game. The second ticket belongs to Crvena Zvezda, runner-up in the Belgrade stage after losing to INSEP Paris, and later receiving a wild card to participate.

For Cedevita, three names are gaining attention: Maks Ciperle, Roman Kolka, and Cameron Houindo. The Slovenian forward had a very solid performance in Ulm, earning All-Tournament Team honors. His body usage mixed with his skill set makes him a very difficult player to guard in traffic or when attacking face-up to the paint. Another key piece of the rotation is Cameron Houindo, the MVP in Ulm. The French big man has shown several improvements throughout the season, increasing his usage and displaying flashes of face-up game while extending his shooting range. Roman Kolka is also an interesting name to keep an eye on for the upcoming season. He had a strong impact in Ulm, showing a promising frame and accurate off-ball reads that allow him to slash to the rim in multiple ways and be effective playing in traffic.

For Crvena Zvezda, two names stand out: Jovan Bikic and Aleksej Nedeljkovic. Both will try to lead their team to the title after a 12-year drought. Nedeljkovic earned All-Tournament Team honors in Belgrade, showing a great feel finishing at the rim through his catch-and-drive skills, using his strong and powerful frame to create space and absorb contact from opponents. The other name to follow during the tournament is Jovan Bikic, a talented all-around player with above-average feel operating with the ball for his size and position. His ability to read the game gives valuable solutions to his team’s offense, especially in half-court situations.