On November 17th and 21st will take place the last of three FIBA qualifying windows for #EuroBasketWomen 2019 and again many rising stars will hit the hardwood with their senior NT or at least will be on the preliminary rosters. Here are the 8 most promising prospects, all Blue Star Media regulars, to have gotten a call from their Federations. Some might play and others look like missing out – but all are involved in camps and even those not featuring on Saturday, may get the nod next week.
Zala Friskovec (G, 1999, Slovenia)
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Arguably the most talented player of her generation, Friskovec is ready to cement her position and role at senior level when she starts her only second campaign with the NT tomorrow. Coming off her best outing to date at youth level this summer (19,6ppg/41%FG3 at Euro U20) and now also with EuroCupWomen court time with Celje under her belt (14ppg/54%FG3), Friskovec should get more responsibility and see her numbers rise significantly from her promising yet minor, to her own standards, impact in the first four games (15mpg/5ppg/18%FG3). Great versatility in the backcourt, elite shooting, mental toughness, impactful driving force, accurate court vision, Friskovec has it all to perform at the highest level as soon as now. With Baric and Lisec returning from injuries, Slovenia will be as ambitious as ever as they take on their next two games to try to stay undefeated in their group.
Klara Lundquist (G, 1999, Sweden)
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Another player set to see her role and contribution rise during these qualifiers is Sweden’s backcourt ace Klara Lundquist. A standout and huge scoring force at youth level she is on her second senior NT campaign following her participation in the two qualifying windows last season. Coming off a spectacular debut in EuroCupWomen where she averages 20,4ppg on 43%FG3 after three games with Telge with a season high of 26pts, she will add depth and bring more outside danger to the established backcourt duo of the Eldebrink sisters to try to help Sweden make it through the “group of death” (with Croatia and Italy) and clinch a much-desired return ticket to EuroBasketWomen.
Livia Gereben (G, 1999, Hungary)
A player set to maker her big NT debut during this qualifying window is Livia Gereben. The KSC Szekszard guard was part of the preliminary rosters during the first two windows but didn’t make the last cut. One of the most precocious players in Europe, the 2018 Hungarian Cup MVP, is already playing her third season in the highly competitive Hungarian league and also has both Euroleague and Eurocup court time to her name. She was impressive in Sopron at FIBA Euro U20 and looks set to be counted for at senior level, adding depth to an already talented Hungarian roster.
Nika Muhl (PG, 2001, Croatia)
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The moment everybody knew would happen rather sooner than later is here: Nika Mühl received her first call with the Croatian NT at just 17. Even if she doesn’t make the final cut, the experience she will gain from participating to the camp can only be beneficial for her development. The do-it-all teen sensation, known for posting triple and even quadruple doubles on a regular basis at youth level, shines in both Croatian and WABA leagues so far this season with Tresnjevka 2009. In the Adriatic League, after three games, she has already posted twice 11 assists and leads the competition with 10,3 apg! This NT call should come as great motivation for the talented and ambitious PG whose name we will see many more times on the Croatian roster in the future.
Awak Kuier (C, 2001, Finland)
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Not taking part in any continental competition at club level, nor playing in a strong domestic league, Awak Kuier embraces any international game as an opportunity to gauge her progress against Europe’s best players. Following her debut with the NT last season during the first two qualifying windows highlighted by a solid 5pts-10reb outing against France in February, as well her participation to the Basketball Without Borders Europe camp this summer, the still teenager (17 years old) faces another opportunity to gain experience and to display the progress she has made since last season.
Ilayda Guner (PF, 1999, Turkey)
With legend center Nevriye Yilmaz’s retired, Turkey is in search of a new generation of post players to emerge and take over. Ilayda Guner is one of their biggest prospects at the position alongside Tilbe Senyurek. Coming off an impactful youth career, Guner is about to start her third campaign with the NT. This summer she made the All-Tournament Team at FIBA Euro U20 Div B where finished top scorer with 23ppg to go with 9,7rpg. Part of the WWC roster in Tenerife in September where she saw limited court time, the Istanbul University player has now another opportunity to keep adapting to what it takes to play at the highest level in Europe.
Elena Tsineke (SG, 1999, Greece)
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With many of the senior NT legends about to retire or retiring after this qualifying window, Greece is entering a transitional period. With Spanou, Fasoula, Christinaki and Pavlopoulou already making splashes at the international level and looking set to lift the torch for Greece in the near future, another name has been on women’s basketball followers’ lips for some time now: Elena Tsineke. The sharp-shooting youth stand-out guard is back after tasting her first seconds of senior NT action during the February qualifying window. Onto her second season at senior level in Greece’s Div 1 with Niki Lefkadas, she arrives to camp with also EuroCupWomen court time now (10ppg), having qualified to the competition in September. If given the opportunity, Tsineke will bring immediate fire power to the Greek backcourt.
Ilaria Panzera (G, 2002, Italy)
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The buzz surrounding Ilaria Panzera just got a bit bigger with the teen sensation getting a call from coach Crespi for her first ever senior NT camp at just 16. She most probably won’t make the final roster but will without a doubt soak all she can while training with the likes of stars Giorgia Sottana, Francesca Dotto or Cecilia Zandalasini to name just a few! The 2018 U16 European champion arrives to camp averaging in her last two Serie A1 games 11,5ppg and 4,5rpg in her first season at senior level (season high 15pts on Nov 4th).
