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It’s that time of the year again when the youth tournaments are coming thick and fast, with the latest on the agenda being arguably the most important. As I have emphasized previously, I love U18 because it acts like something of a watershed in terms of judging whether players might make the top grade. At U16 it feels too young and by U20 sometimes too late – so this is the most valuable tournament there is for me.

You can also throw in the fact that several teams at the FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship 2018 in Udine will punch tickets to next year’s U19 Worlds which gives an added edge to this edition. The action gets underway in Italy on Saturday and runs from August 4 until August 12 inclusive. Udine is of course, the home of last year’s U19 World’s when Russia famously defeated USA behind the Maria Vadeeva and Raisa Musina one-two punch. It is also where the U16 was held just two years ago.

Division A will see reigning champions Belgium have a really good attempt at defending their title, boosted by many of their top players returning, plus some exciting prospects at last year’s U16 making the jump up. That is similar for Germany who won promotion last year with many returnees and several players who have fond memories of Udine from that U16 in 2016 when they made history by reaching a first ever youth Final.

Outside of this, Italy are missing the brilliant Sara Madera so will merely try to survive – since as usual, three teams get relegated to Division B.

Spain should at least be in the medal mix, while on paper it is a rarity that France have no real stars at all, but as a team should still do well. Hungary have some momentum after many players competed in Minsk at U17 but they will miss Reka Dombai badly, while watch out for Bosnia and Herzegovina who have some real talent – if they stay out of foul trouble and avoid injuries, then who knows? Plus, Russia will be competitive too.

Division B takes place across three venues in Austria, which makes it more of a logistical challenge for those attending. Notably it also starts a day earlier this Friday August 3, so don’t get caught out by that. Three teams will get promoted and you should get yourself to the website just to scroll down and look at the names competing. Like in Dublin last summer, there are many rookie nations or at least relative newbies with some interesting players.

So without further delay and breaking it down from 192 players going to Italy, here are 24 names I will be looking out for (I will of course be looking at my wider list of 48 names so apologies to those not on this list)! For those players in Division B in Austria, I picked out 8 via a FIBA Feature.

Billie Massey – Belgium

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl3iN8WgG4a/

The MVP of this competition last year when propelling Belgium to perhaps a surprise title win. Strong in the paint but unselfish and does a good job kicking the ball out, as well as going to work with her own moves. Keeps it simple and is very effective. A leader for her team and the reigning Basketball Without Borders Global camp MVP too, which underlines her quality.

Becky Massey – Belgium

Sibling of Billie, her skills were recently appreciated and indeed viewed by BlueStar Media at the EYBL U19 Finals of which she was crowned MVP a few months ago. A bubbly character who is always there for Belgium doing her thing, she runs the floor well and has energy and length, but much will hinge on whether she can drop some outside shots and keep the opposing defense honest – since she tends to put the ball on the floor a lot and get to the hoop.

Marie Vervaet -Belgium

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZG1mhLHw49/

Another member of last year’s podium-topping team in Sopron, Vervaet was injured in Riga for those EYBL U19 Finals and we had been wondering if she would make it to this U18 tournament. We’re delighted she is back to full fitness and we will enjoy seeing her handles, shooting prowess, fast breaking capability and all around smarts.

Sam Van Buggenhout – Belgium

The only player to pass the 20 points per game landmark in Division B last year at U16 level on Macedonia, Van Buggenhout was a driving force behind her team’s promotion push. She made the All-Star Five Team at the competition and added 4.5 rebounds and almost 3 assists per game as well. She will be looking to continue the momentum – even if she is the second youngest player on the Belgium roster in Udine.

Maxuella Lisowa-Mbaka – Belgium

Our man Pierre Ploszajski watched the playmaker on Blue Star Media business at the prestigious Reze tournament only 6 weeks ago and was suitably impressed with yet another of Belgium’s rising stars. She was also superb in Skopje last summer at U16 B alongside Van Buggenhout, making the All-Star Five after registering a similar 19 points and 3 assists per game. However, the fact she also piled up a spectacular average of 10.9 boards, means she also walked away with MVP. A big talent to keep locked into at this tournament, behind the more experienced Massey sisters and Vervaet.

Nyara Sabally – Germany

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbPyt4SlFUt/

Germany might go from Division B competitors last summer to having a tilt at the podium, or perhaps even the title in Udine. The hugely talented Sabally will be central to their hopes and out to replicate a scorching 2017, when she was awarded MVP in Dublin as Germany won promotion. Now, Sabally gets the chance to put her athletic, dynamic play to the test in the top tier, so watch out for her rebounding for fun and putting points on the board – as 17 points and 12 boards last year would testify. She is also getting ready to head to the NCAA where she will join sister Satou at Oregon. So she is already well known Stateside!

Emily Bessoir – Germany

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfYxqSOjdyW/

A big Blue Star favorite, we have followed Bessoir closely. A Basketball Without Borders baller, Bessoir has caught the eye on both sides of the Atlantic with her skills and dynamic play. She was the youngest member of the Germany side that made the U16 Final two years ago and still almost racked up a double-double. Then last year in Bourges, when back at her second edition of U16, she was outstanding with 13 points and 14 rebounds. An All-Star Five place came her way and having dropped some big scores during preparation ahead of this competition, she seems to be in great form – so watch out!

Luisa Geiselsoder – Germany

https://twitter.com/IRUKLugo/status/903664682107625472

Underlining just how well Germany could do if they live up to the pre-tournament billing as a strong medal contender, Geiselsoder is a player who already has amazing memories of Udine. Two years ago, she was part of the Germany team that made the historic run to the Final and she had another cause for celebration as she was named MVP of the competition. Additionally, while Nyara Sabally took MVP honors last year in Ireland, there was also a stellar double-double of more than 16 points and 10 rebounds for Geiselsoder too – something which led to a deserved spot on the All-Star Five.

Leonie Fiebich – Germany

There may have been an irritation from ‘Team Fiebich’ that she was omitted from the FIBA 12 to watch in Udine and rightly so, since the last time she was in the city, she was lined up in the All-Star Five. The forward harvested more than 11 points and 11 rebounds per outing. She also played more minutes than anyone else en-route to that silver medal which speaks volumes. She is a forward with a nice touch, pretty good hands and vision, so two years on and after missing last summer, we will be excited to see her progression.

Raquel Carrera – Spain

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiJcAEenTfa/

Another player who is hopping to this tournament from Belarus and the global stage, Carrera arguably had a mixed tournament as Spain missed out on the medals. The frontcourt star showed how important she was to her team despite not being at her best and still impressed observers with her efforts. There were also her displays at the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship 2017 to savor where she blocked shots, mopped up around the bucket and went to work on the glass. The signs are still good that Carrera is on the road towards future senior participation.

Helena Pueyo – Spain

https://www.instagram.com/p/BluitEXgGYJ/

A skilled playmaker who is well schooled in all of the fundamentals as you would expect from most Spanish players, Pueyo is a nice creator and has an impressive shooting range too. She plays aggressively and that helps her get a lot of rebounds for her position. She will help the team tick from the backcourt and if she plays well, then so will Spain. She had a mixed bag in Minsk where she showed plenty of her upsides, but also came up short during crunch time in one of her team’s biggest games. Let’s see if she has the mentality to learn and show her class.

Maria Pendande – Spain

Already with one gold medal hanging around her neck from last month when she was part of the Spain team that stormed their way to FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship glory, she might be the one to lead her country to a medal. She was one of the youngest on that roster in Sopron but that did not stop her from a clinical effort as she shot 60% from the field – the best on the roster of the champions.

Aixa Wone – Spain

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh92SvNHrLe/

A solid forward who has also showcased her game in 3×3, is the jury still out on Wone? Perhaps. There are some who believe there is more to come from the locker of the forward, while others remain unconvinced she can shift up a gear. We might get a good answer to this question during the action in Udine. With decent size and athleticism, can she really start imposing herself on opponents more?

Laura Meldere – Latvia

The Latvia center was the main reason the Baltic nation secured successive places at U17 having featured for the first time in Zaragoza during 2016. She then enhanced her reputation in Minsk by being the central figure for her country, who made the Quarter-Finals. A strong player who has already moved abroad to Pordenone in the Italian Second Division to hone her skills, Meldere has decent mobility, post-moves and a really nice shooting touch. She will also go to work on the boards – as an U16 tournament double-double last year in Bourges would testify – in addition to her most recent work in the Belarusian capital.

Aleksa Gulbe – Latvia

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlJa98wH06s/

You have to love the way that Gulbe performed last month when she was playing against older players at the FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship 2018 in Sopron. The forward arguably outshone team leader, Digna Strautmane and was rated as one of the tournament’s top players. She will provide the main thrust for Latvia, offering a strong presence in the paint and a rapidly evolving IQ on the floor. She also plays with real intensity and those are the type of upsides that will benefit Indiana University in the NCAA, where Gulbe has opted to play for the next few years.

Jelena Mitrovic – Serbia

Likely to be the tallest player in the competition and certainly a nightmare defensive assignment for any of her opponents, Mitrovic is an intriguing prospect and built in the ‘old school basketball’ mould. In the modern age, that doesn’t mean she is a throwback or somehow lesser of a player than anyone else. The Serbian center offers a real traditional puzzle for those who have to stop her and guard her.  Keeping her off the boards and from cleaning up put-back scores is a challenge and she has a nice touch and runs the floor well for her huge size. She could be dominant and knows at least one of the courts in Udine from when she shone two years ago, playing there at U16.

Veronika Pavliuchenko – Russia

While many eyes will be on Daria Ignatova who impressed last year at this event and is set to push on and be even more of a factor, there are also high hopes for Pavliuchenko too. She posted an eye-catching effort in Bourges at the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship 2017 when she harvested a stellar 15.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. While it might be a little too much to expect a similar return this time around as she steps up, there is no doubt she is one to watch closely as the action gets underway in Udine. She has got range too – that is for sure!

Aliz Varga – Hungary

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlnbBpGBupv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Fresh from only just missing out on the podium at the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018 after helping to propel Hungary to the Semi-Finals in Minsk, it remains to be seen how much fuel is left in the take of Varga. Not least because she will have to try and help fill the void of the absent team leader, Reka Dombai. Varga certainly has the momentum, since she was second in efficiency, scoring and rebounding in Minsk, so knows how to produce. She is particularly brilliant on the offensive glass and so that should be a source of joy for her team.

Ksenija Mitric – Bosnia and Herzegovina

Never wasting a minute on the court and always seemingly involved in the game in a big way, Mitric is a potential deal-maker for her team. If she plays well, then so will they. She was up and down last year as a 2001 playing against 00 and 99 born players in Sopron. She amassed 11 points per game but turned the ball over too much and didn’t drop enough from long-range. She improved with her own generation at U16, but is an interesting player and as a long-shot, perhaps she could be a diamond in the rough.

Dragana Zubac – Bosnia and Herzegovina

While Zubac only got 11 minutes per game playing young at the previous edition in Sopron, expect that number to jump considerably this time around in the wake of what she did at U16 last August in Skopje. As if to make a point, she came alive and racked up almost 15 points again, also showing her defensive tenacity too, with almost 4 steals per game.

Sara Heljic – Bosnia and Herzegovina

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjK7ur2FLKO/

Heljic was the leading scorer and rebounder for her team in Sopron at the previous edition and is a towering presence. Since she is likely to be joined by the 2001-born duo Ksenija Mitric and Dragana Zubac who were excellent last year, bright things could be on the horizon. Heljic is also a Basketball Without Borders Camp member from earlier this year.

Nika Muhl – Croatia

Another big Blue Star favorite, this is a pivotal tournament in the evolution of Muhl – a Croatian guard who is already on the radar of Colleges and Clubs because of her incredible displays, productivity and individual honors in her homeland. Wearing a national team vest and playing at this level takes a different kind of mentality and while she will be the main architect of her team’s challenge because of her extraordinary creative ability, the big question will be whether she can balance her approach and not force the issue too much, so she retains composure and quality in her game. She is a such a big talent though and so much fun to watch.

Mihaela Lazic – Croatia

I was so impressed with Lazic two years ago when I was in Udine for that U16 tournament and she certainly brings an aggression and passion to the floor – as well as some nice production. She had 16 points per game when on Italian soil two years ago. She also played at no less than 3 different U16 summers, which underlines her talent and maturity. She will bring a great partnership with Muhl and Lazic has put up some big numbers in preparation.

Andrea Ondrouskova – Czech Republic

As the bus headed to the airport in Paris after last year’s FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship in Bourges, Ondrouskova was in agony after sustaining a serious elbow injury. She had shown a lot of promise in the tournament and so I am particularly interested to see if she is back healthy and can be a factor once again. It will be great after that bus trip and seeing her so helpless (not with her teammates but a member of staff) enjoying basketball again. She is a do-it-all player so let’s see what she offers.

Keep it locked to @Basketmedia365 throughout #FIBAU18Europe

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Paul Nilsen lives and breathes women’s hoops. He’s is a freelance writer working for the sport’s world governing body FIBA where he pens a weekly ‘Women’s Basketball Worldwide Column’ - as well as providing daily content on major club competitions, international tournaments and the women’s youth game. He has an extensive network of contacts across the globe, including an array of elite play-callers and players. Also a qualified coach and referee, he is a big supporter of Blue Star Media and joined as a blogger during the fall of 2016.

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