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The latest edition of the FIBA U16 Women’s Championship Division B will tip off this Thursday August 15 in Sofia, Bulgaria with a massive 23 teams vying for honors. (Photo: FIBA)

Three nations will have the thrill of gaining promotion to the top flight and Division A, with the last day of action pencilled in for Saturday August 24. FIBA have already identified six players to watch, including Blue Star 30 European Camp (Gran Canaria 2019) attendees, Uma Bobic, Sara Garic (subsequently ruled out injured), Catalina Ion and Karyn Sanford.

Meanwhile the FIBA U16 Women’s Championship Division A will tip off on Thursday August 22 in Skopje, North Macedonia with 16 teams taking part in the event which culminates on August 30. FIBA have already identified an exciting and loaded watch-list, including Blue Star 30 European Camp (Gran Canaria 2019) attendees, Agata Makurat and Bianca Braikia. The added dimension in Sofia is that the successful nations who finish in the top spots will grab their ticket to Cluj in Romania next year for the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2020.

In addition to the 16 players on the FIBA list, here are 12 more names to look out for when the action gets underway in Sofia and Skopje: All selections are subject to players being available/healthy and selected by their respective Federations. Plus, there are plenty more I could have chosen – but just thought this was a nice eclectic mix!

Astera Tuhina – Kosovo

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Assuming the guard and Blue Star 30 Europe camp member is fit and healthy enough to jump into this tournament, she will jump over from U20 Division B in Prishtina where she has been punching way, way above her weight against players almost 6 years older! Warning shots were fired by Mark Lewis in his evaluations after Gran Canaria when he stated: “Don’t be fooled by first impressions…Awkward look at times but makes some plays…Competes on every possession…Can work her way into the paint with the ball…Slight build took some hits in traffic…Forced a few…Works on ball defensively…Appears to just be figuring how to make the most of her skills​” Well, she has now repaid that warning by posting a superb 10.6 points (team leader), 3.4 assists (team leader) 4.6 rebounds and also led her country in efficiency too at U20! An amazing effort for the 2004-born star.

Blaza Ceh – Slovenia

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I really like Ceh a lot because I think she is such a hard-working and intelligent player. Maybe she does not have as much flair or scoring ability as others, but I got a lot of satisfaction from watching her play at the Sopron U16 Champions Cup last year for Blue Star Media. She was with Cinkarna Celje and the Slovenian also competed at the 2018 tournament last year and didn’t really shine too much. However, I have seen some improvements and I would like her to take a step forward in each facet of the game. She is good in transition, mobile, decent defensively, has good hands and can pick a pass. Looking forward to seeing if she can crank up her scoring production a little. That might be essential as Garic misses with an injury.

Maria Myklebust – Norway

Norway has got game and you can look past Blue Star 30 camp member Karyn Sanford for more evidence of this. Myklebust will be the other half of the twin turbos ready to propel Norway to some wins. She may have been overshadowed in 2018 by her team-mate, but her performances and production needs highlighting. She did the bulk of the work in the frontcourt and was second behind Sanford in points, rebounds and efficiency. She has been in good form during the preparation games and watch out for her also pulling out to the open wing spots as she keeps the defense honest with her impressive ability to consistently drain triples.

Hazel Finn – Ireland

With Ireland still celebrating their promotion last weekend at the #FIBAU20Europe it looks like Finn could be the player to lead a promotion charge in Sofia. The guard is hard-nosed and very active defender which means she will be a factor at both ends of the floor. She is aggressive in the best sense and not fazed by anything in front of her. In 2018 she was one of the youngest members and yet still led the team in points with 12.3 points per game, while also showing how her energy and desire helped her to a fantastic 7.9 boards per outing too. This time it will be interesting to see if she can raise the levels of her creativity further and make an even bigger impact.

Iliyana Deyanova Georgieva – Bulgaria


There is a big curiosity about Georgieva because she is such a wonderful contrast in terms of her potential and role for any team. Last year at this event she killed it completely, powering her way to a near tournament double-double of 13 points and 8 rebounds per game, also topping the efficiency chart for her team. That last note feeds into the concept that while she steps up as the best player for Bulgaria, she can also use her sky-high smarts and ability to be a top level ‘glue player’ moving forward. She is always occupying the attention of the opposing defenders and creates space for others with her work. Just a nice baller.

Olairy Kosu – Russia

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My first selection for Division A in Skopje is probably THE most interesting youth player I have seen in many years. Kosu is a forward with outstanding athleticism, the kind of which Russia has probably never had previously. She is a blocking machine, great on the glass and has some moves. I saw her in Zamora, Spain at a friendship U15 tournament last year and could hardly control my excitement of seeing her up close for the first time. So much so, I became a real fanboy and snapped up a photo! She has since shone with Dynamo Kursk in the youth ranks. There is one fly in the ointment though. When she makes the transition to the senior level , she will be tantalizingly too small to play the 4 unless some ridiculously late growth spurt. She might not have the shooting talent or range to play a 3/2 and so what quite happens then I don’t know. For now though, I am so, so excited about the journey she finds herself on.

Zsofia Telegdy – Hungary

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I have seen Telegdy a couple of times at tournaments with Blue Star Media, most notably last year at the U16 Champions Cup in Sopron, Hungary when she was competing with Csata. She was also crowned MVP of the Olympic Hopes Tournament with Hungary last December as she lit it up at the event. She has nice size and composure, is skilled with a good shooting range but has arguably been up and down. Injecting that consistency into her game will be vital and I am looking forward to see how she does.

Emily Kalenik – Poland

A Blue Star 30 baller and was very impressive at the 2019 Gran Canaria Camp, with my esteemed BSM colleague Mark Lewis describing her as: “Lefty…Size with versatility…Potential is there for more growth…Active both with and without the ball…Can put it on the floor for her size…Decisions need sharpening…Made herself a presence on the boards…Baseline drive is a weapon…Perimeter shot is compact to a degree…Lots of possibilities for a 2023​.” She will combine nicely with the brilliant Agata Makurat who is on the FIBA list.

Vanesa Jasa – Latvia

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Yes, another Blue Star 30 alumni of the Granca camp back in June, Jasa will be the main threat for Latvia along with Elizabete Bulane who made the FIBA list. Mark Lewis states of Jasa: “Solid size and skills in the backcourt…Drives the ball to the rim…Actually responds better with contact at times…Sees the floor and can make the tough interior pass…Showed off a stepback on a couple of occasions…Effort is there on the ball defensively…Could turn it up on the weak side of the floor.”

Marta Morales – Spain

It was definitely the case that in Kaunas last summer, Morales did not shoot the ball anywhere near her level and this time around you would say that the smart money suggest she will raise her game and influence considerably. Certainly more than the 13-14 minutes per game in 2018 and 28% from the field. The silver lining from the cloud of those numbers is that it did throw some of the spotlight onto her good hands and defensive capabilities which were still important. In 2019 I am hoping she can showcase her extended shooting range and will be ready to turn up the dial in a big way. She is a real ‘coaches player’ for sure.

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Rusne Augustinaite – Lithuania

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I have to say it was fun to watch Augustinaite up close at the Wasqehal tournament with Blue Star earlier this year. A total stud, her talent is big although her capacity to get frustrated and sulk or get grumpy looks almost as big too. She really can do everything and if she keeps her head in a good place, she will provide a great one-two punch with the phenomenal Juste Jocyte. I look forward to seeing her handles, slicing to the hoop and whether she can hit some clutch shots from range. She can also swat shots too and has nice athleticism. Played at the 2018 edition but only briefly as injury curtailed her participation. Now we will get to see her in all her glory.

Maia Hirsch – France

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While Sara Roumy has been picked out for France by FIBA because of her dynamic and entertaining style, Hirsch will be a rock for France. The power forward will drop anchor in the paint and use her strength, smarts and terrific fundamentals to harvest nice numbers in terms of points and rebounds. She is the daughter of former Bourges head coach Olivier Hirsch and so certainly knows the game from having a great teacher.

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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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