U18 Zalgiris Kaunas's two Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament continental titles are the second-best in the competition's history. 

Zalgiris, Lelevicius need no extra motivation

Zalgiris has also finished as the ANGT runner-up a record three times. But the last time the Lithuania powerhouse reached the ANGT Championship Game dates back to 2011. Liutauras Lelevicius is out to change that in Valencia next month.

"We don't need any extra motivation. We are already motivated to compete and fight for every centimeter on the court," said Lelevicius of the team's effort to give Zalgiris a third ANGT trophy and pull even with U18 CSKA Moscow.

And when asked what it will take for Zalgiris to add another title to those won from 2003 and 2007, the 1.99-meter center said: "We will have to play as a team. One player can't win tournaments."

Lelevicius played outstandingly at the ANGT Istanbul, earning a spot on the all-tournament team as Zalgiris lost just once, to eventual winner U18 Real Madrid, and took third place.

"I am quite happy about my performance. There are always things to improve but overall I feel happy about it," said Lelevicius, who averaged 18.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals for an index rating of 22.8.

The tournament in Istanbul was the second time he was appearing in the ANGT after picking up 2.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in the ANGT Kaunas in 2019-20.

"I think that I've improved a lot since then. I understand the game a little bit better. I am better prepared physically and mentally as well," he said.

By the time the ANGT Finals tip off in Valencia in June, Lelevicius will have been very prepared for that moment. He started playing basketball when he was 5 years old. That's when his mother, Indre Leleviciene – who played the game for 13 years, was a candidate for the Lithuanian youth national team, and won a university title in the country's student league – asked her son if he'd like to tag along to one of her training sessions.

"My mom asked me if I would like to attend the practice. And basketball has been my best friend since then," Lelevicius said.

A watershed moment for Lelevicius during his still-young career came at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019, where Lithuania lost to Greece 67-56 in the Round of 16 and ended up finishing ninth. Especially painful was that Lithuania had beaten that same Greek team twice in the European Youth Olympic Festival tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan earlier in the summer.

"It was the toughest loss in my career so far, because we had really high hopes for that tournament," said Lelevicius, who slumped to just 5 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist in 27 minutes. "It hurt a lot, but it also motivated me to improve."

Lelevicius says he didn't grow up watching any single player as a role model, which may have helped him form such a versatile game. Another thing that has led to a rise in the ranks has been his inner belief.

"In my opinion, you have to believe in yourself," he said. "I guess you can practice as much as you want, but if do not believe in what you are doing, it will be difficult to succeed."

And self-belief will be necessary, Liutauras Lelevicius knows, if Zalgiris is to end its long ANGT title drought.

U18 Mega SoccerBet Belgrade has twice reached the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Championship Game. It lost both times. Nikola Djurisic hopes that the third time’s the charm for the Serbian talent superpower at this season’s ANGT Finals in Valencia.

Djurisic hopes third time's the charm for Mega

Mega is back at the finals of the U18 continental showcase for the fifth straight time after taking first place at the ANGT Belgrade in March. Djurisic played a major role in that and he’s ready to help Mega finally get the job done.

“The third time's a charm, I really believe in that,” said Djurisic. “But we must go step by step. It is very specific competition, there is not much time for rest or to correct mistakes. We have to be 100 percent concentrated from the start and really give our best. Every team there will have the same goal as us, and we have to prove on the court that we are better than them.”

"This is the biggest scene for U18 players in Europe."

Djurisic averaged 19.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.8 steals as Mega went 4-0 in Belgrade, including coming back from 19 points down to defeat city rival and host city U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade 80-82 in the first place game. His performance in his second ANGT Belgrade earned Djurisic a spot on the all-tournament team.

“Last season I played a much smaller role, but I used that time to gain as much experience as possible, playing with older guys and learning from the coach and teammates. This is the biggest scene for U18 players in Europe. I talk with other players about everything because experience is very valuable at this kind of competition,” said Djurisic, who turned 17 years old in late February.

Djurisic’s talent is not only visible at the U18 level as the 2.03-meter guard has played this season with Serbian League side OKK Belgrade.

“I was given a big chance to practice and play with the seniors. It wasn't easy at first. I got a lot of minutes. I am grateful that I played with so many big and experienced players on my team and in the league, which helped me to be better from game to game,” said Djurisic, who is averaging 16.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 29 minutes a game for OKK as he adapts to the differences between youth and senior basketball.

“You watch it on TV and in the gyms, you see how much different it is but until you feel it on your body and in the game, you are not aware of it,” explained Djurisic, who even made his ABA League debut on April 11, playing against FMP Belgrade. “That was a fantastic experience, entering the game for the first time. I could not sleep all night after that.”

Djurisic will not only be playing for himself and his current Mega U18 teammates at the ANGT Finals in Valencia but also for many of his teammates from both the Mega and OKK teams.

“We will be highly motivated. [Current Mega professional players Nikola] Miskovic, [Mihailo] Jovicic and [Luka] Cerovina were in that championship game in 2017; [Marko] Kljajevic and [Aleksandar] Langovic were there in 2019, as were some guys I play with at OKK, like [Marko] Brekic, [Luka] Paunovic, [Mihailo] Musikic, [Petar] Kovacevic and [Vladan] Music,” Djurisic said. “I talked with them. Every advice is golden. That moment when you play for the title, I believe it is a fantastic feeling.”

In addition to his teammates and coaches, Djurisic also can look to his family for advice on excelling in sports. His mother Vesna Citakovic was a great for Serbia and Montenegro in volleyball; she helped the country win a silver medal at the 2007 European Championship and bronze at the 2006 World Championship as well as league and/or cup titles in Serbia and Montenegro, Turkey and Italy besides also playing in Israel, Germany, Romania, Poland, Indonesia and Serbia before retiring in 2016. His father Dusko Djurisic played football in Serbia, Switzerland, Belgium, where Nikola was born in 2004, Israel, Germany and Cyprus before he hung up his boots in 2010.

"I am grateful that I played with so many big and experienced players."

“Their advice is always invaluable. They teach me to be dedicated, responsible but most importantly, to love what I am doing,” said Djurisic, who has lived in Italy, Turkey and Germany.

“I had luck because my parents lived in various countries and cultures. For some of them, I was too young to remember much, but it felt good in every one of them,” said Djurisic, who moved to Serbia at age 8 in 2012. “It was hard at the beginning because it's a different style of living and work. I spoke and wrote in English. At first, when I came to Serbia, I thought in English in my head and then translated it to Serbian. But very soon I felt that I was at home.”

After dabbling in football, tennis, karate and judo, Djurisic finally was introduced to basketball when his uncle took him to basketball practice at 6 years old.

“I loved it from the first moment,” he said.

Now, Djurisic is hoping that love can turn into an ANGT title – and make it a third time lucky for Mega.

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Andreu Saez was just a youngster when Victor Claver was helping Valencia Basket to the 2010 EuroCup title. 

Saez appreciates support from hometown club Valencia

And now Saez is full of pride to be himself preparing his local club to play in front of the world at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals.

Saez and U18 Valencia Basket received a wildcard entry to play at the 2021 ANGT Finals, which the city will host. Originally scheduled to take place as part of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four weekend in Cologne, Germany, the ANGT Finals were relocated due to health regulations involving the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Saez, it is another chance to face the best players on the continent: "I am very excited to compete against the best teams in Europe again. I am aware of the difficulties we will have, but our team is not afraid of anything and playing in Valencia is always extra motivation. My expectations are always to go out to compete, enjoy every moment and help the team continue to grow,” he said.

"Our team is not afraid of anything and playing in Valencia is always extra motivation."

Saez played the competition for the first time at the ANGT Valencia in December 2020 when he averaged 5.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals. And the 1.92-meter forward collected an array of lasting memories from the L'Alqueria del Basket facility.

"The memories started from the moment we came together at the hotel. And every day you see other players; have talks; experience moments in the dressing room - good and bad; have laughs with teammates; and talk with players from other teams," he recalled.

Saez’s best memory was the game for seventh place against U18 Nanterre 92 - an 88-80 victory in which he collected 11 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals for an index rating of 23.

"It was the last game and we wanted to finish with good feelings - a way of thanking L’Alqueria for the effort it made for us - and the best way was winning," Saez said.

He said that he is very appreciative of having access to the state-of-the-art L’Alqueria: "We are privileged to have these facilities and to be able to train every day here and be attended to by all the professionals at L’Alqueria. I am very grateful."

The Valencia club means a lot to Saez, a native of Torrent - located in the southwest of the city. He grew up watching the team and one of the biggest highlights was in 2010 when Claver helped the team win the EuroCup - and Claver also was named the 2010 EuroCup Rising Star.

"Victor Claver has always been a role model for me. First, because he is from Valencia, but also because of his attitude on the court and lastly because I think that my qualities are similar to his," Saez said.

"Victor Claver has always been a role model for me."

Over the years, Saez was thrilled to watch the club win the EuroCup in 2014 and 2019 as well as the Spanish League for the first time in history in 2017. Among the other Valencia players that he has enjoyed following have been Ramain Sato, Nando De Colo, Sam Van Rossom, Fernando San Emeterio, Rafa Martinez, Bojan Dubljevic and Nikola Kalinic.

"I have had the pleasure of seeing them in games and training sessions," said Saez, who this season is playing with the club’s second team in the fourth division EBA league.

Altogether it means a lot to Saez to be playing with the club.

"For me, it means playing in one of the best academies in Spain, with the best facilities in Europe, with some very great professionals and a huge projection in all aspects," he said.

Perhaps with the help from the Valencia staff and facilities, Saez can become someone who turns into a role model like Claver was for him.

Andreu Saez was just a youngster when Victor Claver was helping Valencia Basket to the 2010 EuroCup title. But the then 6-year-old was thrilled to watch a hometown player shine on the big stage.

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Many basketball players say they remember losses much more than victories. Nikola Saranovic is no different, and he hopes playing at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals can help him overcome a past ANGT defeat that still hurts.


Saranovic hopes ANGT Finals can help forget painful loss

U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade was long a force at the ANGT Belgrade, having won eight straight events in the Serbian capital until 2019. That season Zvezda lost to city rival U18 Mega Belgrade in the ANGT Belgrade first-place game.

Zvezda was ready to get back to the ANGT Belgrade deciding game in 2020. Everything was in place as Zvezda was leading the other city rival, U18 Partizan Belgrade, by 13 points with less than 3 minutes to play in the final group stage game. Down the stretch, Saranovic missed a shot, made 2 fouls and then committed a turnover with 9 seconds left and his team up by one point. Partizan’s Lazar Stefanovic would score on a layup with 1 second left for the comeback victory. Saranovic called that loss the biggest disappointment in his young career.

"I have trained and worked hard so that it won't happen again," said Saranovic, who had 3 points and 2 rebounds in that game and finished with 4.5 points and 4.0 rebounds at the 2020 ANGT Belgrade.

The 2.01-meter guard stepped up his play at the 2021 ANGT Belgrade and collected 8 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists against Partizan to get Zvezda back to the first-place game. Zvezda could not get the job done against Mega though in an 80-82 loss after blowing a 19-point lead to finish second.

Still, getting his team one stage further was an accomplishment for Saranovic, who averaged 15.3 points, 6.8 points, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals for an index rating of 24.3.

"I learned how to be calmer and how to lead my team in tough situations," said Saranovic, who earned a spot on the ANGT Belgrade all-tournament team with his performance.

Saranovic continues to make big strides with Zvezda. About six weeks before the 2021 ANGT Belgrade, senior team head coach Dejan Radonjic invited the guard to join his roster for the Radivoje Korac Cup. Saranovic did not end up playing in the tournament, but the exposure to the professionals helped him.

"I learned that they play much better and stronger basketball than us juniors," said Saranovic, who starting playing basketball in first grade. "My biggest achievement is being a part of the senior team at such young age - to be able to learn from such great players."

Saranovic clearly has shown he can excel at his age group. One of the other highlights this season came on December 20, 2020, as he registered a triple-double of 21 points, 10 rebounds and 14 steals and was close to a quadruple-double with 7 assists as well against Smederevo in the U19 league.

"That day I was feeling very motivated, and I think that there was a little bit of luck involved. But I couldn’t have done it without the help of my teammates," said Saranovic, who averaged 11.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.2 steals in the U19 season.

Saranovic and Zvezda have another highlight coming after the club received a wild card for the ANGT Finals in Valencia, Spain, on June 3-6. They have a chance about which he is very excited.

"I am feeling extra motivated to win and maybe bring one more trophy to Belgrade," he said. "We need to play as a team, to play extra hard defense, run good in transition, play smart offense and show other teams that we are able to win this tournament... I think that it would mean a lot to everybody who supports Crvena Zvezda to see us win this tournament."

Zvezda claimed the 2014 ANGT title and then went to back-to-back ANGT Championship Games in 2015 and 2016 - losing both times. Another triumph this season would make it easier for Nikola Saranovic to forget that painful loss from last season.

Many basketball players say they remember losses much more than victories. Nikola Saranovic is no different, and he hopes playing at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals can help him overcome a past ANGT defeat that still hurts.

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When Gael Bonilla takes the court at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals, winning a second continental crown for U18 FC Barcelona will be his biggest goal. 

Basketball helped Bonilla escape danger to reach Barcelona

But just playing at the continent’s top youth competition is a major step given the dangers of his home city.

Bonilla was born and raised in Ecatepec, located just north of Mexico City. The city of about 1.6 million people is infamous for being one of the most dangerous places in his native Mexico.

"It was difficult to live there, but thanks to my family and sports I kept focused on my goals," said Bonilla, who picked up the game when he was 7 years old.

Countless players in the United States have said that basketball helped them rise out of their tough situations on the streets back home, thanks to a college scholarship. The same can be said about Bonilla, who received a scholarship to attend the Canarias Basketball Academy on the Spanish island of Tenerife in 2016. Bonilla was just 13 years old when he left Mexico for Europe.

"It was a very difficult time because I was separated from my family and friends. I took refuge in basketball and kept myself busy so as not to think too much about Mexico," Bonilla explained.

One thing that helped Bonilla in his first season at the CBA was the presence of fellow Mexican Diego Willis, who was at the academy from 2015 to 2017.

After his first season with CBA, Bonilla was loaned to Real Madrid for the Spanish Castelldefels tournament and he won the MVP award after averaging 20.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and a PIR of 27.7. After the event, both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona recruited Bonilla to join their club, and he eventually chose Barcelona.

"I decided to go to Barcelona because of the good treatment they gave me at the beginning and because of the new opportunities that would come to me by being with one of the best clubs in the world. Also I wanted to prove to myself that I can compete at the highest level," said Bonilla, who joined the club in December 2016.

After having Willis with him at CBA, by the time he had joined Barcelona Bonilla had already met with Gustavo Ayon. The Real Madrid big man also hails from Mexico and is one of the country’s greatest players. Ayon won the EuroLeague with Real in 2015 and 2018 and led the country’s national team for many years including at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014.

"Meeting one of the best Mexican basketball players was very good as he gave me some tips to improve and keep working. What I like most about him is the way he works and everything he gives for Mexico," Bonilla said.

The Barcelona youngster also has helped his homeland on the international level. He played at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2019 and excelled individually with 16.2 points, 14.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 4.5 blocks per game, though Mexico won just one game.

"The most beautiful memory of the tournament for me was having worn my national team's shirt for the first time and playing against Canada and Argentina, who are world powers, and having competed with them," he said.

Later that summer, Bonilla helped Mexico make history by taking first place for the first time at the Centrobasket U17 Championship 2019, including defeating Puerto Rico in the final.

"It was an unforgettable experience because we won the final against Puerto Rico, who were the hosts. Listening to the national anthem when we were crowned champions was an indescribable sensation," said Bonilla, who averaged 14.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.4 blocks at the tourney.

The 2.02-meter Bonilla has excelled at the club level as well. This season is his third campaign in the ANGT for Barcelona after collecting 3.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.5 blocks at the 2018-19 ANGT Valencia at just 15 years of age and contributing 10.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.7 steals and 2.7 blocks at the 2019-20 ANGT Valencia. That experience helped him in Valencia last December.

"I learned from the mistakes of my game and that of my teammates. I also learned how to be more calm during the decisive moments," he said.

Barcelona's only ANGT title came in 2016 and Bonilla is hoping to give the club another trophy: "I believe what is needed is attitude and trust in each of your teammates and all of them to play for the same goal," Bonilla said."It would be very nice because I would finish my junior carer in the best possible way."

And it would mean that much more looking back at how Bonilla’s journey started.

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If there are two things that Nikola Jovic values, they are winning and being a leader. 

Belgrade ANGT MVP Jovic values being a leader

And the Serbian talent showed he has those traits in guiding U18 Mega SoccerBet Belgrade to first place at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade.

Jovic collected 29.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 blocks for the tournament, including 32 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists in Mega's 80-82 win over U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade in the first-place game to take home the Most Valuable Player award. Mega needed every one of Jovic's points as it rallied back from 19 points behind early in the second half to take first place at the ANGT Belgrade for the second time, the other having come in 2019.

"We were losing by almost 20 points but I believed in my teammates and that's all that mattered," he said

Jovic is the Mega captain and he loves leading the team.

"It feels amazing being the leader of the team. I can help the other guys on and off the court," he said.

When asked to comment on Jovic after the game, Mega head coach Dragoljub Avramovic offered up: "What to say? He does everything on the floor. Everything."

Jovic said winning the tournament in Belgrade was the biggest achievement of his still-young career. It's a career that began with Mega in 2018, when he joined the club from the lower level side Sava Belgrade.

"I was playing for a small club in Serbia and Mega gave me the chance," he said.

Jovic was born in Leicester, England and came to Serbia when he was 9 years old. He didn't take up the game of basketball until he was 11. He was a quick study, though. He was expected to be on the Serbian national team for the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019. A wrist injury cost him a chance to play in Italy, where Serbia lost to eventual champions Spain in a heart-breaker in overtime in the quarterfinal.

"My biggest disappointment was not being able to play for Serbia because I was injured," said Jovic, who had to watch from afar as Serbia ended up finishing seventh and failing to qualify for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2020.

Nonetheless the 2.08-meter forward remains on the radar of talent scouts throughout the world for his outstanding performances. This was actually Jovic's second time playing for Mega at the ANGT Belgrade. He collected 11.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks last season. Mega was coming into the tournament looking to repeat its first-placed showing from 2019, but the team lost to U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana by three points in the penultimate game in the group phase. That meant Mega needed to beat U18 CFBB Paris by at least eight points to reach the first-place game again. Jovic and co. could only manage a 69-68 win and ended up taking third place.

"Last year, I learned that every team comes to the tournament to win, so every game is important," he said.

Jovic had watched the 2018-19 Mega team and its impressive run to the top spot at the ANGT Belgrade and then reaching the ANGT Championship Game, where the club lost to U18 Real Madrid at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

"It was a great experience to watch those guys win," said Jovic, who was only 16 at the time.

That was the second time Mega came up just short of winning Europe's number one youth club competition. The club reached the ANGT Championship Game in 2017, as well, but could not hoist the trophy as it was U18 FCBB Paris that did the honors in Istanbul.

Jovic knows that Mega invests a lot of time and energy in youth development. And he would love to finally give the club an ANGT trophy.

"It would mean everything. And I think we can accomplish it if we all work hard," he said.

Jovic has already exhibited that he has a winning gene and can lead a team. Soon, at the ANGT Finals, he will get a chance to show Europe again.

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Nikola Jovic claimed the Most Valuable Player award at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade as he helped carry U18 Mega SoccerBet Belgrade to first place in the event. 

Mega's Jovic takes MVP, heads all-tournament team

Jovic collected 32 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 11 fouls drawn for an index rating of 41 in Mega’s 80-82 comeback victory over U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade in the first-place game. For the tournament, he averaged 29.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.8 blocks and 8.0 fouls drawn for a PIR of 38.0. The Mega leader ranked first in scoring and PIR, second in rebounds, third in two-point shooting percentage (65.6%), fifth in blocks and seventh in assists. Joining Jovic on the all-tournament team were teammate Nikola Djurisic, Nikola Saranovic of Zvezda, Dordije Jovanovic of U18 Partizan NIS Belgrade and Tomislav Ivisic from U18 Buducnost VOLI Podgorica.

Djurisic contributed 17 points and 7 rebounds in the first-place game and ended the tournament averaging 19.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.8 steals for a PIR of 22.5. He ranked sixth in points, assists and index rating, and third in steals. Saranovic picked up 19 points and 7 rebounds in a losing effort against Mega. For the tournament, he compiled 15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals for a PIR of 24.3. He was third in PIR, ranked first in three-point shooting accuracy (66.7%), seventh in steals and 11th in points. Jovanovic, who helped Partizan to finish third in the tournament, collected 20.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists including 46.4% three-point shooting for a PIR of 24.3. He was third in points and tied for third in index rating and second in free throw accuracy (87.5%). Ivisic, who finished fourth in the tournament with Buducnost, averaged 21.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.0 blocks for an index rating of 31.0. He led the tournament in rebounds and blocks and was second in scoring and index rating.

Tomislav Ivisic has impressed observers in helping U18 Buducnost VOLI Podgorica reach the third-place game at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Belgrade. 

Buducost's Ivisic is excelling in Belgrade even without twin brother

But the talented big man has been missing a major partner on his side in the Serbian capital.

Ivisic averaged 20.0 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.7 blocks for a performance index rating of 34.7 in the group phase of the tournament. The the big highlight was his outstanding game against U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, with 29 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks for a 48 PIR.  

"I'm happy that everyone can see my hard work and my progress. I also have some senior experience, so it helps a lot while playing my age group," Ivisic said. "It's not easy. There are a lot of good teams here and a lot of games in a few days. But I prepared for it."

This is his second time playing in this competition after appearing at the ANGT Valencia in 2019-20, where he played for U18 Cibona Zagreb.

"The biggest thing I learned from Valencia last year is definitely that teamwork always wins, not individuals," said the 2.16 meter center, who averaged 4.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in Valencia.

While Ivisic standing out in Belgrade is not a surprise given his development over the years, it is a little easier to distinguish him this time around. Tomislav has regularly had his twin brother Zvonimir Ivisic as a running mate. But Zvonimir, who is a bit taller at 2.19 meters, is not in Belgrade because he is dealing with a knee injury.

Tomislav said he and his brother have always helped each other with everything -. also in a competitive way.

"We always competed about who is better, and in that way we both push each other to be better players. We complement one another and when one of us makes a mistake, the other is there to correct it. It's the same thing off the court," said Tomislav, who used to play football as a goalkeeper before concentrating on basketball.

And even though the twins look alike, their games do have differences.

"The difference between me and him is that he plays more the outside game with pick-and-pop, and I play the inside game more with pick-and-roll. He is a better shooter, but we can both shoot threes," said Tomislav, who has made 5-of-13 three-pointers for 38.5% in Belgrade.

Tomislav and his brother have been together their whole career, growing up in the small town of Vitez in central Bosnia and Herzegovina about 60 kilometers northwest of Sarajevo and then heading to Croatian club Sibenik and its excellent academy.

"The most important reason why we choose Sibenik was to develop our skills as young players because coaches there teach young players to develop every skill they have or have potential for," said Ivisic, who models his game after Nikola Jokic because of his game style and confidence.

Ivisic received playing time in a couple of games in the Croatian League in 2018-19 and then was a regular with the pro team in 2019-20, averaging 3.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 14 games. Zvonimir also got into a couple of games last season as well.

The brothers also played together at the ANGT Valencia last season as well as for Croatia at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019. That was actually the second U16 continental tournament for Tomislav, who helped Croatia win the title in 2018.

"Winning the U16 European Championship was a huge thing for me personally and for the whole team. We worked hard that summer and we believed we could achieve good things at the tournament. But to be honest, we didn't expect to take first place," joked Ivisic, who averaged 1.5 points and 2.3 rebounds playing a year younger than the rest of the competition.

This past summer, the twins left Sibenik and signed on with Montenegro side Buducnost.

"We decided that it's time to leave Sibenik for somewhere better for our basketball careers, and Buducnost contacted us and we really liked their history about developing young players," Tomislav explained.

"At this tournament, I am trying to show my potential and my hard work from the last six or seven months, and I hope the team can fight for the ANGT Finals," he said.

Should Buducnost get selected to play at the ANGT Finals, Tomislav Ivisic could once again have his twin brother alongside him, too.

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The final qualifying event in the 2020-21 Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament tips off this weekend in the Serbian capital, where eight clubs will compete for the top spot and an automatic berth at the end-of-season ANGT Finals. 

ANGT Belgrade: Players to watch

The slate features teams hailing from six countries and players from many more. Some of these future stars of the hardwood will introduce themselves to the public at the ANGT Belgrade, as have countless before them. Here's a look at one top player from each team.

### Nikola Jovic, U18 Mega Soccerbet Belgrade

This will be Jovic’s second ANGT after he collected 11.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks in Belgrade last season. He is averaging 27.6 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.9 blocks in the Serbian U19 league and made his ABA Adriatic League debut this season with 10 points and 9 rebounds against Split. He played in all three games at the Radivoj Korac Cup final eight. The 2.08-meter forward was born in Leicester, England, and joined Mega in 2018. Jovic can play every position other than center and has great mobility for his size. He easily comes to points from different ways. Not only can he shoot, but he can also pass very well. On defense, he can cover all positions and does well blocking shots, too.

### Yuval Levin, U18 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Levin will be playing at the ANGT for the third time. He made his debut at the ANGT Finals in 2018-19 with 3 points and 4 rebounds in 22 minutes over three games. Last season at the ANGT Belgrade, the 2.02-meter forward averaged 15.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.5 steals while shooting 58.8% on three-pointers. In the U18 Israeli League, Levin has been worth 18.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this season. He is a smart player who can drive to the basket and also shoots well from three-point range. Levin, who is a member of Israel’s U18 national team, is also a very good post-up player.

### Nikola Radovanovic, U18 Partizan NIS Belgrade

Radovanovic will be appearing at the ANGT Belgrade for a second time; he collected 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists for a PIR of 18.8 last season in helping Partizan finish first. He was named to the all-tournament team for his performance. Radovanovic has also played for Serbia at the youth national team level and averaged 15.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019. This season, the 2.04-meter forward made his debut in the Partizan senior team and also made his first appearance in the ABA Adriatic League. Radovanovic, who was born in Nevesinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a highly competitive player, who also rebounds well thanks to his athleticism and speed.

### Nikola Saranovic, U18 Crveza Zvezda mts Belgrade

Saranovic will be appearing in his second ANGT tournament after contributing 4.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 steal at the ANGT Belgrade last season. He also has played for Serbia’s youth national teams and averaged 7.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.7 steals at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019. He helped Serbia to finish third at the 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival, too. This season Saranovic is averaging 12.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.1 steals with five double-doubles in the Serbian U19 league. The 2.01-meter wing has all the predispositions for modern basketball: good athleticism, strong defense and a good feel for rebounding.

### Danil Sheianov, U18 Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar

Sheianov will be making his debut in the ANGT this season. He has played on the international stage with averages of 5.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in helping Russia reach the semifinals of the FIBA U16 European Championship 2019. This season, the 2.02-meter forward has produced 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in the U21 VTB Youth League as well as 14.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.3 steals in the U19 Russian Youth Championship. Sheianov is a versatile forward with great athleticism who can finish either at the basket and from long distance. Despite his size, he has great mobility and speed. He is also capable of guarding multiple positions and running the fast break.

### Vukasin Todorovic, U18 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana

Todorovic will be making his ANGT debut this season. The 2004-born point guard plays for Olimpija’s U16 and U18 teams and has already debuted in the Slovenian first division, with averages of 4.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 12 minutes a game. At 2.00 meters in height, Todorovic is very good in pick-and-roll situations and has good full-court vision. He can be dominating in one-on-one situations against opposing point guards. He can also rebound well and is successful in switching defense situations. Todorovic possesses a high basketball IQ and can easily recognize different situations on defense and offense.

### Fedor Zugic, U18 Buducnost VOLI Podgorica

Zugic will be playing his second ANGT tournament; he was one of the leaders for U18 Stellazzurra Rome at last season’s ANGT Munich, where he helped the team to the first-place game and averaged 18.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists as a player on loan. The guard became the youngest player to appear in a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game when he played against Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 23 of the 2018-19 season. This season he has averaged 5.3 points, 0.9 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 0.5 steals in the 7DAYS EuroCup. The combo guard also was the second-leading scorer at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2018 with 18.9 points plus 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.9 steals for Montenegro. Zugic has great basketball instincts and a feel for the game. He has a long, wiry frame and good height for a shooting guard. He is a creative ball-handler and does a good job driving to the lane, where he can finish above the rim. The 1.98-meter guard has a promising outside shot with excellent form, a good release and he shoots with a lot of confidence. Zugic has a scorer’s mentality and won't lose his confidence even if he misses a few shots in a row.

Stefan Grasu, U18 U-BT Cluj Napoca
Just like Cluj, Grasu will be making his ANGT debut this season. This will not be the first time he plays on the international stage though. He played for Romania at two FIBA U16 European Championship Division B tournaments - in 2017 as a 14-year-old and in 2019. He averaged 14.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals in the second of those events. The 2.00-meter center has already made his Romanian senior national team debut, too. In November 2020, he played against Poland and Spain in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers and collected 6 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist in 25 combined minutes. Grasu, whose parents both were athletes and represented Romania at the Olympics, is one of the top prospects in Romanian basketball and is also a regular for Cluj’s senior team with averages of 5.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists in the Romanian League. He runs the floor well and can also hit three-pointers and grab important rebounds. Grasu’s maturity, ambition and work ethic make him a special player.

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