The 2016-17 edition of the EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT tips off in the suburbs of Barcelona with the ANGT Qualifying Tournament - Torneig de Bàsquet Junior Ciutat de L’Hospitalet from January 6 through 8, 2017. 

L'Hospitalet and ANGT welcome 2017 with a new edition

The 15th season of Europe’s elite club youth competition begins fittingly with reigning European champion U18 FC Barcelona Lassa playing the opening game against U18 Union Olimpija Ljubljana. Joining those two teams in Group A are U18 ALBA Berlin and U18 Herbalife Gran Canaria Las Palmas. The four teams in Group B are host U18 Torrons Vicens L’Hospitalet, U18 Cedevita Zagreb, U18 Divina Seguros Joventut Badalona and U18 Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens.

The top teams from each group will cross groups for the semifinals in the morning on January 8 with the two winners squaring off in the final. The tournament winner will book itself a ticket to the ANGT Finals at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Istanbul from May 18 through 21, 2017.

Barcelona has reached the ANGT L’Hospitalet final in five of the last six years, but won it just once, in 2010-11. The Catalan club lost to U18 Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius in the 2011-12 final, to Joventut in 2012-13 and U18 Real Madrid in 2014-15 and 2015-16. Slovenian club Olimpija, which played in the inaugural ANGT Finals in 2002-03, has appeared at the L’Hospitalet qualifier each season since 2012-13. Olimpija took eighth place last season after reaching the semifinals in 2013-14 and 2014-15. U18 ALBA Berlin comes to L’Hospitalet after playing at the Belgrade qualifying tournament the past two seasons, taking third place in 2014-15 and fifth in 2015-16. Gran Canaria is taking part in the ANGT for the first time since the 2011-12 season, when it finished fifth in Rome. The Spanish club last played L’Hospitalet in 2009-10.

In Group B, Cedevita is back in L’Hospitalet for the first time since the 2011-12 season after playing in Belgrade in three of the past four seasons. The Zagreb club took third place in the qualifying tournament in 2013-14 and fourth place in Belgrade last season. Joventut is the only other former European champion in the L’Hospitalet field. The Badalona club won both the L’Hospitalet tournament and the continental crowns in 2012-13. Since then Joventut has finished fourth, fifth and sixth in L’Hospitalet over the past three seasons. Panathinaikos may be a six-time EuroLeague champion, but the Greek giant will be making its ANGT debut. Host U18 Torrons Vicens L’Hospitalet followed up its first ever ANGT victory in 2014-15 by grabbing two wins in 2015-16, including beating Joventut for fifth place.



Euroleague Basketball is proud to announce that 32 clubs are set to mount a run for their own U18 continental title with the unveiling Wednesday of all the 2016-17 EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT qualifiers and participating teams.

2016-17 participants announced for EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT qualifiers!

The current season marks the 15th anniversary of a competition that originally saw just eight teams compete in Barcelona, Spain in parallel with the 2003 EuroLeague Final Four. Now it spans four competitive qualifiers of eight teams each held across Europe before the best of those teams battle to be crowned continental champion on the same floor as the EuroLeague champion.

The four qualifiers will see teams playing four games over three days in each city to determine winners of the right to advance to the Final Tournament held during the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in Istanbul, Turkey from May 18 to 21, 2017.

The 32 teams participating in the qualifiers, including nine from EuroLeague clubs and seven from 7DAYS EuroCup clubs, come from 15 countries.

The first qualifier will take place in L'Hospitalet, Spain from January 6 to 8, 2017, with participants including reigning European champion FC Barcelona Lassa as well as ALBA Berlin, Cedevita Zagreb, Divina Seguros Joventut Badalona, Herbalife Gran Canaria Las Palmas, Panathinaikos Superfoods Athens, Torrons Vicens L'Hopsitalet and Union Olimpija Ljubljana.

This will be swiftly followed by the Kaunas qualifier from January 12 to 14, 2017, where the host club and two-time European champion Zalgiris Kaunas will be joined by Canarias Basketball Academy Las Palmas, CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahce Istanbul, Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt, INSEP Paris, Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius and VEF Riga.

For the first time ever, Unicaja Malaga will be hosting a qualifier along the Costa del Sol in Coin, Spain from February 10 to 12, 2017. The teams travelling to Coin are Cibona Zagreb, Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul, Estudiantes Madrid, FC Bayern Munich, Real Betis Energia Plus Seville, Real Madrid and USK Future Stars Prague.

The fourth and final qualifier will see former champion Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade act as hosts in the Serbian capital from February 24 to 26, 2017. Belgrade fans will get to see Get Better Academy Prague, Maccabi Teddy Tel Aviv, Mega Bemax Belgrade, Partizan NIS Belgrade, Porsche Basketball Academy Ludwigsburg, Spars Sarajevo and Stellazzurra Basketball Academy Rome in that qualifier.

After 15 years, the alumni of the Euroleague Basketball U18 tournament features a who's who of EuroLeague stars including Thomas Heurtel (Anadolu Efes Istanbul), Jonas Maciulis (Real Madrid), Milos Teodosic (CSKA Moscow), Luigi Datome and Bogdan Bogdanovic (Fenerbahce Istanbul).



dzanan-musa-u18-cedevita-zagreb-angt-belgrade-2016-jt15-6pp54vp44dpdhnfv.jpeg

isaac-bonga-u18-brose-baskets-bamberg-jt15-photo-paco-largo.jpeg

arnas-velicka-u18-zalgiris-kaunas-angt-kaunas-2016.jpeg

No one should be surprised if Dino Radoncic's ears perk up whenever Sergio Rodriguez or Sergio Llull speak on the court for Real Madrid. After all, the 17-year-old young talent is getting a chance to play with his idols.

Radoncic is all ears when idols Rodriguez and Llull speak

Radoncic showed the basketball world at the 2016 EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Finals why he is considered one of the top players in the 1999 generation. He averaged 22.3 points 5.3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1.3 steals for U18 Real Madrid, which came up short in its attempt to defend its ANGT title from last season.

"It's a really good competition and a good experience and I'm really happy to play here," Radoncic said in Berlin. "Last year I was a cadet and I was watching them win this. This year we played well. We won (the ANGT Qualifying Tournament) L'Hospitalet, but next year I'm sure we will be better."

After winning its first two games in Berlin, Madrid lost 79-69 to U18 Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade in its final Group B game - meaning it could not make its third straight appearance in the ANGT Championship Game.

"It was a tough loss because we entered to win and wanted to play in the final," Radoncic said. "We really gave everything we had. I'm really proud of the team and what we did. We fought to the finish."

Despite not reaching the championship game, Radoncic definitely added another highlight to his already impressive season. Due to some injuries at the start of the season, Madrid pro team coach Pablo Laso had included the young Radoncic in his squad. His first big moment came on October 8, 2015 when he played 5 minutes and grabbed 2 rebounds in the NBA Global Games Europe showdown between Real Madrid and the Boston Celtics.

"I was really excited to play against the Boston Celtics. And it was incredible entering for Andres Nocioni, who played in the NBA, and being with the team. Thanks to Pablo Laso for giving me the chance," said Radoncic.

The small forward made his Spanish League debut just 10 days later by playing 2 minutes on the road against Gipuzkoa. And then came Radoncic's Euroleague debut on October 22, when he scored his first point on a free throw while playing almost 3 minutes against Crvena Zvezda.

"It was a really big step and I'm happy I could do that," he said looking back to his Euroleague debut. "When I see those videos I nearly cry."

Radoncic valued the experiences even more because he was able to play alongside two of his idols: Sergio Rodriguez and Sergio Llull.

"It's because of the way they were with me in the first team, letting me learn from them. I stay in contact with them," said Radoncic.

"I have looked up to Sergio Rodriguez since I was eight years old. I saw him with the Knicks and then this year he played with me and helped me score points. It was just incredible."

Radoncic's other idol is his father, Damir Radoncic, who played handball for the Yugoslavia national team. Damir was actually playing professionally in Germany when Dino was born in 1999 in Giessen.

The family moved to Spain for Damir's handball career when Dino was five years old. They eventually moved to Zrenjanin in eastern Serbia when he was eight, and two years later Dino started playing basketball.

"My father always told me to play what I like and what makes me happy. I began with soccer and played two years of that and then began with basketball," Radoncic recalled.

The youngster showed enough talent early on that FC Barcelona Lassa came calling in 2013, and the following year he made the move to Real Madrid.

"I am really proud to wear this shirt," Radoncic says. "I'm really happy to be here because it is a privilege to play for Madrid."

And to do so alongside his idols.

Grantas Vasiliauskas has already reached a high level in his young basketball career. And the Lithuanian talent is in no hurry to leave home, even if supposed bigger clubs are waiting. 

Lithuanian starlet Vasiliauskas in no hurry to leave home

Vasiliauskas hails from Alytus, a city of less than 55,000 residents in southern Lithuania. Despite being one of the country’s top forward prospects, the 17-year-old has remained in his hometown and plays for Alytus SRC, where things have gone quite well for him.

Not only has he played on loan for U18 Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius at both the 2015 and 2016 Euroleague Basketball ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT, Vasiliauskas also played for the Lithuania cadet national team last summer and reached the final of the 2015 FIBA U16 European Championship. This season he also guided Alytus to the club’s first U17 national title since 1999 as a major underdog.

“It was a great win for Alytus. We have not won the junior title in the last 17 years, so we were very happy about getting the win,” said Vasiliauskas.

Put it all together and it really shouldn’t be a surprise that Vasiliauskas has not left Alytus. “Why should I leave Alytus? I have a very good coach and am playing at a high level. I have everything I need, so all is good.” Vasiliauskas said he is in no hurry to leave home, even though it seems to be only a matter of time until a club like Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius or Zalgiris Kaunas comes calling.

Vasiliauskas picked up the game when he was 9 years old. “My father told me I should go and play basketball and I did that,” said Vasiliauskas, whose father was actually a multiple-time Lithuanian champion in rowing and competed at two rowing world championships.

“I just like passing the ball, rebounding and playing the whole game,” said Vasiliauskas, who listed Lithuanian legend Arvydas Sabonis among his role models. In the meantime, Vasiliauskas is continuing to work on his game.“I think I will play the power forward position so I need to be more aggressive and play more defense to get better.”

Vasiliauskas has already reached a pretty high level by playing his second ANGT season despite still being a year younger than most of the competitors this season. At the 2015 ANGT Qualifying Tournament - Kaunas, Vasiliauskas averaged 2 points and 1.3 rebounds. Then the 2.00-meter forward increased those numbers to 16.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists at the 2016 ANGT Kaunas.

At the ANGT Finals in Berlin, Vasiliauskas averaged 12.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists for Lietuvos Rytas, which lost to U18 ALBA Berlin in the final Group B game to miss a chance at playing in the ANGT Championship Game. “It was a tough game to lose. It’s not a very nice feeling. We were very emotional,” Vasiliauskas said. Nevertheless he said “it was really great though to get the experience.”

Even though he played a bigger role than last season, playing for Lietuvos Rytas is still different for Vasiliauskas than playing for Alytus. “Each team is different. With Alytus, I am the leader. For Lietuvos Rytas, I am just one of the major players. It is also a totally different basketball, playing at the top of Europe.”

Vasiliauskas said it was really nice playing with Lietuvos Rytas again. “Last year, Lietuvos Rytas accepted me very warmly, so this year I chose them too. And they were very welcoming again,” he said.

Vasiliauskas remains non-committal as far as where his future will take him. But that shouldn’t be a surprise given that he’s been enjoying his time at home thus far.

Mega Leks Belgrade is one of the most exciting clubs for young players in Europe. And 17-year-old Nikola Miskovic is reveling in his chance to help the Serbian side make history. 

Miskovic revels in chances with Mega

U18 Mega Bemax Belgrade played at the 2016 Euroleague Basketball ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Finals for the first time this season. That came after Mega won the ANGT Qualifying Tournament - Torneo Citta di Roma in late December.

Even though Mega lost all three games at the ANGT Finals, Miskovic said the learning experience was great for the team. “It’s our first time here. We were a young team with seven players born in 1999 or 2000. I think it’s a great experience for us,” said Miskovic, who was one of those seven younger players.

Mega lost its opener to Zalgiris by 13 points and Barcelona beat the Serbs by 25 points before Mega dropped its final game against INSEP by 32 points.

“Unfortunately we didn’t finish the tournament like we expected. We didn’t expect wins, but wanted to surprise European giants like U18 Zalgiris Kaunas and U18 FC Barcelona Lassa,” he said. “We tried to motivate ourselves to play well against U18 INSEP Paris, but the will to win was higher for them. They were more confident and won. This is not the real result for us.”

The ANGT Finals came just two weeks after Miskovic helped Mega capture a historic title by winning the Serbian cadet U17 championship. His team defeated city rivals Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade in the final. “We did a great job. Zvezda had won four straight U17 titles and to take home the first championship for Mega is a great feeling,” said Miskovic, who scored 17 points and picked up 5 steals in the 77-59 victory over Zvezda.

Mega had lost to Zvezda twice earlier in the season, but then came into final after beating Partizan NIS Belgrade by 30 points in the semifinals. “We were very confident after beating Partizan and we came in like we’re going to learn from those two losses and show it. We played team basketball and they didn’t have the solution for us in the low post.”

If there was a downside to the busy schedule for Miskovic and company, it was that their championship celebrations had to be put on hold. “We didn’t have any time to celebrate the cadet championship because we came here (to the ANGT Finals) right away and had major roles. We also have the U19 competition,” he said.

It’s an exciting time to be part of the Mega club, which in recent years has produced a handful of players now competing at the highest levels, including Vasilije Micic and Nemanja Dangubic, who played in the Euroleague this season with Crvena Zvezda. Three Mega players from this season, Timothe Luwawu, Ivica Zubac and Rade Zagorac, are garnering hype as future stars, too.

“It’s a great opportunity to be with Mega,” Miskovic said. “Mega is getting better and better each season, and they are setting higher goals. This year we won the ANGT Rome and were in the finals for the first time. Next year we will be much, much better, and I expect to be in the final.”

Another confirmation of his talent level was Miskovic playing at the 2015 Jordan Brand Classic International Game. “It was a great opportunity to be 16 years old and play in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. What’s better than that. Some much better players never played in an NBA gym, and you get the opportunity to do that at 16 years old.”

It’s an exciting time for Miskovic, just like for the rest of the Mega club.

nikola-miskovic-u18-mega-bemax-belgrade-final-four-berlin-2016-eb15.jpeg

Germany’s 1998 basketball generation is stacked with long, athletic talents with big upside. Yet it was the diminutive Bennet Hundt who led the Germans to their first title at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament.

Hundt lets on-court performance speak for itself

He helped U18 ALBA Berlin to its first victory at the Euroleague Basketball ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Finals. Hundt is not exactly a player who stands out at first glance for talent observers because of his 1.78-meter frame. But the Berlin native’s game definitely speaks for itself – even among those taller ballers around him.

“I was always small, so I always grew up playing against older and bigger players. So I’m used to that. I just go out there and try to play basketball like I always do,” said Hundt, who seems to have the answer programmed in his head when he’s asked about his listed height. “I just try to be aggressive and beat my defenders with my quickness, not with my size, and just make plays for my teammates to get an open shot.”

Hundt played a major role in ALBA staying close over long stretches in its first two games of the ANGT Finals against U18 Real Madrid and U18 Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade. He averaged 11 points by making 46.2% of his three-pointers, while chipping in 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the three games. He collected 12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in ALBA’s 94-86 victory over U18 Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius in the team’s last game of the tournament.

“I’m just trying to be the best I can be out there. If it’s the speed that I have as an advantage, then it’s gonna be the speed,” Hundt said, before adding that he has long looked past his size. “I’m just used to being smaller than them. I don’t mind being small. I just have other tools that I use on the court.”

Hundt came into the ANGT Finals brimming with confidence as Germany’s starting point guard at the biennial Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim, where the Germans won the tournament for the first time. Hundt showed that he belonged on the court alongside major talents such as Richard Freudenberg, Kostja Mushidi, Nelson Weidemann and his ALBA teammate Ferdinand Zylka. Hundt played a team-high 23.6 minutes and collected 6.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

“I was really motivated to come here and play well. I knew I could compete and play at the level with my home team ALBA Berlin. The AST really helped me to prepare for this tournament,” Hundt said. The playmaker is continuing to work on his game and believes he can make the German U18 national team this summer.

“I’m the point guard of the team so I have to make sure it’s organized on the court and we know what plays we are going to run,” Hundt explained. “But I don’t want to be seen as a player that only passes the ball and just dribbles to the front and calls a play. I want to be seen as a player that can also score, be aggressive and create for my teammates, just an all-around game that a point guard has to have.”

Hundt named recent Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four champion Milos Teodosic as well as Chris Paul as the players he observes when thinking about how to improve his game. “I look at their passing game and their decisions in the pick-and-roll. They can create plays and hit good shots,” he said.

While Hundt may not impress people with his size, the ALBA Berlin point guard definitely gains admirers with his energetic game, aggressive style and winning mentality.

This is the first time that rings have been awarded to the winning team of the tournament and they are expected to be part of the competition in future editions, too.

Rings introduced as new prize in Berlin ANGT

When U18 FC Barcelona Lassa was crowned ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT in Berlin, one of the things that caught the attention of people attending the game during the awards ceremony was that, beside the championship trophy, all the players were awarded with champion rings by Denver Nuggets star Kenneth Faried. 

The rings were an idea by the main sponsor of the tournament, adidas, who thought it would be nice to throw in some kind of individual prize for the members of the winning team aside from the collective trophy. The design of each 55-gram ring, crafted by Hong Kong Sheunghop Jewelry, features a prominent silver ANGT logo top, surrounded by 26 brilliant cut cubic Zirconia stones. The lateral faces of the ring also show custom writings indicating the year and the city hosting the tournament.

Check out all the champions and MVPs of the ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT over the 14 years in which it has become the greatest gathering of young basketball talent in the world!

ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT champions (2003 - 2016)

[2016 - Berlin, Germany](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/?round=Game%204&season=2015-16%20BERLIN&team=All%20teams)

U18 FC Barcelona Lassa **90 - 82** U18 Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade

*Finals MVP: Borisa Simanic, Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade*

[2015 - Madrid, Spain](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/?season=2014-15&team=All%20teams)

U18 Real Madrid **73 - 70** U18 Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade

*Finals MVP: Luka Doncic, Real Madrid*

[2014 - Milan, Italy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/?season=2013-14&team=All%20teams)

U18 Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade **55 - 42** U18 Real Madrid

*Finals MVP: Vojislav Stojanovic, Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade*

[2013 - London, United Kingdom](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/?season=2012-13&team=All%20teams)

U18 Club Joventut Badalona **82 - 59** U18 FC Barcelona Regal

*Finals MVP: Agustí Sans, Club Joventut Badalona*

[2012 - Istanbul, Turkey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/?season=2011-12&team=All%20teams)

U18 Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius **88 - 70** U18 Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul

*Finals MVP: James Metecan Birsen, Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul*

[2011 - Barcelona, Spain](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/?season=2010-11&team=All%20teams)

U18 KK Zagreb **76 - 65** U18 Zalgiris Kaunas

*Finals MVP: Dario Saric, KK Zagreb*

[2010 - Paris, France](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/?season=2009-10&team=All%20teams)

U18 FMP Belgrade **73 - 83** U18 INSEP Paris

*Finals MVP: Livio Jean-Charles, INSEP Paris*

[2009 - Berlin, Germany](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/?season=2008-09&team=All%20teams)

U18 Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius **110 - 123** U18 FMP Belgrade

*Finals MVP: Dejan Musli, FMP Belgrade*

[2008 - Madrid, Spain](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/?season=2007-08&team=All%20teams)

U18 AXA FC Barcelona **70 - 80** U18 FMP Belgrade

*Finals MVP: Dejan Musli, FMP Belgrade*

[2007 - Athens, Greece](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/?round=Game%204&season=2006-07&team=All%20teams)

U18 FMP Belgrade **74 - 78** U18 Zalgiris Kaunas

*Finals MVP: Donatas Motiejunas, Zalgiris Kaunas*

[2006 - Prague, Czech Republic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/?round=Game%204&season=2005-06&team=All%20teams)

U18 CSKA Moscow **59 - 55** U18 Zalgiris Kaunas

*Finals MVP: Ivan Nelyubov, CSKA Moscow*

[2005 - Moscow, Russian Federation](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/?round=Game%204&season=2004-05&team=All%20teams)

U18 CSKA Moscow **97 - 64** U18 Zalgiris Kaunas

*Finals MVP: Vasily Zavourev, CSKA Moscow*

[2004 - Tel Aviv, Israel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/?round=Game%204&season=2003-04&team=All%20teams)

U18 Montepaschi Siena **62 - 90** U18 CSKA Moscow

*Finals MVP: Vasily Zavourev, CSKA Moscow*

[2003 - Barcelona, Spain](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/game-center/?round=Game%204&season=2002-03&team=All%20teams)

U18 Zalgiris Kaunas **87 - 80** U18 Maccabi Tel Aviv

*Finals MVP: Rolandas Alijevas, Zalgiris Kaunas*

u18-fc-barcelona-lassa-champ-angt-berlin-2016-final-four-berlin-2016-eb15-6vudrbsvwu5hshbm

Borisa Simanic stood out at the 2016 Euroleague Basketball ADIDAS NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Finals as one of the best players and the U18 Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade talent was ultimately named tournament MVP. 

Work with Zvezda first team brings ANGT MVP Simanic to another level

Simanic led Zvezda to its third straight ANGT Finals Championship Game by averaging 18 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and an ANGT Finals best 2.8 blocks a game. It was also Simanic’s third straight ANGT Finals Championship Game appearance, having played 10 minutes with 0 points and 1 rebound in Zvezda’s victory over U18 Real Madrid in 2014 and collecting 11 points, 11 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block in Zvedza’s loss to Madrid in last season’s title game.

The 18-year-old forward has credited time spent with Zvezda’s first team that helped him take his game to another level. “I played the last two years at the ANGT. Two years ago, I played fewer minutes. I was two years younger than everyone. Last year was good; we did not win, but we reached the final. I improved a lot,” said Simanic, who turned 18 in late March and signed a long-term professional deal with Zvezda.

The 2.09-meter forward collected 19 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists in Zvezda’s loss to U18 FC Barcelona Lassa in this season’s ANGT Finals Championship Game and was chosen MVP in a vote by the tournament’s eight head coaches. “The MVP award means a lot individually, but I would like it much more if we won the tournament and I did not get any awards,” said Simanic.

The native of Ljubovija, Serbia, started playing basketball when he was 7 years old in a small village near his town. When he was 12, he joined Bosnian club Buducnost Bijeljina where people started recognizing his talent. And then at 15 years of age, Crvena Zvezda came calling. After spending the 2014-15 season with the Zvezda junior side, Simanic spent this season with the club’s first team.

Simanic did not play a lot this season for Zvezda, getting into six games in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague and nine Adriatic League contests. He averaged 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in the Euroleague and 1.8 points and 0.9 rebounds in the Adriatic League. “The players are stronger physically and technically. When I returned to this level, it was a lot easier for me. But my teammates are super,” he said.

The highlight was in his first Euroleague game against Real Madrid, playing 28 minutes on October 22 while collecting 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 steal. “Madrid had a big lead so I kind of expected to come in. When I got in, the lead was so big I really didn’t feel any pressure. So I just decided to take the open shots and do the best I can on defense and play hard,” Simanic said.

It was experiences like that and the daily practice with Zvezda’s top team that helped Simanic become the ANGT Finals MVP.

borisa-simanic-u18-crvena-zvezda-telekom-belgrade-final-four-berlin-2016-eb15-6vu98le6eva5ewtr.jpeg