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Real Madrid's Declan Duru: 'Three-peat is more than a title. It’s a legacy'

U18 Real Madrid will be entering the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals with a chance at history. *Los Blancos* can become the first team in nearly 20 years of the competition to complete a three-peat. Declan Duru knows the team cannot expect any advantage because of its successful past but it would be an unforgettable moment for the star forward and the team.

Duru helped Real win last year’s NextGen title, bringing the club’s total to a record five trophies. The German admits that he will never forget last season’s NextGen Championship Game - a thrilling 85-84 overtime win over U18 PFBB INSEP Paris in Berlin.

“That game will stay with me forever. It was intense, emotional and physically exhausting - everything a final should be,” said Duru, who contributed 3 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks in the win, including a spectacular put-back dunk and one with 34 seconds left in overtime.

“We knew how strong INSEP was, and taking it to overtime just showed how closely matched we were. The energy in Berlin was absolutely unreal, and winning in such a thrilling way made it an experience I'll never forget.”

"I knew I had to step up. It’s been a big responsibility, but also a great opportunity for me to grow."

Duru is one of six players from this year’s squad who were in the championship game, but the team lost much of its firepower and leadership with the generational graduation of the likes of Hugo Gonzalez, Egor Demin, Ismaila Diagne and Mitar Bosnjakovic.

“It was definitely a big shift. Those guys were more than just talented players, they were leaders - both on and off the court. Their absence created a space that needed to be filled and I knew I had to step up. It’s been a big responsibility, but also a great opportunity for me to grow,” Duru said.

The forward averaged 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds at the NextGen EuroLeague Munich, but it was not enough to book an automatic ticket to the NextGen Finals. Real lost to U18 Next Gen Team Munich in the final group game to snap its streak of consecutive qualifying tournament first place finishes at 11. And it meant Real was reliant on a wild card to have a chance to defend their title in Abu Dhabi.

Declan Duru highlights - 2024 NextGen EuroLeague

Real will face a major test in Abu Dhabi, being put into Group B along with U18 Overtime Elite, U18 Zalgiris Kaunas and INSEP.

“It’s definitely a tough group where there’s no easy game. Overtime Elite brings a unique playing style, Zalgiris is always disciplined and efficient, and INSEP… well, we know exactly how dangerous they can be,” said Duru. “But this kind of competition pushes us to be at our best from the very first game, and that’s exactly what we want.”

The highlight of the group schedule is the showdown between Real and INSEP. A number of players on both teams were in last year’s championship game and the French side - itself a two-time U18 continental champion - will be out for revenge.

“That game is going to be intense. It might be a sense of unfinished business from their side, and we’re aware of that,” Duru said.

"It’s not about defending the past. It’s about earning it all over again."

Duru insists he and his teammates will not be thinking about previous games or previous tournament results.

“For us, it’s not about defending the past. It’s about earning it all over again. It’ll be emotional and physical, but I trust our preparation and mentality,” he said.

Should Real overcome the group and then prevail in the championship game on May 25, the team would increase its record to six NextGen crowns. And the club would match U18 CSKA Moscow as the only other team to three-peat. The Russians won the competition in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

“It would mean everything. To be part of a team that makes history is what you dream of as a kid. The three-peat is more than a title. It’s a legacy. We’re all motivated by that and we know what it would mean to the club, our coaches and everyone who’s helped us along the way. Although we all know too how difficult it is,” Duru said.

Real will already have played in the Spanish domestic junior championship before it heads to Abu Dhabi, meaning the NextGen EuroLeague games will be the final youth games for Duru.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The sequence of 𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝔻𝕌ℕ𝕂 of the tournament😤<br><br>Declan Duru from <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a> U18s over Ivan Kharchenkov🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AdidasNGT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AdidasNGT</a> <a href="https://t.co/757uowvDrk">https://t.co/757uowvDrk</a> <a href="https://t.co/i7yGGRBbG2">pic.twitter.com/i7yGGRBbG2</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1751928257031630859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“It’s been an incredible journey. Moving to Spain at 13 wasn’t easy, but Real Madrid became home. I’ve grown so much not just as a player, but as a person. The coaches, teammates, and the entire organization helped shape who I am today. Whatever comes next, this chapter will always be special,” said Duru, who debuted with Real’s senior team in early November 2024 and then made his EuroLeague debut on November 12 against Vitrus Segafredo Bologna. 

This last junior season has been special for Duru because he has had fellow German Fabian Kayser alongside him.

“Having Fabian on the team has been great. We understand each other on a different level not just culturally, but in how we approach competition,” Duru said of the 2009-born talent who came to Real in the off-season. “I’ve seen how hard he works and how much he has developed this season. He has a bright future ahead, he is competitive, talented and grounded. I’m proud of him and excited to see where his path takes him.”

Duru hopes he can experience a first NextGen EuroLeague title with his compatriot and make history at the same time.

NextGen EuroLeague champ Duru knows Real Madrid faces a massive test for another title

The Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals will once again bring together the world's top U18 basketball talents as part of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four celebration, which will be held in Abu Dhabi this May

2024-25 NextGen Finals Teams and Calendar Announced

- Overtime Elite representing the USA and Dubai Basketball representing the Middle East to participate
- NextGen Finals to take place from May 22 to 25 in Abu Dhabi, alongside the EuroLeague Final Four

The Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals will once again bring together the world's top U18 basketball talents as part of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four celebration, which will be held in Abu Dhabi this May. This marks the second time a NextGen Tournament is hosted in the Middle East, following the successful 2023-24 Qualifier in Dubai. The NextGen Finals will be played at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City, a premier sports complex known for hosting a wide range of sports events and activities.

The NextGen Finals, the world's premier club-based junior basketball event, will feature eight elite teams:

- Dubai Basketball
- EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
- FC Barcelona (Winner of NextGen Ulm)
- Mega SuperBet Belgrade (Winner of NextGen Istanbul)
- Overtime Elite
- Pole France INSEP Paris (Winner of NextGen Belgrade)
- Real Madrid
- Zalgiris Kaunas

This marks the second consecutive year an Overtime Elite representative will compete in the NextGen Finals. Overtime Elite, an elite U16 to U20 league, features many of the top young talents from the United States and beyond. The league, consisting of eight teams, recently completed its fourth season.

Dubai Basketball, a newly established project founded in 2024, has rapidly made its mark by securing participation in the ABA League. Their U18 team will represent the Middle East in its second consecutive NextGen Tournament appearance, following their role as hosts of a qualifier last season.

The eight teams will be divided into two groups:

- Group A: Mega SuperBet Belgrade, FC Barcelona, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and Dubai Basketball
- Group B: Pole France INSEP Paris, Real Madrid, Zalgiris Kaunas and Overtime Elite

See the full game schedule below.

A combined total of nine U18 continental trophies have been won by the clubs participating in the NextGen Finals. Real Madrid enters as the reigning champion, having edged out INSEP by a single point (85-84) in last year’s final in Berlin. Real Madrid has claimed the title in 2023, 2015, 2019, and 2021, while INSEP was crowned champion in 2010 and 2017. Barcelona secured the European championship in 2016, and Mega won its first title in 2022.

Fans attending the NextGen Finals in Abu Dhabi or watching via the EuroLeague’s official YouTube channel will enjoy 12 group-stage games over the first three days (Thursday, May 22, to Saturday, May 24) at the Mubadala Arena. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, May 25, with the championship game between the two group winners.

Tickets for the NextGen Finals will be available for purchase during the following weeks.

This season marks the 23rd edition of the NextGen. Some of the biggest names in basketball have passed through the competition, including future stars such as Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama, Kristaps Porzingis, Domantas Sabonis, Milos Teodosic, Vasilije Micic, Nikola Mirotic, Donatas Motiejunas, Dario Saric, Jonas Valanciunas, Omri Casspi, Luigi Datome and Goga Bitadze, among others.

Noa Kouakou values the joy of celebrating - like he did with U18 Pole France INSEP Paris at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Belgrade - but deeper inside the French forward is the motivation of two gut-wrenching losses on the biggest of stages in 2024.  

Hustler Kouakou turned gut-wrenching losses into motivation 

Noa Kouakou values the joy of celebrating - like he did with U18 Pole France INSEP Paris at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Belgrade - but deeper inside the French forward is the motivation of two gut-wrenching losses on the biggest of stages in 2024. 

Kouakou was a force at both ends of the court for INSEP in Belgrade as the two-time continental champion proved too much for U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in the first-place game. The athletic and versatile forward collected 15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in the 74-60 victory and earned the Most Valuable Player award.

“It’s a team title - not just mine. If I am MVP, it’s because of my teammates. If they don’t pass me the ball I can’t score. It’s all the work of the team, not just mine,” said Kouakou, who averaged 15.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.8 blocks for the tournament.

“I am really happy for my team. And proud of myself for doing everything I could to help my team win. And that is what happened. We will just enjoy the moment and then focus on Abu Dhabi.”

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/noakkh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@noakkh</a> is the MVP of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NextGenEuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NextGenEuroLeague</a> qualifier in Belgrade 🇫🇷👏🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NextGenEuroLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NextGenEuroLeague</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/adidasBasketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#adidasBasketball</a> <a href="https://t.co/HMPLVVrGOt">pic.twitter.com/HMPLVVrGOt</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1898848431797354914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

And it is in the United Arab Emirates that Kouakou hopes to avenge one of the most bitter losses in his still young career. He is one of six INSEP players back from the team that lost 85-84 to U18 Real Madrid in an overtime thriller in the NextGen Championship Game last season in Berlin.

“I learned a lot of things. Real was a really, really good team. They played good basketball with a really high IQ. They had really good players. The game was really hard physically,” said Kouakou, who contributed 1 rebound in 6:09 minutes of action playing a year younger. “Last year I didn’t have the same role as this year. It taught me that you have to be really consistent the whole game.”

Kouakou then played with his own 2007-born generation last summer at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 in Istanbul, where France was considered a title challenger to the United States, which had never lost a game in the history of the cadet global competition with six undefeated championships.

France held tight with the USA in the first game of the tournament and lost 104-81 but then were surprised by China in the second game. A win over Guinea meant a Round of 16 matchup with Puerto Rico, who ended up shocking the French 91-84 to end the hopes of a rematch against the Americans in the Final. And Kouakou had visions of Real and Berlin all over again.

"The finals will be the real, real games. The real basketball, the real best players."

“It was really the same thing as Real Madrid. The fact that you have to be really consistent the whole game. The game is 40 minutes. It’s not 39 or 38. You have to play 40 minutes and give your whole body on the court,” said Kouakou, who contributed 1 point, 1 rebound, 1 assist and 1 block in 16 minutes against Puerto Rico.

“The energy that the bench can give us on the court is really important. We could have been better in this aspect than we were in Turkiye - bring more energy.”

Kouakou averaged 6.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in 16 minutes at the U17 World Cup last summer. But those two losses fueled him.

“It’s really extra motivation for me. I have never won a gold medal with the national team or a final tournament with the club. We won this tournament but it’s just a qualifier. The finals will be the real, real games. The real basketball, the real best players. It hurts me a lot to always lose, but I learned so much from those losses. It’s all a benefit for me for later.”

Kouakou has put that motivation into his work off the court. His Instagram profile includes the phrase “Hustler 69” and on one of his posts it says: “Hustlers don’t stop, they keep going”.

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border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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The number represents France’s 69th department Lyon - Kouakou’s home city - and hustler, he says, is a mentality.

“Hustle hard every day. Reach your potential one percent more every day by giving your full potential every day. Don’t waste your time. Every day you have, improve yourself. Improve your weaknesses and try to be your best self,” Kouakou said.

The 2.08-meter forward also prides himself on his defense.

“Defense is a mentality. It’s the thing that makes you win the game. Without defense, you cannot win and you cannot be a complete player. You cannot be a very versatile player without defense. I really enjoy being able to defend every position from point guard to center. I try my best at that. It means a lot for me to get a stop and see my teammates enjoy the moment. It makes me happy,” he said.

INSEP head coach Francois Peronnet can see the work Kouakou has put in.

“He has energy at both sides of the court and on and off the court. He has improved a lot the last two seasons. Now he is more facing the basket. He can really move on the floor - both offensively and defensively. He can be an outside player. He still can improve but it’s great to have him on the team,” said Peronnet, who is spending his first season as INSEP head coach.

Koukoua has one more chance to win a NextGen EuroLeague crown, which would make hoisting the trophy in Abu Dhabi that much more special.

“It would mean a lot because it’s my last year at INSEP. I did my three years at INSEP and improved a lot. I respect all my coaches, shout out to them. It would mean a lot of things for me,  lots of emotion to play with those guys. I have known some of them for eight years. So it would really make me happy.”

And the hustler could finally call himself a champion.

Noa Kouakou was named the NextGen EuroLeague Belgrade MVP

Noa Kouakou will have special memories of the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Belgrade as the forward guided U18 Pole France INSEP Paris to the title and he grabbed the Most Valuable Player award. 

Noa Kouakou collects MVP as INSEP reigns supreme in Belgrade 

[Noa Kouakou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/noa-kouakou-heugue/012430/) will have special memories of the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Belgrade as the forward guided U18 Pole France INSEP Paris to the title and he grabbed the Most Valuable Player award.

Kouakou scored 15 points, including making 9 of 10 free throws, to go with 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal for a performance index rating of 21 in INSEP’s 74-60 victory over U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in the first-place game. The forward’s performance helped the two-time U18 continental champion book its ticket to the NextGen Finals in Abu Dhabi.

Kouakou was joined on the All-Tournament Team by his INSEP teammate [Hugo Moukouri](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/hugo-yimga-moukouri/012426/), Milan’s [Diego Garavaglia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/diego-garavaglia/012115/), U18 Next Gen Team Belgrade guard [Aaron Towo-Nansi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/aaron-towo-nansi/012847/) and [Ian Platteeuw](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/ian-platteeuw/012226/) from U18 Joventut Badalona.

Kouakou averaged 15.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.8 offensive boards and 2.5 assists for a 21.0 PIR at the tournament. He ranked third in PIR, sixth in points, fifth in total rebounds and sixth in offensive rebounds.

Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Belgrade All-Tournament Team

Noa Kouakou - U18 Pole France INSEP Paris

Hugo Moukouri - U18 Pole France INSEP Paris

Diego Garavaglia - U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

Aaron Towo-Nansi - U18 Next Gen Team Belgrade

Ian Platteeuw - U18 Joventut Badalona

Moukori posted 19 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists for a PIR in the first-place game. Over four games, the forward averaged 17.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists for a 16.2 PIR. Moukouri was eighth in PIR, third in scoring and seventh in rebounds.

Garavaglia tried all he could in the first-place game for Milan but his 12 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 13 PIR were not enough. Overall, the forward averaged 12.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.0 steals to register a 17.5 PIR. He was seventh in PIR, sixth in assists and second in steals.

Towo-Nansi led the tournament in scoring (20.5 points), PIR (23.8) and steals (3.0) while also contributing 2.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He was fifth in assists. Towo-Nansi registered the fourth-highest PIR average in all the qualifying tournaments.

Plaateeuw averaged 16.2 points, 15.0 rebounds, 7.2 offensive rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.5 steals for a 21.5 PIR. He led the competition in rebounds and offensive rebounds, was second in PIR, fourth in scoring and third in assists. Plaateeuw had the most rebounds and offensive rebounds in the entire NextGen season.

The French forward takes the top individual honor in fourth NextGen EuroLeague qualifier 

U18 Pole France INSEP Paris clinched a berth at the Adidas Next Gen EuroLeague Finals with a 60-74 victory over U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in the first-place game of the NextGen EuroLeague Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade

INSEP beats Milan 60-74 to win Next Gen Belgrade Qualifier 

U18 Pole France INSEP Paris clinched a berth at the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals with a 60-74 victory over U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in the first-place game of the NextGen EuroLeague Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade. INSEP completed a perfect weekend while handing Milan its lone defeat. After winning the Next Gen crown in 2010 and 2017, INSEP joins U18 Mega MIS Belgrade and U18 FC Barcelona as the automatic qualifiers for the NextGen Finals, which will be held from May 22 to 25 in Abu Dhabi.

Hugo Yimga Moukouri scored 19 points and grabbed 9 rebounds to lead INSEP. Noa Kouakou-Heugue posted 15 points and 9 boards and Cameron Houindo added 10 and 6 for the winners, who outrebounded Milan 49-39. Achille Lonati and Omar Karem paced the Milan attack with 13 points apiece and Diego Garavaglia tallied 12 points, 6 assists and 3 steals in defeat.

INSEP, which never trailed, jumped out to a 5-20 lead as Yimga Moukouri scored 8 in a 0-14 run. Milan closed the gap to 11-21 after 10 minutes and was within 29-37 at halftime. The INSEP defense put the clamps on in the third quarter when it held Milan to just 9 points. INSEP then pulled away to lead by as many as 26 points in the fourth quarter and even a late 12-0 Milan run was not enough to threaten the final result.

Game News

Hugo Yimga Moukouri stood tall with 19 points and 9 boards for the winners 

INSEP beats Milan 60-74 to win NextGen Belgrade Qualifier 

U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v U18 Pole France INSEP Paris (2025-03-09T15:30:00.000Z)

Watch LIVE: Day 3 of NextGen EuroLeague in Belgrade

The fourth event of the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague 2024-25 season concludes today at the legendary Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia. After two days of action featuring the continent’s top young talents battling in the last of four NextGen EuroLeague Qualifying Tournaments, it will be U18 Emporio Armani Milan and U18 Pole France INSEP Paris clashing in Sunday's first-place game at 16:30 CET.

Stream live

Stream live (Serbia only)

### Sunday schedule:

**10:00 CET** [U18 Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. U18 Dolomiti Energia Trento](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/news/machettis-buzzer-beater-lifts-trento-over-maccabi/)

**12:00 CET** U18 Crvena Zvezda Belgrade vs. U18 Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade

**14:00 CET** U18 Joventut Badalona vs. U18 Next Gen Team Belgrade

**16:30 CET** U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. U18 Pole France INSEP Paris

Join the NextGen EuroLeague Belgrade Watch Party!

U18 Joventut Badalona v U18 Next Gen Team Belgrade (2025-03-09T13:00:00.000Z)

U18 Crvena Zvezda Belgrade v U18 Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2025-03-09T11:00:00.000Z)

U18 Maccabi Tel Aviv v U18 Dolomiti Energia Trento (2025-03-09T09:00:00.000Z)

U18 Next Gen Team Belgrade won the third-place game at the NextGen EuroLeague Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade 77-85 over U18 Joventut Badalona

NGT Belgrade is third after beating Joventut 77-85

U18 Next Gen Team Belgrade won the third-place game at the NextGen EuroLeague Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade 77-85 over U18 Joventut Badalona. Aaron Towo-Nansi shined with 31 points, Kaum Tomann added 15 and Akram Naji scored 11 for the winners. Ian Platteeuw led Joventut with 21 points and 15 rebounds and Helmuts Petrovics contributed 14 points and 6 assists in defeat.

Joventut started strong and led 22-15 late in the opening quarter. NGT Belgrade came back to tie the game after 10 minutes and then scored 30 second-quarter points to build a 39-50 halftime advantage. While Joventut didn't fold, NGT Belgrade stretched the lead to 15 after three quarters and never let Joventut make a serious rally after that.

Towo-Nansi put on a shot again for NGT Belgrade

Crvena Zvezda beats Partizan 75-67 for fifth place

U18 Crvena Zvezda Belgrade outlasted U18 Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 75-67 to finish fifth at the NextGen EuroLeague Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade. Zvezda finished the weekend with a 2-2 record after previously placing third in Group A. Partizan, which was third in Group B, leaves with a 1-3 mark.  

Stefan Marjanovic led the winners with 19 points, Jovan Bikic added 11 points – including 8 points and 2 assists in the fourth quarter, Novak Pavlovic also scored 11 and Lazar Stojkovic filled the stat sheet with 5 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 blocks. Daris Sijaric scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Zivko Mirkovic added 15 points and 5 assists in defeat.

Partizan roared out to a 4-16 start and led by as many as 16 early in the second quarter. Zvezda used an 8-0 run shortly before halftime to close the gap to 34-36 at the break. It was close after that. Down 62-63 with 5 minutes remaining, Bikic scored 5 straight points and then assisted on a Lazar Stojkovic triple as Zvezda took control for good. Marjanovic added two more clutch buckets to help Zvezda put the game away.

Stefan Marjanovic and Jovan Bikic stood out for the winners

Mario Machetti nailed a buzzer-beating three-pointer to lift U18 Dolomiti Energia Trento to a 54-55 victory in the seventh-place game at the NextGen EuroLeague Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade

Machetti's buzzer beater lifts Trento over Maccabi 

Mario Machetti nailed a buzzer-beating three-pointer to lift U18 Dolomiti Energia Trento to a 54-55 victory in the seventh-place game at the NextGen EuroLeague Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade. The victory was Trento's first if the tournament and came a day after it missed at the buzzer to fall to U18 Next Gen Team Belgrade. Maccabi dropped its sixth straight game in Belgarde dating back to last season when it also lost the seventh-place game at the buzzer, that time to Israeli rival U18 Hapoel Yehuda Tel Aviv.

Machetti led Trento with 11 points and came up with a pair of big threes late after missing all of his first 7 shots from deep. Cesare Placinschi added 10 points and 4 assists and Cheickh Niang contributed 9 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Nitay Dodo paced the Maccabi attack with 15 points and Gabreil Artmenko posted 11 points and 6 rebounds in defeat.

Maccabi used a 14-0 run that bridged the first and second quarters to grab a 20-13 lead and coasted into halftime ahead 31-21. The Israeli side extended the margin to 49-31 early in the fourth quarter.  Trento used a run of 10 unanswered points to get back in the game and then held Maccabi scoreless for the final 2 and a half minutes of the game to orchestrate the comeback.

His clutch shooting saw Trento claim its first win of the weekend

Aaron Towo-Nansi is the latest showstopper in Europe's small guard Renaissance 

The current European basketball landscape could remind some of the Renaissance covering the 15th and 16th centuries when the continent went through a rebirth culturally and artistically. Many Turkish Airlines EuroLeague clubs have rediscovered the value of small guards and their dynamic impact on the game. And the world is being treated in Belgrade to one of Europe’s newest artistic and cultural phenomenons - [Aaron Towo-Nansi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/aaron-towo-nansi/012847/).

The French point guard has captured the hearts and minds of fans watching the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Belgrade with his passion for defense, his fortitude as a leader, his maturity well beyond his years and a game that makes you smile and shake your head.

Towo-Nansi has been an unstoppable whirlwind force in Belgrade averaging 17.0 in the group stage for U18 Next Gen Team Belgrade. All that despite two eye-raising reminders. He celebrated his 16th birthday just three days before the tournament started, and he stands just 1.74 meters tall.

TJ Shorts of Paris Basketball and Yago Dos Santos of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade are both just 1.75 meters while Markus Howard of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz is 1.78 meters tall. And Anadolu Efes Istanbul star Shane Larkin and Carsen Edwards of FC Bayern Munich are both only 1.80 meters.

"Basketball is for everyone - tall or short. You can really make it and that is what Europe is proving right now"

“In Europe, there are more and more shorter point guards. It’s inspiring for me as I am currently considered short for a point guard,” said Towo-Nansi. “I would say I am inspired by guys like TJ Shorts, \[Paris Basketball’s\] Nadir Hifi and Matthew Strazel \[of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne\]. But since I have been younger, I have also been inspired by Shane Larkin. The one I watch most is Sylvain Francisco \[of Zalgiris Kaunas\] for his grit and what he brings. It’s truly inspiring and it shows that basketball is for everyone - tall or short. You can really make it and that is what Europe is proving right now."

Two-time EuroLeague champion Dogus Balbay has seen his share of basketball and is coaching the Next Gen selection teams this season. He called Towo-Nansi an “incredible young talent”.

“He’s the captain of our team and he’s handling it super well - not just what he does on the court but off the court as well. When you watch him on the bench he is always cheering for his teammates. He’s always positive. He always has that next-play mentality,” Balbay said. “Great character, great player. We rely on his abilities a lot. So far he’s been doing a great job at carrying us.”

Towo-Nansi is carrying a team that only has been together a few days as the Next Gen Team is a selection of top-level players from across the continent playing for clubs that are not in the competition - just like Towo-Nansi, who plays his club basketball with Cholet Basket.

Aaron Towo-Nansi highlights

“I learned to play with international players from other countries. And we were with a foreign coach and we had very little time to prepare. Yet the results we delivered were still in line with what wanted. It’s an enriching experience for me and I hope to have more like it,” said Towo-Nansi.

The native of Rennes joined Cholet in the summer of 2023 - a club that has developed some major talent including former and current NBA players Mickael Gelabale, Rodrigue Beaubois, Nando De Colo, Kevin Seraphin, Rudy Gobert, Killian Hayes and Tidjane Salaun.

Last season Towo-Nansi broke onto the NextGen landscape with Cholet at the tournament in Podgorica. Still just 14 years old, he tallied 8.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals. Towo-Nansi followed that last summer by helping France win its fourth FIBA U16 EuroBasket title by beating Spain in the final. He averaged 8.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.7 steals.

“Spain versus France is always a historic battle - every year, every age group, even at the senior team. They beat us in the preparations but we got our revenge in the final. Lifting the cup with my team was definitely my greatest memory,” he remembered.

Towo-Nansi this season has been a force in the French U21 level, averaging 13.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.0 steals despite being up to 5 years younger than his opponents.

In Belgrade, he has valued playing for and learning from Next Gen coach Balbay, who won the EuroLeague with Anadolu Efes Istanbul in 2021 and 2022.

“It was really rewarding to have a coach like that since he’s a point guard like me. He gave me tips for pick-and-rolls and end-of-possession situations. Having a coach who performed in the EuroLeague was truly valuable,” Towo Nansi said.

Some of the things that stand out with Towo-Nansi are his leadership and his drive to play tough defense.

“My leadership comes naturally. I think it’s crucial to have that skill because as a point guard communication is key. That’s why it’s ingrained in me. But otherwise, I would say it’s quite innate,” he explained.

"I am someone who loves playing defense. For me, you can change a game on offense, but also on defense."

“To embrace leadership, I am someone who loves playing defense. For me, you can change a game on offense, but also on defense. As a point guard who defends against ball-handlers, it’s crucial to apply pressure and steal the ball so my teammates can step up defensively and our defensive energy rises. I’m emotional, which helps keep or increase the game’s energy.”

Towo-Nansi’s ever-present energy leads to outbursts of emotion after drawing a charge, converting a tough and-one, or hitting a big three-pointer. But as intriguing as his game and aura are, even his family heritage background leaves one fascinated.

One of his paternal grandparents hails from Cameroon while his mother’s parents are from Cambodia. Basketball is a huge part of his family. His father Alban Towo-Nansi played last season in the NM3 fifth division, his older brother plays in N3, his sister played up to N1 and now is at NF2. And his younger brother Darel is also a player. 

With all that basketball around, it’s no surprise that Aaron Towo-Nansi was bouncing a basketball already at age 3. And that he has become the latest European artistic and cultural phenomenon.

The young French playmaker has left his mark at NextGen Belgrade

INSEP sinks Partizan, wins Group B

U18 Pole France INSEP Paris is in the first-place game at the NextGen EuroLeague Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade after an 87-68 win over U18 Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in the final match of the group stage. INSEP won Group B with a 3-0 record and will play EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in the first place game on Sunday. Partizan will be facing its arch rival U18 Crvena Zvezda Belgrade in the fifth-place game.

In this contest, INSEP won behind 22 points from Hugo Yimga Moukouri. Cameron Houindo had 12 points, and Noa Kouakou-Heugue scored 11 in the winning effort. For Partizan, Lukas Bojovic and Daris Sijaric scored 16 apiece, and Uros Danilovic scored 15 in a loss.

U18 Pole France INSEP Paris v U18 Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2025-03-08T18:00:00.000Z)

U18 Mega MIS Belgrade booked its ticket to the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals after defeating U18 Next Gen Team Istanbul 86-70 in the NextGen Istanbul first place game

Mega downs NGT to book ticket to NextGen Finals

U18 Mega MIS Belgrade booked its ticket to the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals after defeating U18 Next Gen Team Istanbul 86-70 in the NextGen Istanbul first place game. The 2022 continental champion Mega, which also reached the 2017 and 2019 NextGen Championship Game, has now advanced to the season-ending tournament in each of the last nine editions. Mega hit a barrage of three-pointers in the fourth quarter to blow the game open. Ognjen Srzentic paced Mega with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks for an index rating of 33 and Pavle Backo collected 18 points and 10 rebounds for a PIR of 29. Vuk Danilovic chipped in 10 points including a couple of big triples. NGT dropped its first game of the tournament despite Isaac Guedegbe scoring 16 points with 4 assists and Jahel Trefle adding 15 points and 5 rebounds in the loss.

The Next Gen pulled ahead early 2-8 with Trefle scoring 4 points. After being limited to 14 points in the last group stage game, Srzentic started hot for Mega with 7 points in a 12-0 run to lead 16-10. A Stratos Papastavrou triple snapped the rut but Mega followed with the next 7 points for the first double-figure lead, 23-13. NGT finished the quarter with the final 4 points to trail 23-17 after 10 minutes. 

A Backo layup to start the second quarter had the Serbian side ahead 25-17. Papastavrou knocked down another triple and Louka Letailleur added a three-point play as NGT got the gap down to 29-28. NGT was twice able to tie the game but the select team could not handle Backo, who had 6 straight points for a 44-37 Mega lead. Te score was 44-40 at the break. 

The combo of Srzentic and Backo carried Mega to a 54-44 lead about 4 minutes into the second half. NGT punched right back with back-to-back three-pointers from Lucas Sanchez and Papastavrou and it was a two-point game again. Mega answered with an 11-1 surge to finish the third quarter with a 65-53 advantage.

Nikola Karalic stepped up early in the final frame with 3 points to establish a 13-point lead 68-55. And Srzentic, Danilovic, Vuk Krunic and Vukasin Musikic all hit three-pointers in a span of 3 minutes and the Mega cushion was 80-63 with less than 3 minutes to play.

2022 champion reaches season-ending tournament for ninth straight edition

Mega downs NGT to book ticket to NextGen Finals 

U18 Mega MIS Belgrade v U18 Next Gen Team Istanbul (2024-12-01T13:45:00.000Z)

News

Mega downs NGT to book ticket to NextGen Finals

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INSEP beats Milan 60-74 to win NextGen Belgrade Qualifier

Join the NextGen EuroLeague Belgrade Watch Party!

Article

NGT Belgrade is third after beating Joventut 77-85

Crvena Zvezda beats Partizan 75-67 for fifth place

Machetti's buzzer beater lifts Trento over Maccabi

Aaron Towo-Nansi is the latest showstopper in Europe's small guard Renaissance

INSEP sinks Partizan, wins Group B