The EuroLeague Adidas Next Generation Tournament gets going from January 20 to 22, 2023 in Munich, Germany. Follow the goings-on in the first game between U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and U18 ALBA Berlin. Here's your guide to some of the young and talented [players to watch](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/news/j2223-angt-munich-players-to-watch/) from the eight clubs in the tournament.

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Follow live commentary of the ANGT Munich qualifier all weekend long.

ANGT Munich blog: Milan 84-97 ALBA

U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v U18 ALBA Berlin (2023-01-20T08:00:00.000Z)

[Alexandros Samontourov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/players/alexandros-samontourov/011442/)**,** [U18 Panathinaikos Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-panathinaikos-athens/roster/upa/?season=2022-23%20Munich)

Samontourov will be playing his second season in the ANGT. He competed for the Next Generation Patras team at the ANGT Patras qualifier last season, where he averaged 14.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks. He was then chosen for the Next Generation Select team at the ANGT Finals, where he collected 6.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. He represented Greece at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2022 and tallied 11.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.7 blocks. The 2.10-meter forward has great ballhandling skill for his size. He has good court vision and passes the ball very well. Samontourov, who joined Panathinaikos during last season and has played in two Greek League games this season, is a sneaky spot-up shooter who can also play in the low post. He mainly needs to improve his strength and aggressiveness around the basket.

[Linus Ruf](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/players/linus-ruf/011630/)**,** [U18 ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-alba-berlin/roster/jbe/?season=2022-23%20Munich)

Ruf will be lining up for his second appearance in the ANGT. Last year he picked up 8.2 points and 5.8 rebounds at ANGT Ljubljana. He also helped ALBA win the German U19 NBBL league title. Ruf missed out on playing for Germany at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2022 with an injury after having played at the FIBA U16 European Challenger 2021. This season, the 2.07-meter center is averaging 11.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in the U19 league as well as 3.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in the ProB third division. Ruf can play both in the low post and facing the basket. He has a great ability to create points off the dribble and he is quickly improving his shooting range. Ruf needs to improve his physical skills and keep working on his long-range shooting technique.

[Samuele Miccoli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/players/samuele-miccoli/011520/)**,** [U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-ea7-emporio-armani-milan/roster/jmi/?season=2022-23%20Munich)

Despite being a year younger than most players in the tournament, Miccoli will be competing in his second ANGT after he collected 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.2 steals last season at ANGT Varese. He starred for Italy at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2022 with 14.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals. Miccoli leads Milan's U19 team this season with 18.0 points per game. The 1.90-meter guard made his Italian League debut last April and scored his first points in the league in late November. Miccoli is an excellent offensive player who is creative and good at attacking the basket with many solutions. He still must work on his individual defense and consistency on his three-point shot.

[Desmond Yiamu](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/players/desmond-yiamu/012129/)**,** [U18 FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-fc-bayern-munich/roster/jmu/?season=2022-23%20Munich)

Yiamu will be making his ANGT debut as the 2006-born big man joined Bayern after fleeing his native Ukraine to Germany. He played for Ukraine at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2022 Division B and averaged 12.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.1 blocks. Yiamu is a mobile big man with great footwork, and he has soft touch around the rim. He has a great feel for rebounds and is solid whether near and far from the rim.

[Pacome Dadiet](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/players/pacome-dadiet/011457/)**,** [U18 ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-ratiopharm-ulm/roster/jru/?season=2022-23%20Munich)

Dadiet will be playing in the ANGT for a second season after he was selected for the Next Generation Patras team at the ANGT Patras as well as the Next Generation Select team for the ANGT Finals. All told, he averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.6 steals in eight games in ANGT play last season. Last summer, the 2.05-meter guard collected 4.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists in helping France win bronze at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022. Just before ANGT Munich, Dadiet moved from Paris Basketball to Ulm but has not played this season. He can defend multiple positions because of his length and athleticism, which makes him extremely versatile on the defensive end. Offensively Dadiet has the ability to get shots, create his own shot and get to the basket with strong finishes. In addition to his three-point shot consistency, he still must improve his pick-and-roll play.

[Jan Vide](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/players/jan-vide/011028/)**,** [U18 Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-real-madrid/roster/jrm/?season=2022-23%20Munich)

Vide comes to Munich with a lot of ANGT experience, having played the last two seasons in the competition, including winning the 2021 ANGT title with Real when he averaged 3.0 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists at the finals. The Slovenian guard picked up 10.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists at the ANGT Ljubljana qualifier last season and then had 3.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists at the ANGT Finals. Last summer, Vide led the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022 in scoring with 20.1 points to go with 5.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists. This season he is averaging 20.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals in the Spanish fourth division. The 1.96-meter guard can score in many ways and dominate in transition. He is an excellent rebounder with all the physical skills for modern basketball. Vide still must improve his shooting quickness and dribble less.

[Mantas Laurencikas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/players/mantas-laurencikas/011645/)**,** [U18 Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-zalgiris-kaunas/roster/jza/?season=2022-23%20Munich)

Laurencikas is a year younger than the competition in Munich but he will be playing in his second ANGT season. He collected 3.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.0 steals at the ANGT Ljubljana last year. The 1.89-meter guard last summer helped Lithuania win the FIBA U16 European Championship 2022 title, averaging 13.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 steals, including draining 4 three-pointers for 26 points in the final.  Laurencikas is currently contributing 2.1 points and 1.5 assists in 10 minutes in the Lithuanian second division. Laurencikas can drive to both sides of the basket and changes directions well while also finishing with contact. He exudes good leadership skills and has good physicality for his position. Laurencikas also has a good IQ and reads pick-and-roll situations well. He still needs to work on his spot-up and pull-up shooting, get better at one-on-one defense, and be a more consistent floor general.

[Illan Pietrus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/players/illan-pietrus/011435/)**,** [U18 Next Generation Team Munich ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-next-generation-team-munich/roster/ngm/?season=2022-23%20Munich)

Pietrus will be at the ANGT for a second season after playing for the Next Generation Patras team last season as well as the Next Generation Select team at the ANGT Finals. In eight games, the 1.92-meter guard averaged 12.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals. Pietrus is the son of long-time former EuroLeague Basketball regular Florent Pietrus. He already won a bronze medal with France at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022, where he tallied 10.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals. He has played 7 minutes in three France League games for for SIG Strasbourg, scoring 3 points. He also appeared in one Basketball Champions League game, picking up 4 points and 2 assists. In the French U21 league, Pietrus is contributing 20.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals. Pietrus can create in pick-and-roll situations and score in many different ways. He needs to be a bit more consistent with his three-point shots and his decision-making at point guard.

The Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament series gets its start on Friday, January 20 with the first qualifier, at the Audi Dome in Munich, Germany, a EuroLeague-level stage on which to see some of the best European talents of the future. Check out some of the players to watch in Munich.

ANGT Munich players to watch

Two-time Turkish Airlines EuroLeague winning head coach Pablo Laso will headline a coaching clinic offered by FC Bayern Munich as part of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Munich. All the coaches of the U18 teams at the tournament have been invited to attend the clinic.

Laso, who guided Los Blancos to the EuroLeague crowns in 2015 and 2018 as well as six Spanish League titles, will be on hand for the clinic which runs adjacently to the ANGT Munich from January 20-22 in Munich, Germany. Laso was at the helm of Real Madrid for 11 years.

Joining Laso among the presenters will be long-time Finnish international Petteri Koponen, who retired after last season and will be coaching the U18 Next Generation Team Munich during the ANGT.

Another speaker will be Benas Matkevicius, who worked for many years as an International scout for the Boston Celtics and served as assistant coach with the Lithuania national team. He will be addressing the scouting business.

Bayern Munich analyst Jens Leutenecker meanwhile will discuss live analyses of games and dip into advanced statistics and Dennis Thannhaeuser, Robinson Bentler and Philipp Hartmannsgruber, who work in Bayern’s junior ranks, will look at strength, conditioning and load management.

Tickets for the three-day clinic available here.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨 During the Adidas Next Generation Tournament (Jan 20 to 22) in Munich&#39;s Audi Dome - <a href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>#FCBB</a> is offering a top-class coaching clinic with international guests. Register now. Details on our website! 👇<a href=https://twitter.com/hashtag/ANGT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>#ANGT</a> <a href=https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>@EuroLeague</a> <a href=https://twitter.com/KoponenPetteri?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>@KoponenPetteri</a> <a href=https://twitter.com/FCBB_Jugend?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>@FCBB_Jugend</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href=https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1613136262956818434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>January 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js charset="utf-8"></script>

Two-time EuroLeague champ Laso headlines coaching clinic at ANGT Munich 

ANGT Munich 2023 calendar

## FRIDAY, 20 JANUARY 2023

09:00 U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. U18 ALBA Berlin<br>
11:00 U18 U18 ratiopharm Ulm vs. U18 Real Madrid<br>
13:00 U18 Panathinaikos Athens vs. U18 Next Generation Team Munich<br>
15:00 U18 FC Bayern Munich vs. U18 Zalgiris Kaunas<br>
17:00 U18 ALBA Berlin vs. U18 ratiopharm Ulm<br>
19:00 U18 Real Madrid vs. U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

## SATURDAY, 21 JANUARY 2023

09:00 U18 Zalgiris Kaunas vs. U18 Next Generation Team Munich<br>
11:00 U18 Panathinaikos Athens vs. U18 FC Bayern Munich<br>
13:00 U18 ALBA Berlin vs. U18 Real Madrid<br>
15:00 U18 ratiopharm Ulm vs. U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan<br>
17:00 U18 Panathinaikos Athens vs. U18 Zalgiris Kaunas<br>
19:00 U18 Next Generation Team Munich vs. U18 FC Bayern Munich

## SUNDAY, 22 JANUARY 2023

10:00 4th Placed Team Group A - 4th Placed Team Group B 7th place<br>
12:00 3rd Placed Team Group A - 3rd Placed Team Group B 5th place<br>
14:00 2nd Placed Team Group A - 2nd Placed Team Group B 3rd place<br>
16:00 1st Placed Team Group A - 1st Placed Team Group B 1st place

# Group A

[U18 ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-alba-berlin/jbe/)<br>
[U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-ea7-emporio-armani-milan/jmi/)<br>
[U18 ratiopharm Ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-ratiopharm-ulm/jru/)<br>
[U18 Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-real-madrid/jrm/)

## Group B

[U18 FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-fc-bayern-munich/jmu/)<br>
[U18 Next Generation Team Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-next-generation-team-munich/ngm/)<br>
[U18 Panathinaikos Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-panathinaikos-athens/upa/)<br>
[U18 Zalgiris Kaunas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/ngt/teams/u18-zalgiris-kaunas/jza/)

Eight teams will participate in the first Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament qualifier of the season from January 20 to 22 in Munich, Germany.

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to announce the identities of the 32 teams that will compete this season in the 2022-23 Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament. This season will be the 20th edition of the annual event, which boasts clubs and academies representing 13 different countries. Under-18 teams are coming from 14 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and five 7DAYS EuroCup clubs. They will clash to be the last one standing when the continental junior club champion is crowned in the spring in a finals phase to be held in parallel with the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

ANGT Qualifiers field features clubs from 13 countries

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to announce the identities of the 32 teams that will compete this season in the 2022-23 Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament. This season will be the 20th edition of the annual event, which boasts clubs and academies representing 12 different countries. Under-18 teams are coming from 14 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and five 7DAYS EuroCup clubs. They will clash to be the last one standing when the continental junior club champion is crowned in the spring in a finals phase to be held in parallel with the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

To reach the ANGT Finals, teams will first compete in three-day Qualifiers held in Munich, Germany; Patras, Greece; Zadar, Croatia; and Belgrade, Serbia. Each Qualifier will feature eight teams, with the winner earning an automatic berth to the Finals.

Each of the qualifying tournaments will feature Next Generation Teams organized by adidas from the top 18-and-under talents in Europe whose club teams are not already playing in one of the four qualifying tournaments. This season, those adidas Next Generation Teams will all be coached by former EuroLeague star Petteri Koponen, who will also lead the Next Generation Team that participates in the ANGT Finals.

The first qualifier – in Munich, Germany, from January 20 to 22, 2023 – will feature the U18 teams of host FC Bayern Munich, 2003 and 2007 ANGT champion Zalgiris Kaunas, Panathinaikos Athens, ratiopharm Ulm, 2015, 2019 and 2021 ANGT champion Real Madrid, ALBA Berlin, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and the NGT Munich team coached by Koponen.

The second qualifier – in Patras, Greece from February 10 to 12 – includes host Promitheas Patras, LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, Orange1 Bassano, 2013 ANGT champion Joventut Badalona, Olympiacos Piraeus, Cholet Basket, Rasta Vechta, and the ANGT Patras team.

The long-time basketball hotbed of Zadar, Croatia, will debut as an ANGT Qualifier host from March 3 to 5. In addition to the host team's U18 representative, KK Zadar, the participating teams will be Casademont Zaragoza, FC Barcelona, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Stellazzurra Rome, Helsinki Basketball Academy and the NGT Zadar team.

The fourth and final qualifying tournament returns to Belgrade, Serbia from March 31 to April 2. Besides local clubs Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade, Partizan Belgrade and Mega MIS Belgrade, the tournament will include U18 representatives from Valencia Basket, Anadolu Efes Istanbul, PFYM INSEP Paris, Umana Reyer Venice and the NGT Belgrade team.

Many of the biggest and brightest stars of basketball were seen first by an international audience at the ANGT. The ever-growing list of players currently on EuroLeague rosters who previously dazzled in the ANGT includes:

**Marcus Eriksson, Malte Delow, Nils Machowski, Jonas Mattisseck, Louis Olinde, Gabriele Procida, Elias Rapieque, Linus Ruf, Tim Schneider, Rikus Schulte, Johannes Thiemann, Yovel Zoosman** (ALBA Berlin)

**Vasilije Micic, Egehan Arna, Omercan Ilyasoglu, Yigitcan Saybir, Ante Zizic** (Anadolu Efes Istanbul)

**Donatas Motiejunas, Matthew Strazel** (AS Monaco)

**Davide Alviti, Tommaso Baldasso, Luigi Datome and Giampaolo Ricci** (EA7 Armani Exchange Milan)

**Vanja Marinkovic, Daniel Diez, Maik Kotsar** (Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz)

**Ognjen Dobric, Stefan Lazarevic, Branko Lazic, Luka Mitrovic, Nemanja Nedovic, Miroslav Raduljica, Nikola Topic** (Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade)

**Rokas Jokubaitis, Nikola Mirotic, Sergi Martinez, James Nnaji, Oriol Pauli, Jan Vesely, Michael Caidedo, Rafa Villar, Gal Bonilla** (FC Barcelona)

**Niels Giffey, Ognjen Jaramaz, Isaac Bonga, Andreas Obst, Zan Sisko, Niklas Wimberg** (FC Bayern Munich)

**Ismet Akpinar, Tarik Biberovic, Metecan Birsen and Marko Guduric** (Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul)

**Amine Noua, Yves Pons, Zaccharie Risacher** (LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne)

**Danilo Andjusic, Aleksa Avramovic, Djordje Jovanovic, Mathias Lessort, Uros Trifunovic, Tristan Vukcevic** (Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade)

**Marius Grigonis, Neoklis Avdalas, Georgios Kalaitzakis, Arturas Gudaitis, Eleftherios Mantzoukas, Alexandros Samontourov** (Panathinaikos Athens)

**Alberto Abalde, Hugo Gonzalez, Mario Hezonja, Dzanan Musa, Eli Ndiaye** (Real Madrid)

**David Barbera, Sergio De Larrea, Guillem Ferrando, Millan Jimenez, Xabi Lopez-Arostegui, Pablo Navarro, Klemen Prepelic** (Valencia Basket)

**Ismael Bako, Mam Jaiteh, Leo Menalom, Alessandro Pajola, Toko Shengelia, Milos Teodosic** (Virtus Segafredo Bologna)

**Mantas Kalnietis, Tomas Dimsa, Arnas Butkevicius, Dovydas Giedraitis, Laurynas Birutis, Motiejus Krivas, Lukas Lekavicius, Liutaras Lelevicius, Karolis Lukosiunas and Edgaras Ulanovas** (Zalgiris Kaunas)

ANGT Qualifiers field features clubs from 12 countries

ANGT returns with Koponen on the sidelines

The Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament is pleased to announce the schedule for 2023. The format remains the same with four qualifying tournaments, though the sites for some have changed with Munich, Germany; Patras, Greece; Zadar, Croatia; and Belgrade, Serbia, now representing the sites that will propel the winners to compete for the continental junior club crown at the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.

This season will see one of the greatest shooters in EuroLeague history, Petteri Koponen, serve as the head coach of the U18 Next Generation Teams. A veteran of six EuroLeague seasons, the recently-retired Koponen will share his wealth of experience with the players. The Next Generation Teams will be made of the best U18 players in Europe who are not affiliated with other clubs already competing at the ANGT. Koponen replaces Euroleague Basketball Legend Vassilis Spanoulis who guided the Next Generation Select Teams last season.

The 2022 Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals, organized by Euroleague Basketball, took place during the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four weekend last May in Belgrade, Serbia. This celebration of European youth basketball has played an important role in the careers of future stars, such as Luka Doncic, Vasilije Micic and Nikola Mirotic, while basketball fans from across the globe get the chance to see the EuroLeague's potential stars of the future. With some fascinating interviews from some faces you are sure to recognize, as well as the chance to see U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade's journey to the ANGT Finals Tournament trophy, this lookback at the 2022 ANGT Finals Belgrade makes you feel like you were there in person!

2022 ANGT Finals Belgrade: Finding the EuroLeague's stars of the future

The first qualifying event this season will take place on January 20-22 in Munich with FC Bayern Munich serving as the host. This marks the return of the ANGT qualifiers to Munich for the first time since 2020. Promitheas Patras will host the second tournament in its home city on February 10-12. It will be the second season in a row that Patras has one of the ANGT qualifiers.

For the first time in ANGT history, there will be a qualifier in Zadar. It will take place on March 3-5 with local company Sport Event as the event hosts with the support of BC Zadar. The fourth and final qualifier will be on March 31 through April 2 in the capital of Serbia with Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade as the host.

This season marks the 21st edition of the ANGT and the competition has seen a who’s who of basketball stars come through the ranks including future EuroLeague and NBA stars such as Luka Doncic, Alberto Abalde, Goga Bitadze, Luigi Datome, Vasilije Micic, Nikola Mirotic, Donatas Motiejunas, Dario Saric, Milos Teodosic, Jonas Valanciunas and Victor Wembanyama, among others.

Munich, Patras, Zadar and Belgrade to host ANGT Qualifying Tournaments

Nikola Djurisic played the biggest of roles in helping U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade to its first-ever Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament title.

MVP Djurisic delivers title to Mega despite injuries

Djurisic may not have had the greatest statistics, but the young leader fought off some nagging injuries and delivered when it counted most. That earned him the Most Valuable Player award. He averaged 20 points per game to go with 4.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals for an index rating of 16.3 in helping Mega finally claim the trophy after losing in the ANGT Championship Game in 2017 and 2019.

“The third time’s a charm. It was very tough - all four games, especially the championship game. Everybody gave their maximum, it was hard but we got the W,” said Djurisic, who struggled from the field, making just 37.1% of his two-pointers and shooting 21.1% on three-pointers while also committing 6.0 turnovers a game. Nevertheless, he made 22 of 28 free throws (78.6%) in just three contests.

“This MVP Award means a lot to me, but it would not have that importance if we didn't win the ANGT title,” said Djurisic, who was playing in the ANGT competition for a third season. “For me, it’s more important that we brought the trophy back to Belgrade after eight years because this is the highlight of our team, which has been together for three years with some changes.”

The recent changes could be a reason for Djurisic’s high turnover count. Andrija Jelavic (Mega’s third-leading scorer with 14.7 points per game) and Timotej Malovec (6.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists) both joined Mega two weeks before the ANGT Finals. And Bassala Bagayoko, who was named to the All-Tournament Team and ANGT Rising Star, only came to the team a week before the tournament.

Djurisic himself did not play at the ANGT Belgrade, where the team finished sixth and later received a wild card for the ANGT Finals. He has been dealing with a series of small injuries over the last couple of months and played just five games since he competed with the Serbian senior national team at the same time as the ANGT Belgrade. Three of those games were with Mega’s first team and two came in late April when he helped the club win the ABA U19 league title.

“He’s had some little injuries. I’m really happy for Nikola and all the other guys because next year they will not be able to play,” Mega coach Dragoljub Avramovic said.

The coach will miss having someone like Djurisic to come through in big moments. In the opening game against two-time continental champion U18 PFYM INSEP Paris, Djurisic scored a team-high 20 points. He tallied 19 points with 7 assists as Mega dethroned reigning champion U18 Real Madrid in the second game to book the club’s spot in the ANGT Championship Game.

Djurisic not only led Mega with 21 points in the title bout with U18 Next Generation Select Team but he also scored 10 of his points in Mega’s game-deciding 14-0 run in the fourth quarter.

“He said everything on the court,” Coach Avramovic said about his leader - and MVP Nikola Djurisic.

Top 10 photos: ANGT Finals Belgrade 2022

Aleksa Milenkovic - U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade  - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Luka Vudragovic - U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Amadou Doumbia - U18 Real Madrid - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Noah Manet - U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Bassala Bagayoko - U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Baba Miller - U18 Real Madrid - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Francois Wibaut - U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Urban Klavzar - U18 Real Madrid - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Rayan Rupert - U18 PFYM INSEP Paris - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

Noah Penda - U18 PFYM INSEP Paris - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022

The adidas NEXT GENERATION TOURNAMENT Finals took place in last week in Belgrade and produced a new champion: U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade. These are some of the best photos that the tournament produced.

Aleksa Milenkovic - U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Luka Vudragovic - U18 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Amadou Doumbia - U18 Real Madrid - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Baba Miller - U18 Real Madrid - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Bassala Bagayoko - U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Rayan Rupert - U18 PFYM INSEP Paris - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Francois Wibaut - U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Urban Klavzar - U18 Real Madrid - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Noah Penda - U18 PFYM INSEP Paris - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Noah Manet - U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne - Next Generation Tournament Final Four Belgrade 2022 - JT21

Nikola Djurisic was named the Most Valuable Player award of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals for leading U18 Mega Mozzart Belgrade to its first ANGT title in club history. 

Djurisic named ANGT Finals MVP after helping Mega to title

At a ceremony at halftime of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game, Djurisic headlined the All-Tournament Team which also included his teammate and center Bassala Bagayoko, forward Pacome Dadiet of the U18 Next Generation Select Team, guard Kymany Houinsou from U18 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne and U18 Real Madrid center Eli Ndiaye.

Djurisic, Houinsou and Ndiaye all made the ANGT Finals All-Tournament Team in 2020-21 with Ndiaye being named MVP last season.

Djurisic spearheaded a big fourth quarter run in Mega's 82-61 victory over NGS in the ANGT Championship Game and finished with a team-high 21 points to go with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal for a performance index rating of 8. For the tournament, the guard collected 20.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 9.0 fouls drawn for a PIR of 16.3.

Bagayoko played a major role in Mega getting the title as well as he tallied 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals for a PIR of 28 in the Championship Game. In three games, he averaged 17.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks for an average PIR of 28.0.

Bagayoko also took home the Rising Star award as the best player born 2005 or later. The 2006-born big man follows in the footsteps of Paulius Murauskas, who won the only previous edition of the honor, in 2019.

Dadiet helped NGS reach the ANGT Championship Game, where he picked up 5 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals for a PIR of 4. For the tournament he had 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and an index rating of 13.5.

Houinsou averaged 13.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.7 steals and 6.7 fouls drawn for an average PIR of 24.0 for ASVEL, which finished with a 2-1 record.

Ndiaye had 15.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals 1.0 blocks and 20.3 PIR for a Real team that also had a 2-1 record.