Top 10 best young players in the Euroleague

From Nikola Mirotic to Luka Doncic and Bogdan Bogdanovich, the EuroLeague is a veritable gold mine. Alongside seasoned veterans, a new generation of prospects is ready to shine on FIBA’s biggest stage. Here are the top 10 based on the following criteria: talent, responsibility and potential. And, as with the Rising Star criteria, only players born after 1 July 2003 are eligible.

So, who will succeed Nadir Hifi ?

10) Joksimovic Stefan, Baskonia (16 November 2008) : The rookie in this top 10, Joksimovic Stefan deserves a mention despite his very, very young age. Part of Baskonia’s talent pool, the Slovenian had a more than promising pre-season. Integrated into the rotation by Pablo Laso, he has the typical profile of a future Rising Star. Brilliant with the Slovenian U20 team, the point guard is at the heart of his team’s offence. He is not afraid to experiment. On the contrary, his ability to constantly put his teammates in the best position makes him a particularly atypical player. In the heat of youth, Stefan still lacks reliability, consistency and proven results at the highest level to be able to claim a better position.

9) Miikka Muurinen, Partizan Belgrade (4 March 2007) : After tearing it up with Finland, Miikka Muurinen wants to shock Europe once again playing for Partizan. The best young player at the last EuroBasket even chose to forego the NCAA in favour of the EuroLeague. With his rare combination of height, wingspan and explosiveness, the power forward is a modern player, capable of finishing at the rim but also spreading the floor. One of the greatest talents in this top 10, his inexperience at the highest level brings with it a degree of uncertainty, especially as his coach Željko Obradović has him sitting at the end of the bench. Still fragile on the rebound and in creating plays, there is no doubt that he will only climb the rankings in the future.

8) Rafael Villar, Baskonia (9 August 2004) : The first Spaniard on this list, and certainly not the last, Rafael Villar has a track record in youth competitions that matches his offensive talent. A European U18 champion and then a world U19 champion, the guard even had the opportunity to take his first steps among the big boys during Eurobasket 2025. Part of the Basque backcourt rotation, the Spaniard has the typical profile of a scoring guard. At the end of the line, this offensive firecracker is a formidable weapon in transition thanks to his drive-and-finish combo near the hoop. If ‘Rafa’ adds better shot selection to his repertoire (especially from 3-point range), he could become a serious contender for the Rising Star title.

7) Izan Almansa, Real Madrid (7 June 2005) : After notable stints in the United States and Australia, Izan Almansa returns to Real Madrid with the ambition of making his mark in the Merengue rotation. Currently sidelined by Scariolo in the EuroLeague, the MVP of the U17 and U19 World Cups nevertheless has an atypical profile in this squad. Finishing at the top of the circle from his height of 2.10m, mid-range with well-timed floaters, or even from 3-point range is no problem for him. His wingspan works in his favour when he doesn’t have the ball, even if the power forward still needs to bulk up. Unknown on the continent, his adaptation to the roughness of European basketball is the main question mark over his potential.

6) Mouhamed Faye, Paris Basketball (5 February 2005) : Representing Paris Basketball in this ranking, Mouhamed Faye arguably has the highest defensive ceiling in this ranking. Both lanky and mobile, the centre has the rare ability to respond to every offensive situation he faces. Whether in the paint or on the perimeter, his wingspan speaks for itself. A Rising Star in 2024 and nominee for the LBA Serie’s All-Defensive Team in 2025, the Senegalese player must now prove that he can be consistent throughout an entire EuroLeague campaign. All this while refining his offensive game and his accuracy from the free-throw line.

5) Juan Nuñez, FC Barcelona (4 June 2004) : Without his latest setback (meniscus tear), Juan Nuñez would surely be on the podium, if not in first place. But there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding his return. Nevertheless, the 2024 German championship winner with Ulm has long been considered the best combo guard of his generation. With a World Cup already under his belt, the 36th pick in the 2024 draft joined FC Barcelona during the off-season. This playmaker has elite passing skills, tactical flexibility and an impressive basketball IQ for his age. The Spaniard has already managed to translate this promise into the professional world, where many young players his age are still struggling to make their mark. It is now up to him to overcome his physical setbacks and hope to join the big leagues.

4) Sergio De Larrea, Valencia Basket (4 December 2005) : This generation of Spanish players is definitely dominating the scene. The star of the summer across the Pyrenees, Sergio De Larrea dazzled a rather gloomy Roja with his talent during Eurobasket. Guaranteeing the last possessions, his clutch ability, known to all in the youth teams, was fully demonstrated on the FIBA stage. From backup in Valencia, the point guard now appears to be almost a member of the starting five. Fresh from winning the SuperCopa MVP title at the end of September, at 19 years of age he is already racking up 21 points… against Real Madrid! Performing well both offensively and defensively, his reading of the game makes him a real threat when it comes to interceptions. If De Larrea manages to maintain this standard throughout the season, then his place on this podium will be more than obvious next year.

3) Saliou Niang, Virtus Bologna (14 May 2004) : The perfect complement to his leader Carson Edwards, Saliou Niang is coming off a more than promising Eurobasket tournament. Already impressive in Trento, the Italian played a decisive role in his national team. On both sides of the court, the Squadra Azzurra’s statistics plummeted when the 21-year-old was on the bench. A swingman by nature, nothing prevents him from playing power forward. A true Swiss Army knife with defensive lockdown capabilities, his impact without the ball is already well established in the professional world and is his main weapon in the race for Rising Star. On the other hand, from an offensive standpoint, jumping from the Eurocup to the Euroleague will be a huge challenge for him.

2) Melvin Ajinca, ASVEL Villeurbanne (June 26, 2004) : “I still have a lot to learn,” says Melvin Ajinca. The Frenchman has once again come out stronger from his second consecutive Summer League despite a nasty injury. Already impressive in his rookie year in the EuroLeague, the third-ranked Rising Star 2025 is starting this season with even more responsibility. Having improved steadily since his arrival at ASVEL, the point guard now finds himself on the verge of a potential breakthrough. Offensively, the departure of Théo Maledon gives him the keys to the Villeurbanne offense. Now he also has greater responsibility, as last season’s best defender, André Roberson, has left. Ajinca can no longer afford to be ASVEL’s Achilles heel without the ball. If he improves in this area, beyond the EuroLeague, the NBA could open its doors to him.

1) Jean Montero, Valencia Basket (July 3, 2003) : A star from the Dominican Republic, Jean Montero is the unanimous favorite in the Rising Star race. Eligible for just a few days, the shooting guard is also the veteran of this ranking and by far the best offensive player. It’s simple: with the ball in his hands, few defenses are capable of stopping him. Drive, mid-range, shoot from the parking lot and even extra-pass. The Dominican single-handedly changes the face of Valencia when he’s on the court. And when facing the big teams, he doesn’t hide, quite the contrary. In his 19 games against EuroLeague-caliber teams in Spain, he averages 15.8 points, 5.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 34% from 3-point range. Even on defense, Jean Montero loves to steal the ball and launch fast breaks. Now, it remains to be seen whether he can confirm his talent in the EuroLeague after crushing the competition in the EuroCup.