Who will join this list of stars at the end of the season?
Top 10 EuroCup Rising Star Award candidates
Article
8 Mins read
The BKT EuroCup has long been an incubator for future stars. Since the inception of the EuroCup Rising Star Award in 2008, the list of big names in the making to capture the trophy includes the likes of Jonas Valanciunas, NBA All-Star Kristaps Porzingis, All-EuroLeague guard Dzanan Musa and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Zaccharie Risacher.
To be eligible for the 2025 award, players must have been born on or after July 1, 2003. This season the race for the trophy promises to be one of the closest ever, with a slew of top prospects in the mix. Here's a look at the top candidates to capture the award in 2025.
1. Jean Montero, Valencia Basket
Jean Montero was named the Spanish League's Best Young Player in each of the past two seasons and now he arrives at Valencia Basket eager to take another step forward. The playmaker can score, dish it and wreak havoc with his defense, as evidenced by his numbers last season with MoraBanc Andorra; Montero averaged 15.7 points, 5.1 assists and 2.0 steals in 28 Spanish League games. The oldest player on this list, the 21-year-old has already proven himself in one of the top leagues in Europe and all signs point to a big season for him in the EuroCup, too.
2. Noam Yaacov, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv
While Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv spent big over the summer to build a star-studded roster, the arrival of Noam Yaacov on loan from LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne should not be overlooked. Armed with great speed, ball-handling, shot-making ability and a high basketball IQ, Yaacov is a difference-maker. A pass-first playmaker, in recent years he led both the U18 and U20 European Championships in assists with the Israeli national team. After gaining experience in the EuroLeague last season with ASVEL alongside Nando De Colo and Paris Lee and now learning from veterans Patrick Beverley, Bar Timor and Joe Ragland in Tel Aviv, Yaacov could be in for a big year.
3. Ben Saraf, ratiopharm Ulm
At the 2024 European U18 Championship, Ben Saraf became the first player ever with two 40-point games, and his 28.1 points per game was the tournament's best since 1982. Last season, as a 17-year-old, Saraf shined for Ironi Kiryat Ata in his native Israel, which he led to the Israeli League Semifinals last season. He averaged 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steal over 26 regular season games and 11.3 points, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals in the semifinals against EuroCup quarterfinalist Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv. He was chosen as the league’s breakout player of the season. With a ratiopharm Ulm squad known for developing young talents, Saraf should get his chance to shine.
4. Michael Ruzic, Joventut Badalona
Not yet 18 years old, Michael Ruzic has future star written all over him. The 2.08-meter forward is a skilled and mobile big man with plenty of basketball smarts. He already played significant minutes in the EuroCup last season; Ruzic averaged 6.3 points and 2.5 rebounds over 16:24 minutes in 15 games, including seven as a starter. He made 14-of-28 three-pointers and was seventh in the EuroCup in true shooting percentage (73.1%). Joventut Badalona has Ruzic penciled in for a bigger role in 2024-25 and plenty of scouts will be following his every move.
5. Lefteris Mantzoukas, Aris Midea Thessaloniki
The lone player on this list who is a EuroLeague champion, Lefteris Mantzoukas, joined Aris Midea Thessaloniki this summer on loan from Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, where he played the last three seasons and helped the Greens take the 2024 continental crown. At 21 years of age, Mantzoukas already has a wealth of experience under his belt. He stands 2.07 meters tall and made 45.2% of his three-pointers in 53 EuroLeague games with Panathinaikos. That combination of size, shooting ability, experience and the hunger to prove himself could come together to make Mantzoukas a force in the EuroCup.
6. Kerem Konan, Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul
Kerem Konan was a revelation in the EuroCup last season, his first in the competition. After playing a reduced role in the first half of the regular season, Konan seized the opportunity when it presented itself and the do-it-all small forward became a full-time starter for Besiktas by the playoffs. He went on to average 5.4 rebounds over five playoff games. Konan’s toughness and basketball IQ made up for any lack of experience. Now with that season to build on, a confident Konan should be even more dangerous this year.
7. Noa Essengue, ratiopham Ulm
Still only 17 years old, Noa Essengue has been tabbed as a top prospect for some time now. He played for France’s famed INSEP squad at the country’s National Institute of Sport before moving to Germany last summer with ratiopham Ulm. Alongside seven appearances with the senior team in the EuroCup and nine more in the German League, Essengue dominated the youth categories for Ulm. He was the MVP at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Dubai event after posting 33 points, 18 rebounds and 4 blocks in the first-place game. Essengue figures to have a steady role in the frontcourt this season. As his outside shooting improves, it appears the sky is the limit for Essengue.
8. Sergio De Larrea, Valencia Basket
The best homegrown Valencia prospect in over a decade, Sergio De Larrea is ready to take his permanent place in the club’s backcourt. He was 17 when he made his EuroLeague debut in January 2023 and has had a decorated youth career with the Spanish national team. De Larrea has won medals with Spain’s youth teams in each of the last three summers, including the gold medal at the 2023 World U19 Championship. And he debuted for Spain’s senior national team last June. De Larrea averaged 13.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists for Godella, Valencia's affiliate team, in the Spanish third tier last season. His combination of size, long arms, footwork, court vision and confidence should help make De Larrea a major contributor for Valencia.
9. Melih Tunca, Turk Telekom Ankara
After making his EuroLeague debut with Anadolu Efes Istanbul, Melih Tunca comes to Turk Telekom Ankara on loan to take another step forward. Just 18 years old, Tunca has already proven to be a force to be reckoned with at youth level. His 17.6 points and 6.4 assists were both third-best at the U20 European Championship in July. That came after Tunca led the U19 Turkish League in scoring last season with 27.9 points per game. He has looked sharp in the preseason and could emerge as an important player for Turk Telekom this season and for Efes in the future.
10. Jakub Urbaniak, Dreamland Gran Canaria
The most important thing a player needs to become a legitimate contender for the Rising Star Award is opportunity, and on a loaded Dreamland Gran Canaria side, big man Jakub Urbaniak may need to wait his turn. However, he has given plenty of reasons to believe he is up for the challenge when called upon. After averaging 15.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for Gran Canaria’s third-division team last season, he has impressed thus far in the preseason. With great strength, quick feet and a strong motor, Urbaniak has the tools needed to stand out.