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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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)