The greatest talents in global basketball will converge on Berlin as the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals take place at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four. The ANGT Finals will once again open a new frontier when the games are played in the German capital from May 23 to 26.

2023-24 ANGT Finals field announced

#### · USA to participate for the first time, with an Overtime Elite league representative.

#### · ANGT Finals will be held from May 23 to 26 in Berlin, alongside the EuroLeague Final Four

The greatest talents in global basketball will converge on Berlin as the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals take place at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four. The ANGT Finals will once again open a new frontier when the games are played in the German capital from May 23 to 26.

The ANGT Finals, the world's premier club-based junior basketball event, will once again feature eight teams, four of whom earned their spots through the qualifiers: U18 Real Madrid (ANGT Podgorica), FC Barcelona (ANGT Belgrade) and U18 ratiopharm Ulm (Dubai), U18 PFBB INSEP Paris (Paris).

The other four teams in the finals field for Berlin are wild card recipients: U18 Mega MIS Belgrade, U18 ALBA Berlin, U18 EA7 Emporia Armani Milan and U18 Overtime Elite. Mega took fifth place at the ANGT Belgrade, ALBA was sixth at ANGT Podgorica, and Milan finished second at ANGT Belgrade. Overtime Elite, meanwhile, will be competing in the ANGT for the first time with a team made up of a selection of U18 players from around the league.

Overtime Elite is an Atlanta-based U16 to U20 league with many of the top young talents in the United States and beyond. There are eight teams in the Overtime Elite league, which just completed its third season. Overtime Elite has sent 15 players to professional basketball around the world, including two top-five picks in the NBA Draft, brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson.

The eight teams in Berlin will be split into two groups. Milan, Mega, Real and Ulm will be in Group A while Group B is made up of ALBA, Barcelona, Overtime Elite and PFBB.

See the game schedule below. All games will be broadcast on the EuroLeague's Youtube official channel

A combined eight U18 continental trophies have been won by the eight clubs involved in the ANGT Finals. Real is reigning champion and also claimed the title in 2015, 2019 and 2021. PFBB hoisted the trophy in 2010 and 2017.  Barcelona was the champion of Europe in 2016. And Mega won its sole championship in 2022. 

In Berlin, 12 group games will be played over the first three days – from Thursday, May 23, to Saturday, May 25 – at the Uber eats Music Hall, which will also host Sunday's championship game between the two group winners. 

Tickets for the ANGT Finals will be available for purchase starting on May 3.

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:

Gabriele Procida, Matteo Spagnolo, Malte Delow, Anton Nufer, Jonas Mattisseck, Ziga Samar, Dorian Grosber, Tim Schneider, Louis Olinde, Amon Doerries, Elias Rapieque, Linus Ruf, Kresimir Nikic (ALBA Berlin)

Melih Tunca, Burakcan Yildizli, Salih Altunas, Efe Demirel (Anadolu Efes Istanbul)

Matthew Strazel, Mam Jaiteh, Donatas Motiejunas (AS Monaco)

Vanja Marinkovic, Dani Diez, Khalifa Diop, Aleksandr Savkov, Vit Hrabar (Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz)

Milos Teodosic, Branko Lazic, Nemanja Nedovic, Stefan Lazarevic, Luka Mitrovic, Nikola Topic (Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade)

Nikola Mirotic, Diego Flaccadori, Giampaolo Ricci, Giordano Bortolani, Guglielmo Caruso, Samuele Miccoli (EA7 Emporio Armani Milan)

Willy Hernangomez, Rokas Jokubaitis, Joel Parra, James Nnaji, Oriol Pauli, Dame Sarr, Kasparas Jakucionis, Dayan Nessah (FC Barcelona)

Andreas Obst, Niels Giffey, Isaac Bonga, Danko Brankovic, Dino Radoncic, Niklas Wimberg, Nelson Weidemann, Ivan Kharchenkov (FC Bayern Munich)

Marko Guduric, Tarik Biberovic, Amine Noua, Metecan Birsen, Mert Eksioglu (Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul)

Noam Yaacov (LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne)

Omer Mayer, Yaron Goldman (Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv)

Nikola Milutinov, Veniamin Abosi, Anastasios Rozakeas (Olympiacos Piraeus)

Mathias Lessort, Marius Grigonis, Olek Balcerowski, Alexandros Samontourov, Eleftherios Mantzoukas (Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens)

Aleksa Avramovic, Ognjen Jaramaz, Danilo Andjusic, Savo Drezgic (Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade)

Mario Hezonja, Dzanan Musa, Alberto Abalde, Eli Ndiaye, Hugo Gonzalez, Ismaila Diagne, Egor Demin, Mitar Bosnjakovic (Real Madrid)

Damien Inglis, Xabi Lopez-Arostegui, Lucas Mari, Sergio De Larrea (Valencia Basket)

Alessandro Pajola, Rihards Lomazs, Ognjen Dobric, Ante Zizic (Virtus Segafredo Bologna)

Edgaras Ulanovas, Arnas Butkevicius, Lukas Lekavicius, Tomas Dimsa, Laurynas Birutis, Karolis Lukosiunas, Dovydas Butka, Danielius Lavrinovicius (Zalgiris Kaunas)

The young ANGT Paris MVP is still new to the game and the continent.

Assane Sankare is living his dream of playing in Europe

[Assane Sankare](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/assane-sankare/012865/) has not even been in Europe for two years but the Senegal forward has already proven to be one of the best players on a continent where he is living a dream and was just named MVP of the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Paris. 

Sankare was a leading force as the Next Generation Team Paris last weekend became the first select team out of 12 over three seasons to win an ANGT qualifying tournament.  In Sunday's title game, he collected 20 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks for a performance index rating of 33 in his team's 86-78 victory over U18 PFYM INSEP Paris. For the tournament, Sankare averaged 14.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks for a PIR of 24.8 over four games in three days.

"It's a great motivation for me," Sankare said through an interpreter after the title game. "I wanted to show what I was capable of and how I can play and that I can be MVP.

"I've learned a lot from it. It's a very great pleasure. It's another great learning experience."

His head coach for the weekend, Eero Leva, was very impressed with Sankare.

"His athleticism is something I haven't seen at the junior level," he said. "Amazing player, good guy. He doesn't speak English, so that caused some problems because we didn't have any common language. But we had many French players who helped, and the message went through. Big ups to Assane. A very coachable kid."

Sankare, for his part, really hasn't been playing basketball long, having decided five years ago to change sports from football.

"I decided to change because my family wanted me to choose another sport, and basketball arrived on the table," he said. "I started only in 2019."

Soon, it was pretty clear where the youngster from western African wanted to go.

"Europe was always a big dream. I  always wanted to go to a European club and play in the EuroCup or EuroLeague or – why not? – the NBA," said Sankare, who turned 17 since the tournament ended on Sunday. "I knew I needed to come to Europe for that." 

In November 2022, his dream came true as Sankare landed at Italian club Vis Ferrara, near Bologna in northern Italy. This season, he also played with Sassari in the country's U20 NextGen competition. 

When asked what it was like coming to Italy, he said: 

"There were a  lot more challenges back home, but in theory starting a new life with a language barrier, everything in life is difficult. But I just keep going."

Sankare said he was excited to be chosen by Adidas for the select team.

"It's a great pleasure for me to do something like this because I heard a lot about it," he said. "Some of my friends have already been in this competition. So it was kind of a dream." 

Helping his team make ANGT history and winning the tournament MVP award definitely gives Sankare a boost of confidence as he winds down his second season in Europe.

 

"This has been a great second year," he said, "and I am looking forward to many more." 

Assane Sankare is living his dream of playing in Europe 

Assane Sankare is joined by Nathan Soliman, Fynn Schott, Karim Lopez and Veniamin Abosi on the ANGT Paris all-tournament team.

Sankare wins MVP in helping Next Generation Team Paris make history 

Assane Sankare claimed the Most Valuable Player trophy after making history with the U18 Next Generation Team Paris as he helped NGF become the first select team to take first place in a qualifying tournament.

Sankare collected 20 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks for a performance index rating of 33 in NGF’s 86-78 victory over U18 PFYM INSEP Paris in the ANGT Paris first place game.

Sankare was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Nathan Soliman of runner-up PFBB, Fynn Schott from U18 Gran Canaria, Karim Lopez from U18 Joventut Badalona and U18 Olympiacos Piraeus’s Veniamin Abosi.

For the tournament, Sankare averaged 14.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks for a PIR of 24.8. He ranked second in index rating, first in steals and first with 5.2 offensive rebounds, second in rebounds, tied for third in blocks and 10th in scoring.

Soliman tallied 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks for a PIR of 17 in the first place game. Over the four games, he averaged 10.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks for an average rating of 16.0. The 14-year-old was tied for fifth in blocks and tied for 10th in PIR.

Schott collected 18.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks in totaling a 23.0 PIR. He was second in scoring and second with 4.5 offensive rebounds, third in PIR and tied for third in total rebounds.

Lopez was worth 17.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.0 blocks in averaging a PIR of 28.0. He led the competition in PIR and blocks and was third in points and tied for third in rebounds.

Abosi had 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.2 blocks for a PIR of 19.0. He ranked fourth in assists and steals, fifth in PIR, tied for fifth in blocks, eighth in points and ninth in rebounds.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Showing UP in Paris 🤝<br><br>These young ballers are all part of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AdidasNGT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AdidasNGT</a> All Tournament Team 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/vyQeh2Dtqf">pic.twitter.com/vyQeh2Dtqf</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1777027139465892233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He is joined by Nathan Soliman, Fynn Schott, Karim Lopez and Veniamin Abosi on the all-tournament team.

U18 Next Generation Team Paris v U18 PFYM INSEP Paris (2024-04-07T14:45:00.000Z)

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The 14-year-old son of a former EuroLeaguer, Nathan Soliman has turned some heads at the ANGT Paris

Top talent Soliman just wants to be the best

U18 PFYM INSEP Paris has developed some of the greatest players in basketball history. The likes of Tony Parker, Boris Diaw, Evan Fournier and Ronny Turiaf have come up in the hallowed halls of the famed academy in the French capital. Current PFBB talent [Nathan Soliman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/nathan-soliman/013061/) is the youngest to ever attend the academy, but the 14-year-old’s only concern is becoming the best. 

Soliman has not looked out of his element at all during the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Paris, despite him not turning 15 until May. 

“For me, the ANGT is just one step among many. Of course, I’m honored to take part at my age, but right now I am only thinking about victories,” said Soliman, who averaged 9.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in the group stage for PFBB. “The fact that the tournament is in Paris is an advantage because the public and our families are with us. But it really doesn’t change anything about how I play.”

Soliman impresses observers with a muscular 2.03-meter frame combined with versatility, mobility, feel for the game and ability to finish - and that at 14. 

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nathan Soliman born 2009…<br><br>HOOPIN’ at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AdidasNGT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AdidasNGT</a>, what were you doing at 14 years of age? <a href="https://t.co/8jAy8O8PT5">pic.twitter.com/8jAy8O8PT5</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1776255907535388768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


"Nathan is our first player to come into our program two years in advance. He is a real competitor and he likes all the challenges he has to deal with at PFBB INSEP. Since his first international competition last summer, he still wants to improve to be the best player," INSEP coach Lamine Kebe said of Soliman.

"His body is getting better, his all-around game is developing. He can play in the youth categories and dominate and fight against professional adult players. He plays both and has the ability to express his game in many different ways: in the paint posting-up, setting screens, playing PNR and shooting from everywhere. He is a good teammate, very smart, he likes joking and playing games."

When his age is brought up, Soliman simply deflects: “It doesn’t mean anything to me. I’m just ahead of my generation. That’s all it means to me.”

Soliman was born in Vichy and grew up in Reze, near Nantes, as the son of [Williams Soliman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/williams-soliman/tfb/), who played one season in the EuroLeague for Roane in 2007-08 after helping the club to the French League crown a season earlier. 

The elder Soliman also played for the French national team, competing at the FIBA EuroBasket 2009. Williams continues to play this season, dribbling the ball for Alerte Juvisy in France's fifth-tier at age 44. 

My father instilled in me the values that will enable me to succeed such as hard work, respect and punctuality. 

When asked who would win in a one-on-one between father and son, the younger Soliman said: “Honestly I don’t know. I’d say me but it’s certain that I’m no match for his body.”

The elder Soliman stands 2.04 meters and was one of the best post-up players in France with excellent back-to-the-basket play and long arms and athleticism. 

“My father instilled in me the values that will enable me to succeed such as hard work, respect and punctuality. The same goes for my mother who has always been there for me,” said Nathan, whose mother Séverine, played up to the women's second division. 

Even though basketball was so prevalent in his life, the young Nathan was actually not fully into hoops for some time. He practiced swimming, tennis and handball and did not start with basketball until age 9. 

“My level in other sports was pretty good, but I chose basketball because it offered me a greater future,” Soliman said.  

And basketball is not the only thing for Soliman, who also partakes in drawing, video games and reading. 

“Drawing is a hobby, video games are a way to communicate with my friends in Nantes and reading is an escape. It takes the pressure off,” said Soliman, who listed Guy de Maupassant, Jules Vernes and Mary Shelley as some of his favorite authors. 

With those interests and values instilled in him, Soliman wanted to put more focus on basketball. And a move to INSEP was the next address. 

“I decided to join INSEP because it was the quickest way to be the best,” said Soliman, who arrived at the academy in 2022 at age 13 - two years earlier than most players are accepted into the program. 

His parents accompanied him to Paris for the transition, which he appreciates, but knows eventually he will be on his own. 

“I know that if I want to be the best, that I’ll have to make sacrifices and seeing my family less often is part of that,” he said. 

Soliman also is aware of the attention surrounding him. But he says he pays it no mind.

“I don’t worry about that. I have people who surround me every day. They take care of it - the coaches, my parents and my agency.”

Nathan Soliman is busy working on becoming the next best young talent.  

Top talent Soliman just wants to be the best 

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