By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A total of 28 countries are looking to join hosts Cyprus, Finland, Latvia, and Poland in the 2025 EuroBasket. The window tipping off the final Qualification Round generated upsets across the continent, disrupting qualifying bids for several contenders, including Spain. But the values of international basketball are not all about wins and losses.
Breakout performances by youngsters and more experienced players shying off top-tier action at the club level once more display the constant expansion of basketball to new areas and the beauty of the sport.
Among numerous potential selections, Eurohoops focused on the top five new faces of the window played between February 22 and 26. Not all rookies, still far from household names most of the fans are familiar with through continental and domestic leagues in Europe.
Tarik Biberovic
In immediate danger of a 0-2 start in Group B of the EuroBasket Qualifiers, Turkiye avoided a winless window when Tarik Biberovic turned and made a midrange jumper as time ran out against Iceland in Istanbul on Sunday.
Biberovic, 23, debuted with the senior national team of Turkiye under Ergin Ataman. A brilliant introduction by averaging 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per contest, besides emerging as the last-second hero in Gameday 2.
Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 58th overall pick of the 2023 NBA draft, staying with Fenerbahce Beko for the 2023-24 season boosted development. His clutch talents came with an increased role. Similar to the game commentator, fans enjoyed the buzzer-beater, especially those supporting Turkiye.
Jonas Delalieux
Twelve years after representing Belgium in the second division of the 2012 U20 European Championship, Jonas Delalieux as an experienced forward earned his first senior cap. Two appearances, actually, with 7.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game as the Lions marched to 2-0 in Group C of the EuroBasket Qualifiers.
Delalieux, 31, lasted 28 minutes against Slovakia and Spain under the guidance of Dario Gjergja. His outings can set up more call-ups heading to the international windows of the 2024-25 season with Belgium aiming to get the job done and clinch a berth in the next edition of EuroBasket.
Playing for Hubo Limburg United through most of his career, grinding and making plenty of noise in the betFirst BNXT League over recent years lifted him from the club to the international level. Joining the national team, a very successful project, was the most recently accomplished task.
Bakary Dibba
A young combo forward in Bakary Dibba has been flying under the radar but helped Denmark move from the Pre-Qualifiers to the Qualifiers with 10.7 points and 5.2 points per game over six appearances. Moving into the final Qualification Round, he added 9.0 points and 4.0 rebounds for a promising 1-1 start in Group G of the EuroBasket Qualifiers.
Dibba, 22, is another exciting piece of Danish basketball. Aiming to catch up with established countries further up the list of the best national teams of the world, Denmark rallying past Georgia on Friday was huge in the hunt for the first appearance in the EuroBasket since 1955. Such prospects joining the battle alongside leader Gabriel Iffe Lundberg shape a bright future.
A regular with junior national teams of his country, his club career stretched abroad over the last three seasons but limited to the second-tier division of Germany, ProA.
Oleksandr Kovliar
Despite his young age, Oleksandr Kovliar has been a regular for the senior national team of Ukraine. From debuting in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers and extending to last summer’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament, he dropped 20.0 points and 9.0 assists per game in the departing international window. Falling to Slovenia and Portugal, his country was forced to 0-2 in Group A of the EuroBasket Qualifiers.
Kovliar, 21, is not among the rookies on our list but a huge prospect for Ukrainian basketball. A floor general looking capable of leading Ukraine to successful international campaigns for several years.
Last November, he moved from Kalev/Cramo to Monbus Obradoiro and Spain’s Liga Endesa. A big upgrade to the most competitive domestic league of the Old Continent, hoping to improve odds for a selection in the 2024 NBA draft.
Vassilis Toliopoulos
Besides Vassilis Spanoulis taking over as the new head coach, another Billy, Vassilis Toliopoulos is the new star for Greece. His senior international career was propelled from uneventful participation in the Qualifiers of the 2022 EuroBasket and 2023 FIBA World Cup to 14.0 points and 4.0 assists per contest for a 2-0 start in Group F of the EuroBasket Qualifiers.
Toliopoulos, 27, has been on a roll via an explosive club campaign with Aris Midea. Pushing forward through Greece seems a natural development for the combo guard.
A former player of several Greek teams, including Turkish Airlines EuroLeague outfit Olympiacos, destinations opening up extend to the national team hoping to return to past success as soon as possible.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL