Youth Basketball Champions League

The Youth Basketball Champions League (YBCL) is a European basketball competition for men's junior teams organised by FIBA Europe. The league is contested by junior teams of selected Basketball Champions League member teams which can field players younger than 18 years old. The establishment of the league was announced in January and the inaugural season began in April 2023.[1]

Youth Basketball Champions League
Organising bodyFIBA Europe
Founded2023
First season2023
CountryFIBA Europe members
Number of teams13
Current championsLithuania Rytas (1st title)
(2024)
Most championshipsBosnia and Herzegovina Igokea
Lithuania Rytas
(1 title each)
2024 Youth Basketball Champions League

The inaugural 2023 season took place with ten teams in Bursa, Turkey, and was won by Igokea.[2] The second edition expanded to 13 teams and was held in Debrecen, Hungary.[3] The second championship was won by Rytas.[4]

Winners

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Season Year Host city Final Third and fourth place
Winners Score Second place Third place Score Fourth place
1 2023

Details

Bursa  

Igokea

73–66  

Tofaş

 

Rytas

78–73  

Hapoel Jerusalem

2 2024

Details

Debrecen  

Rytas

98–62  

Galatasaray

 

Tofaş

93–89  

Igokea

All-time participants

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The following is a list of clubs who have played in the Basketball Champions League Americas at any time since its formation in 2019 to the current season.

1st Champions
2nd Runners-up
3rd Third place
4th Fourth place
SF Semifinalists
QF Quarterfinalists
RS Regular season
Q Qualified for upcoming season
Team 2023 2024 Total
seasons
  Oostende 7th 1
  Bnei Herzliya 9th 1
  Nymburk 10th 7th 2
  Opava 8th 1
  UCAM Murcia 8th 1
  Lenovo Tenerife 6th 5th 2
  Riesen Ludwigsburg 5th 11th 2
  Hapoel Jerusalem 4th 12th 2
  Rytas     2
  Galatasaray   1
  Tofaş     2
  Igokea   4th 2
  Oldenburg 6th 1
  AEK 10th 1
  Promitheas Patras 13th 1
  Debrecen 9th 1

All-Star Team and MVP

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At the end of each season, FIBA Europe selects one most valuable player and names five players to the All-Star Team.[5]

Season MVP All-Star Team Ref.
2023 Dusan Makitan (Igokea)
  • Ognjen Radosic (Igokea)
  • Ozgur Cengiz (Tofas)
  • Roe Averni (Hapoel Jerusalem)
  • Ernestas Matulevic (Rytas)
[5]
2024 Ignas Urbonas (Rytas)
  • Kerem Erdem (Igokea)
  • Efe Postel (Tofas)
  • Babel Yitu Lipasi (Lenovo Tenerife)
  • Andrej Acimovic (Igokea)
[6]

References

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  1. ^ "BCL launches the brand new Youth Basketball Champions League". Eurohoops. 2023-01-16. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  2. ^ "Igokea shine brightest, defeat Tofas for first-ever YBCL title". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  3. ^ "Debrecen hosts the expanding Youth Basketball Champions League". Eurohoops. 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  4. ^ "Rytas Vilnius celebrate their first Youth BCL title in Debrecen". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
  5. ^ a b "MVP Makitan will always remember Igokea's magical YBCL run in Bursa". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  6. ^ "MVP Urbonas of Rytas Vilnius headlines All-Star Five". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2024-04-09.