GB has announced the players selected to compete in the FIBA Youth Nations League 2025.

Both the men’s and women’s U23 3x3 sidesplay in stops 1-3 of Europe 2 this week, playing one game per day, then go on to Hungary for stops 4-6 of ‘Europe 2’ where they play 2 pool games a day. If either team top the group they play a crossover against the winner of the other pool.

The Youth Nations League is an exciting opportunity for the next generation of GB’s 3x3 programme to gain experience participating in an international competition at the highest level, and will promote the 3x3 game both domestically and abroad.

Moreover, as this is a ‘Pink’ ranked 3x3 competition, GB’s performances will earn significant ranking points for the national federation, which in turn determines the FIBA competitions the senior GB 3x3 teams can qualify for.

To read more about 3x3 Rankings, check our guide here.

Veron Eze at FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League 2024

Men’s U23 3x3

Men’s U23 3x3 Head Coach Will Maynard will lead the Men’s side for the competition.

As Head Coach of the Loughborough Riders, the NBL Division 1 affiliate of the Leicester Riders, as well as Head Coach of the Charnwood Basketball Academy, and the Loughborough University BUCS team, Maynard has extensive experience in developing young talent. He is also an assistant coach for the SLB team, the Leicester Riders.

Maynard was awarded NBL Division 1 Coach of the Year for his efforts in orchestrating the league’s best defence and supporting the breakthrough of exciting new prospects such as Edward Onyia, who won U19 Player of the Year.

"I'm pumped to coach in our 3x3 Nations League tournament! Despite our short prep time, we're hungry to continually improve and represent Great Britain with pride and sportsmanship. We want to make our mark!"Head Coach Will Maynard

The squad available to Maynard is as follows:

• Victor Ndoukou - Leicester Riders
• Tomide Akinsiku - Anglia Ruskin University
• Veron Eze - Hemel Storm
• Elijah Walsh - Campbell University Fighting Camels (USA)
• Flynn Boardman-Raffet - Memorial University Seahawks (Canada)
• Dijarn Russell-Walters - William Penn University (USA)

Victor Ndoukou joins Maynard from the Leicester Riders. The 6’8” forward signed his first professional contract with the Riders in January 2023, having attended Loughborough University and the Charnwood Basketball Academy.

A dominant rebounder and accurate three-point shooter, Ndoukou’s game translates well to 3x3, where Coach Maynard, already familiar with his skills, will rely on him to drive GB’s offence.

Nkoudou played in 3x3 Europe Cup Qualifiers

Tomide Akinsiku attends Anglia Ruskin University, where he has established himself as an elite rim-runner. He has an innate ability to drive through contact and finish at the rim with force.

The final player still honing his craft in Britain is Veron Eze, a member of the Hemel Storm in the NBL Division 1.

Elijah Walsh, Flynn Boardman-Raffet, and Dijarn Russell-Walters all attend universities in the US and Canada.

Walsh plays for the Campbell Fighting Camels, where, in his junior year, he has become an important rotational piece in the team’s backcourt.

Boardman-Raffet graduated from Memorial University this summer, 4th in points per game across Canadian universities, averaging 21.4 points this season. During his career as a Seahawk, he was a two-time AUS First Team All-Star, scoring over 1000 points for the programme.

Having played for Eastern Arizona College in his first two years in the US, Dijarn Russell-Walters has transferred to William Penn University. The 6’7” forward brings offensive versatility and size that gives a depth of options for Coach Maynard.

Dijarn Russell-Walters at FIBA U18 European Championship 2022

GB have been drawn into Pool A alongside France and Italy, whom they will play first before playing a deciding fixture against one of Hungary, Portugal, or Romania.

France is by far the highest-ranked 3x3 team in this competition with 1,010,293 points. Italy fall in third, with 477,983, whilst GB’s relatively young 3x3 programme ranks them fifth, with 126,381 points.

GB defeated Hungary 10-17 in last year’s tournament, where only Veron Eze featured out of the current squad. However, losses to Israel and Poland completed their campaign.

Despite the quality of opposition, GB will be determined to improve on last year’s efforts, with yet another year of development in the 3x3 game under their belts, and an exciting roster of young talent ready to showcase their ability.

Women’s U23 3x3

Kenrick Liburd has been appointed Head Coach of the 3x3 U23 Women’s team for the FIBA Nations League tournament.

A GB coaching veteran, Liburd returns for his eighth year within the national set-up. He has coached GB youth teams from the U16s, all the way up to the U23s, and is dedicated to player development. He is a self-proclaimed ‘teacher at [his] core’ and strives to build the next generation of GB basketball stars.

Liburd currently leads the WNBL Division 1 side, the Brent Bulls, as well as the leading Women’s Elite Academy programme, the Nottingham Academy Wildcats. His commitment to success and leadership will prove invaluable for the women’s squad ahead of their Nations League campaign.

Katie Januszewska at FIBA Youth Nations 3x3 2024

This is the squad Liburd will take to Romania:

• Katie Januszewska - Leicester Riders
• Pollyanna Storie - University of Calgary Dinos (Canada)
• Parker Hill - Helios Basket (Switzerland)
• Ella Doherty - California State University Monterey Bay (USA)
• Jessie Ford - New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls (USA)
• Shaniya Rose-McDonald - University of South Carolina Beaufort (USA)

Katie Januszewska is another graduate of the prestigious Charnwood Basketball Academy and one of GB’s top young prospects.

In a truly remarkable season, Januszewska won this year’s Molten Young Player of the Year in the Women’s SLB for the Leicester Riders, and was also called up to the Women’s Senior team, featuring in this year’s FIBA Women’s EuroBasket. She brings a level of experience and scoring excellence to the Nations League tournament, which will elevate GB enormously.

Pollyanna Storie recently graduated from the University of Calgary, where she averaged 9.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. The Scottish guard has long been featured in the GB youth set up and adds to the experience within the squad.

University of Princeton graduate and recent Helios Basket signing Parker Hill joins GB U23, adding size and rebounding acumen. At 6’4”, Hill had her best season as a senior for the Princeton Tigers, earning Honourable Mention to the All-Ivy and Academic All-Ivy teams, and setting career highs in scoring, at 7.3 points per game, shooting percentage, at 62.6%, and rebounding, at 4.7 per game.

Ella Doherty is also a recent graduate from California State University, Monterey Bay. As a senior, she averaged 12.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, demonstrating impressive rebounding skills for a 6’0” guard.

Jessie Ford has transferred to the New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls for her senior year in the US. Another talented guard, Ford complements the squad with her ability to set up her teammates and handle the ball. Ford made her debut for the Women’s Senior 5x5 team last year in the World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Rwanda.

Completing the squad, Shaniya Rose-McDonald finished her senior year at the University of South Carolina Beaufort this summer. The Nottingham Wildcats graduate will join GB to face France and Hungary in Pool A.