A final look at GB Men’s U20s ahead of FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Division B
With GB Men’s U20 commencing their EuroBasket campaign on 11 July, here is a final look at their preparations for the tournament and a preview of what's to come.
GB began training camp on 11 June at the University of Essex, before travelling to Budapest to play against the Swiss U19 team and the Hungarian U20 Men’s side.
The U20s returned to England for an additional camp at Myerscough College and then jetted off once more on 29 June, this time to Istanbul, for some more preparatory fixtures. Here, they faced Slovenia, Austria, Turkey, and Croatia
Led by newly appointed Head Coach Alan Keane, the U20s will take over from where the U18 Women left off last week, playing their first match against Bulgaria at 10:30 am (BST) on 11 July.
They will next face Croatia at 10:30 am (BST) on 12 July, before matching up against Slovakia at 8:00 am (BST) on 13 July and finally Portugal at 12:00 pm (BST) on 15 July.
Coach Keane takes charge after a challenging U20 EuroBasket last year in which GB finished 12th overall.
The U20s won their first two fixtures against Ireland and Azerbaijan, respectively, by a wide margin, kickstarting an exciting campaign. However, after losses to Portugal and the Netherlands to round out group play, GB were drawn into the 9-16 seeded knockout stage.
GB defeated Latvia, and then fell to Bulgaria, leaving them in the 11/12 place play-off against Estonia. This match came down to the wire, extending into overtime, with the game never exceeding a six-point differential. GB were ultimately unable to steal the win, despite two missed free throws late by Estonia, and lost 84-83.
From that side, only Tyreese Perry-Huggins, Edward Onyia, and Nedas Cholevinskas remain in the 12 selected for this summer’s competition. Tyrese Lacey and Latrell Davis attended training camp but will be unavailable for the EuroBasket as they head back to their respective universities in the US.
Onyia, a battling forward for the Loughborough and Charnwood College Riders, averaged the most minutes last year out of the three at 25.3, scoring 6.9 points and recording seven rebounds per game in this time.
Cholevinskas won the Molten Most Improved Player in the Super League Basketball representing the Surrey 89ers this season. An elite sharpshooter, Nedas played a significant role in driving the 89ers to their first-ever Cup Final and has established himself as one of GB’s premier young talents. An emerging leader for club and country, he will captain GB at the U20 EuroBasket this year.
Yet another graduate of the Endeavour Ipswich Basketball Club talent pipeline, Tyreese Perry-Huggins is a GB Youth stalwart, having played in last year’s U20 EuroBasket and starred in the U18 European Championship in Portugal in 2023. Perry-Huggins returns to the GB fold from McKinney, Texas, where he is enjoying a full athletic scholarship at Collin College.
Benjamin Michaels, Kyle Maddison, and Daniel Nwauzu will also join up with the team, having travelled from the States. Michaels averaged 8.1 points and four rebounds per game as a freshman for the Buffalo Bills this season and will transfer to Vermont next year, whilst Maddison completed his sophomore season at the prestigious Stevens Institute of Technology, averaging 15.2 points per game and earning recognition in the All-Mac Freedom First Team. Nwauzu played for the North Platte Community College Knights in Nebraska for his freshman year.
Alexander Vourliotis has played three years in the German NBBL, most recently for Bremerhaven Eisbären. The 6’10” forward has committed to the Balboa School Roughriders in Florida for next season.
Coach Keane will bring a new, player-first approach to GB U20, as he looks to drive forward the next generation of British talent. The Co-Founder of MVMT Sports, Keane is committed to using sport as a force for good and trains coaches to be able to positively improve players’ lives, both on and off the court.
The squad Coach Keane has selected is as follows:
Re’ale Basquine - Vincennes University (USA)
Liam Campbell - Loughborough and Charnwood Riders
Amarlie Wilkinson - Jessup University (USA)
Tyreese Perry-Huggins - Collin College (USA)
Benjamin Michaels - University of Vermont (USA)
Edward Onyia - Saint Anselm College (USA)
Lewis Obiorah - University of Texas (USA)
Kyle Maddison - Stevens Institute of Technology (USA)
Nedas Cholevinskas - Surrey 89ers
Timothy Nwankwo - University of Surrey
Daniel Nwauzu - North Platte Community College (USA)
Alexander Vourliotis - Balboa School (USA)
Click below to watch the live stream of GB’s first game against Bulgaria, on 11 July
Croatia VS GB at 10:30 am (BST) on 12 July
GB VS Slovakia at 8:00 am (BST) on 13 July
Portugal VS GB at 12:00 pm (BST) on 15 July