Mark your calendars: Starting dates of 2020-21 European youth leagues
Mark your calendars: Starting dates of 2020-21 European youth leagues
When will the top talents in Germany be playing? What about the future stars of Turkish basketball? How soon can we watch the top prospects in talent-laden Spain?
Taking The Charge took away the work for you and here is a list of the starting dates of some of the bigger youth leagues on the continent. This is not an extensive list as it doesn’t include all leagues - also because the countries have not announced when the leagues will begin.
Serbia for example have yet to make public when the first games of the Roda JLS U19 and Triglav KLS U17 competitions will tip off. There are also no dates yet for the competitions in Italy and Croatia among others, including also the Adriatic League ABA U19 competition. And of course, the continent anxiously awaits the announcement of the schedule and teams for the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament.
But … many leagues already have dates and fans in those countries can look forward to youth hoops starting soon.
France - LNB Espoirs U21 - September 18
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne go into the 2021-22 season as the reigning champions of the U21 league and the team was especially impressive last season because they won the title with a large number of players who were quite a bit younger. This league is a good one to see how younger prospects can deal with stronger and more athletic players.
Germany - NBBL U19 - October 10
We haven’t seen a NBBL U19 champion since 2019 when FC Bayern Munich claimed their third straight title and fourth in the last five years. Seeing the teams play again will be a major step forward after missing the end of the 2019-20 and the entire 2020-21 season due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Germany - JBBL U17 October 10
FC Bayern Munich actually come into the 2021-22 youth season in Germany as the double reigning champions as the southern German powerhouse also won the JBBL U16 title in 2019. Before that, ALBA Berlin had won the previous two crowns. Just like the NBBL, Covid-19 restrictions wiped out the end of the 2019-20 season and all of the 2020-21 campaign.
Slovenia - Fantje U19 - 1.A SKL - October 17
The cooperation team Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana will be the big favorite to defend their title in the Slovenian U19 league. The team is a combined effort between Croatian side Cedeveta and Olimpija of Slovenia.
Spain - EBA 4th division - September 18
Spain - LEB Silver third division - October 9
Spain - LEB Gold second division - October 16
Spain’s second to fourth divisions are actually not youth leagues per se but all four feature youth teams from most of the top clubs in Spain, so it’s a good chance to follow what the top prospects are doing.
Turkey - Basketbol Gencler Ligi U19 - October 22
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul are the reigning champions of the U19 league after fending off Tofas Bursa 81-80 in last season’s thrilling final. The 2019-20 season was not completed after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Banvit Bandirma won the 2018-19 crown as they downed Anadolu Efes Istanbul in the final.
EYBL (European Youth Basketball League)
U17 (2005-born) - November 18
U15 (2007-born) - November 18
U16 (2006-born) Decemeber 16
U20 (2001-born) December 16
The EYBL is a series of youth leagues made up mostly - but not solely - of northern and eastern European teams. These are pan-European leagues that play mini-tournaments a couple of times a season.
There are many, many more youth leagues in Europe. These are just the ones that have already announced the starting dates of their competitions.