Future Stars International Tournament Returns from Hiatus in London

Image credit: Future Stars

The iconic Future Stars tournament is making its comeback in London this coming weekend after a six-year hiatus.

The tournament was previously used as National team preparation for European sides and will return on Friday 30 August – Sunday 1 September at Brunel University, with England’s Under-18 National team taking part alongside a number of top junior club sides.

European stars such as Jan Vesely, Dario Saric, Rudy Gobert, Tomas Satoransky and Nicolo Meli – some of which will compete at the upcoming FIBA World Cup – previously featured in the event with the 2019 edition also featuring some leading European talent.

Current GB international Rob Gilchrist showed out in the 2011 edition, while the likes of Luke Nelson, Kavell Bigby-Williams and Mo Soluade all represented England at the last event in 2013.

There will also be a National coaching clinic, while the event has partnered with the London Region of Basketball England to include tournaments for boys and girls at Under-16 level alongside the international tournament.

“We love to challenge our players to perform at the elite level and constantly testing their attitude to develop,” said Steve Bucknall, Basketball England’s Technical and Talent Performance Manager.

“The Gintreda Future Stars International Tournament 2019 offers this arena to our BE future stars. By putting our players into constant competitive opportunities, we hope to develop the best.”

Emma Chambers, Director of Future Stars added: “With the relaunch of Future Stars for 2019, our intention is to create a platform for the best talent from around Europe to compete. This year’s edition will see the highest level of junior basketball to be played in the UK in recent years.

“Our intention is to expand this into an annual event with next year elite European teams competing against top AAU programmes. We are also very proud of the National Coaching Clinic which provides a much needed opportunity for our coaches to gain knowledge from those with a proven track record on the international scene.”

Entrance is free with the tournament schedule as follows:

Friday 30th August
3pm: England Under-18s v Maccabi Tel Aviv
5pm: Rytas Vilnius v Oxygen Orange 1 Basket
7pm: Porsche Ludvigsburg v U18 England National Team

Saturday 31st August
2pm: Porsche Ludvigsburg v Maccabi Tel Aviv
4pm: Rytas Vilnius v England Under-18s
6pm: Oxygen Orange 1 Basket v Porsche Ludvigsburg
8pm: Rytas Vilnius v Maccabi Tel Aviv

Sunday 1st September
9am: Oxygen Orange 1 Basket v Maccabi Teddy Tel Aviv
11am: Rytas Vilnius v Porsche Ludvigsburg
1pm: England Under-18s v Oxygen Orange 1 Basket
4pm: Third place game
6pm: Final

The coaching clinic is suitable for aspiring coaches at every level and costs £40 per delegate which includes a commemorative coaching board. Oren Aharoni – head coach of Israel’s U16, U18 and U20 teams since 2009 – will be present as well as Francesco Papi, current assistant coach at Montepaschi Sienna, Ludwisgburg assistant coach David Gale and Lithuanian coach Gintautas Vileita.

For more information and to book your place at the National coaching clinic 2019 visit www.futurestars.eu

You can also follow on Twitter (@futurestars_eu), Facebook (@FutureStarsLondon) and Instagram (@futurestars.eu)

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