Avdija was the clear leader of the Maccabi team, which did not compete in the ANGT last season and last played in the ANGT Finals in 2006-07. He was hoping for some more magical moments in Germany after his last trip to the country ended with Israel winning its first national team continental crown when it captured the title at the FIBA U20 European Championship 2018 in Chemnitz.
"Goosebumps really. I can hardly express what it meant for me and what that team was like for me. A big, big, big experience and really an honor to represent my country and bring them the first gold medal and I will try my hardest to win all the trophies I can in the world," said Avdija, who averaged 12.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 steals in that event. That performance earned him a spot on the tournament's All-Star Five - at the tender age of 17 years old.
"I think age really doesn't matter. I am not thinking about my age," Avdija explained. "When I play at the senior level I am not thinking about how young I am or how weak I am. I am not thinking about this. I am playing my game and really everybody has their own development pace. Everybody develops at different speeds and I am not worried."
The 2.05-meter guard has basketball greatness in his blood; he is the son of former Crvena Zvezda Belgrade team captain and Yugoslavian international Zufer Avdija. The younger Avdija has already made history with Maccabi when he became the youngest player to debut with the club. He was 16 years and 320 days. when he appeared in an Israeli League game against Ironi Nes-Ziona on November 19, 2017.
"I was nervous, but my teammates shared the ball with me. They wanted me to score and I am thankful for this," said Avdija, who missed his two three-point shot attempts in 3 minutes of action that night. Nearly a year later - on November 22, 2018 - Avdija made his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut when Maccabi hosted Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul at Menora Mivtachim Arena.
"There I wasn't nervous. I was confident. I came into the game super ready and super motivated. I didn't get a lot of minutes but I tried my best and I am thankful that I scored that basket. It was very emotional for me. It's a moment that will stay with me all my life," said Avdija, who scored 2 points on one shot attempt in 2:28 minutes of action and has totaled 1:57 minutes in two other EuroLeague games this season.
Avdija said he is working hard to convince head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos to give him more playing time.
"I am doing everything I can. I am working hard and I see myself in practices really getting better. Day by day I am progressing and making coach trust me more. I am trying to play good defense. I am not worried about playing, but am working and being thankful for the minutes I get. They are important. But I shouldn't worry. They will come," said Avdija, who is averaging 3.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 10.7 minutes over 12 games in the Israeli League.
Avdija practices solely with Maccabi's senior team so Munich was a chance to play with his boyhood friends - something he valued very much. But it was also just a chance to do something he truly loves and cherishes: playing the game. And that is something he expresses with every social media post with the hashtag #LivingTheDream.
"It's so much fun. Every day I just say thanks for another day that I can touch the ball and score and be in gyms and just be with a lot of good guys and my teammates. It's really #LivingTheDream and I won't change it. That will always stay my motto."
Just living the dream while accomplishing great things.
https://www.adidasngt.com/u18/news/latest/i/9felb3mwhqcicmyh/maccabi-s-avdija-is-just-livingthedream
JUSTIN BASSEY
Born January 26, 1998, USA, Harvard University, USA
Justin Bassey grew up in Denver, Colorado as the son of a Nigerian father and Thai mother. He went to Harvard University and made his sole appearance on the international stage at the FIBA U18 Asian Championship 2016, playing for Thailand. This article was published on the FIBA U18 Asian Championship 2016.
Billups fan Bassey thrilled to be playing for Thailand
TEHRAN (FIBA Asia U18 Championship 2016) - Growing up in Denver and around the Nuggets of the NBA, Justin Bassey was exposed to a high level of basketball culture. Now the guard is hoping to bring some of that knowledge to the Thailand team at the FIBA Asia U18 Championship 2016.
Bassey is the son of a Thai mother and Nigerian father and has only been with Thailand team for a month ahead of the tournament in Tehran. But the Denver area native feels he has been very well received into his new family.
"I've enjoyed being on the team. They've all been super welcoming. We've pretty much become a family," Bassey said. "We're all really close. We love going out, talking and catching up with one another so it's definitely a group of guys I'm very fond of. I'm looking forward to staying in touch with and building up on our relationship in the future."
The future is the present as well as Bassey is with a Thai team which is back at the FIBA Asia U18 Championship for the first time since 2006.
"The team's expectations are to go out and play hard," he said. "We don't know too much about the other teams and the talents that they are bringing forward but we expect ourselves to play the best of our abilities and to really show that Thailand can be a contender."
Thailand dropped their first game at the FIBA Asia U18 tournament, losing 100-93 to India as Bassey scored a team-high 20 points to go with 6 assists. And the Harvard University-bound guard feels ready to take a leadership role.
"I'm expecting to lead my team, not only vocally but by example. Just playing hard, holding everyone accountable," Bassey said. "So when I tell someone to show up somewhere, be there. If there's a loose ball, I expect everyone to dive on the floor. I think that one of the better ways to lead, especially on the court, is by showing that I'm willing to do it myself."
Bassey grew up around the game, starting playing at around 3 years old in a YMCA basketball league. Bassey grew up looking up to Kobe Bryant and LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal. Bassey remembers watching Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony also playing for the Nuggets.
"Just being able to go to those games and watch those teams with guys like Chauncey (Billups) and JR Smith, Melo, and AI, those were extremely fun times for me," he said. "Those guys really influenced my game and just having the opportunity to be around them and being exposed to their culture and how they conducted themselves and how they played was a big impact on how I want to shape my game and my personality."
Perhaps his closest relationship is with Billups as he played at the Chauncey Billups Elite Basketball Academy in Denver.
"I love Chauncey. He's a great guy. He's an even better role model," Bassey said. "He's always been there for all of the guys on the team. He's always willing to support, coach or listen to anything that you have to say to him. So he's been a super vital part of my development as a basketball player."
Bassey said Billups is a major reason why he has achieved what he has until now.
"I don't think I'd be nearly as good as I was if it wasn't for him. Really just nothing but appreciation and respect for Chauncey Billups."
Now it's time for Bassey to be a leader in Tehran for his mother's home country. And Bassey is excited about it.
"It'll be great to just be able to get on the court and play the game and really see how basketball in Asia has evolved and how it stacks up with basketball back home in the States," Bassey said. "I think it's an exciting time, it's a big stage. I'm representing a country that I can identify with and I'm very excited to just be on the court and play some games."
http://www.fiba.basketball/asia/u18/2016/news/billups-fan-bassey-thrilled-to-be-playing-for-thailand
ELIJAH CLARANCE
Born July 3, 1998, Sweden, Heroes Den Bosch, Netherlands
Elijah Clarance is one of the most exciting players in Europe though he really hasn't played much on the continent. The Sweden native went to high school and