# Youngbloods Duo on their way to Orlando, Jr NBA World Championships

- Link: https://www.newhamyoungbloods.co.uk/2018/07/youngbloods-duo-on-their-way-to-orlando-jr-nba-world-championships/
- Published: 2018-07-15T10:56:06+01:00
- Author: admin

The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced the final rosters of the
boys team and girls team that will represent Europe at the Jr. NBA World Championship,
a first-of-its kind global youth basketball tournament for the top 13- and 14-year-
old boys and girls teams from around the world taking place Aug. 7-12, 2018 at the
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla.

The two teams, comprised of 10 players each, feature boys and girls from 12 countries
across Europe, including four from Spain, three from Lithuania and two from England,
Finland, and Sweden, respectively. The boys team will be coached by Alessandro Nocera(
Italy) and Eero Levä (Finland), while the girls team will be coached by Uros Dragicevic(
Spain) and Lina Brazdeikyte (Lithuania).

![](https://www.basketballengland.co.uk/media/5687/tinu-fakunle-1.jpg?width=515&
height=343)

After impressing at the Jr. NBA’s European selection camp in Rogla, Slovenia, England’s**
Marc Mendoza** and **Tinu Fakunle** will be heading to America after the incredible
achievement of being selected. With 47 13- and 14-year-old players from Jr. NBA 
leagues in 17 countries across Europe attending the camp, making the cut for the
final 10 was an impressive feat. Both players are part of the Newham Youngbloods
programme and a place on the European roster highlights the impact of both the Jr.
NBA programme as well as the work the club is doing.

_”To have two players picked to attend this incredible event is a great testament
to the hard work of the coaches, schools and players involved. The Jr. NBA programme
has gone from strength to strength since it’s launch and it will continue to grow
in the coming years,”_ said Basketball England’s Relationship & Coordination Manager**
Laura Doherty**. _”The opportunity to provide once in a lifetime experiences is 
something that makes the Jr. NBA programme truly special, and we’re delighted for
both Marc and Tinu on their well deserved selection.”_


_“The Jr. NBA World Championship represents another exciting step in the NBA’s current
youth basketball programming and development efforts in Europe,”_ said NBA Associate
Vice President of Basketball Operations, Europe and Middle East, **Neal Meyer**._“
These 20 Jr. NBA participants will have the opportunity to represent their country
and unite as one European team to showcase their skills on a global stage.”_

The Jr. NBA World Championship will have boys and girls divisions, each comprised
of 16 regional teams (eight U.S. and eight international teams) that will receive
all-expenses-paid trips to compete in the inaugural event.  The Jr. NBA World Championship
will include round-robin competition followed by single-elimination tournaments.
Winners of the U.S. and international brackets will play in the World Championship
game on Aug. 12.

In addition to the on-court competition at the Jr. NBA World Championship, boys 
and girls from dozens of countries from around the world will participate in off-
court activities – often alongside current and former NBA and WNBA players – including
life skills education, physical and mental wellness programming and NBA Cares community
service projects.

More information about the Jr. NBA World Championship can be found by clicking [HERE](https://jrnbawc.nba.com/index.html).

#### **_The following is a complete list of European boys participating in the first Jr. NBA World Championship in Orlando:_**

![](https://www.basketballengland.co.uk/media/5691/image1.jpeg?width=460&height=
460)

#### **_The following is a complete list of European girls participating in the first Jr. NBA World Championship in Orlando:_**

**_ _**