Future Stars 2026: England teams to face Alba Berlin and others; coaching clinic info
The England U18 and U16s will take part in Future Stars 2026, which also features former EuroLeague powerhouse, Alba Berlin.
Taking place at Brunel University between 28 and 30 August, the event boasts a strong line-up with the traditional U18 category supplemented by a new U16 age group.
Alba, one of the most prestigious franchises in European basketball, with 11 German League titles, 11 German Cup titles, and a Korac Cup win in 1995, also boasts numerous appearances in the prestigious Adidas Next Generation tournament and has created a conveyer belt of elite talent.
Facing the German powerhouse in both age categories will be London United, International Basketball Academy (Italy) and the England national teams.
In the U18 category Get Better Academy from Czechia return after an impressive showing last year, while in the U16 category Pardaugava Academy from Latvia make their debut.
Steve Bucknall, Head of Talent and Performance at Basketball England, said:
"We are delighted that England will once again compete in the Future Stars Basketball Tournament.
“The event provides our young players with valuable exposure to high-quality international competition and supports their development within the England Talent Pathway.
"We look forward to testing ourselves against strong opposition and contributing to another successful tournament."
The event will feature a National Coaching Clinic on the Saturday of the Future Stars weekend with Head Coach of Croatia, Veljko Mršic a key speaker.
Coach Mršic’s playing career saw him win bronze medals at EuroBasket 1993 and 1995, the World Championships in 1994 and represent Croatia in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He also played for the likes of Olympiacos, Malaga, Zalgiris, Girona, Varese and Milano.
After his playing days, Mršic has forged an equally successful coaching career boasting winning four National Championships and four National Cups in Croatia while coaching Zadar, Cedevita, Split and Cibona. In addition to coaching in his native Croatia, he also coached in the Spanish ACB where he worked with Rio Breogan and Bilbao Basket and Italy where he successfully oversaw the progress of Varese.
Between 2020-2022 coach Mršic was held the Head Coach position of the Croatian national team and since 2025 has been the Head Coach of Dinamo Sassari.
For more information on the Future Stars National Coaching Clinic delivered in partnership with Basketball England click below.
More information on the Coaching Clinic
Rosters
U18s
- Matthew Akintolu, London Thunder
- Luca Bakary, Reading Rockets
- Kaya Birsen, London Elite
- Josiah Bosire-Blair, London Cavaliers
- Casey Burr, Derby Trailblazers
- De'Angelo Clark, City of Birmingham Rockets
- Franscesco Cole, Barking Abbey
- Camran Hanson, Manchester Magic
- David Idowu, London Elite
- Elijah Leach, Endeavour Ipswich
- Herman Ruddock Williams, London Thunder
- Fahad Saeed, Charnwood Riders
Head Coach: Antony Distras
Assistant Coach: Lucio Semedo
Assistant Coach: Tyler Sealy
Team Manager: Mike Meister
Physiotherapist: Dom Hanna
U16s
- Jaiden-Lewis Anderson, Wolverhampton SLAM
- William Duncalf, London Cavaliers
- Blake Ellis, Manchester Magic
- William Edwards, East Durham Lions
- Padre Pio Igbokwe, St Helens Saints
- Freddie Akpadiaha Jack, Northamptonshire Titans
- Kashope Nesi-Lawani, MK Breakers
- Conrad Ogan, Leicester Dynamite
- George Peoples, Folkestone Saints
- Matthew Powell, Reading Rockets
- Luca Rose, London Thunder
- Oliver Sherman, Richmond Knights
Head Coach: Anthony Reed
Assistant Coach: Jamie Tong
Assistant Coach: Michael Wilson
Team Manager: Brett Greenwood
Physiotherapist: Dan Garvey
Schedule
U18s
Teams
Alba Berlin (Germany)
England
International Basketball Academy (Italy)
London United
Get Better Academy (Czechia)
Schedule
Friday 28 August
- 16:00: England vs International Basketball Academy
- 18:00 London United vs Get Better Academy
- 20:00 International Basketball Academy vs Alba Berlin
Saturday 29 August
- 09:00: Get Better vs 5 Elite Academy
- 13:00 5 Elite Academy vs London United
- 14:00 Alba Berlin vs England
- 18:00: Semi Final 1
- 18:00: Fifth Place Game (first leg)
- 20:00: Semi Final 2
Sunday 30 August
- 11:00: Fifth Place Game (second leg)
- 11:00: Third Place Game
- 15:00: Final
U16s
Teams
Alba Berlin (Germany)
England
International Basketball Academy (Italy)
London United
Pardaugava Academy (Latvia)
Schedule
Thursday 27 August
- 16:00: London United vs Pardaugava Academy
Friday 28 August
- 16:00: England vs London United
- 18:00: Alba Berlin vs Pardaugava Academy
Saturday 29 August
- 11:00: England vs Pardaugava Academy
- 15:00: Alba Berlin vs England
- 19:00: Alba Berlin vs London United
Sunday 30 August
- 09:00: Semi Finals
- 13:00: Final and Third Place Game
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