The 25th annual Albert Schweitzer youth tournament tips off this weekend in Mannheim, Germany, with 16 teams from all six continents participating: The countries of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Croatia, France, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Turkey, and of course 10-time champion Team USA join two squads from Germany to comprise the field.
The US military publication this week ran an extensive article on the 2010 boys’ All-Europe basketball team, which is made up mostly of high schoolers living in Europe and chosen by the DODDS; many of these players will see action for Team USA at the Schweitzer tournament. Jamal Tuck and Dillon Wadsack are the headliners for the red, white and blue, with back-to-back All-Europe Team nods for each.
Disappointingly, Team Turkey will not be bringing Enes Kanter, who amazed observers at last year’s FIBA U18 championships by generally just being a man among boys and dominating the tournament. (Perhaps he’ll be on the squad for Turkey in the 2010 FIBA Worlds…?) And the Team Spain roster will be without Miki Servera and Malick Fall in the tournament.
On the positive side, Greece is naturally bringing a truckload of talent, with players like Marios Dermitzakis, Vasileos Kavvadas, Ioannis Molfetas and Spiros Motsenigos among others looking to makes names from themselves on the international stage. Team Germany’s U18 team should makes some waves, too, with Philipp Neumann, Patrick Heckmann and Kevin Bright out there.
The tournament’s official site has decent information on the participating squads, but information in English is sporadic. European Prospects has some good coverage of the Schweitzer, including looks at the rosters. You can start here.
The Albert Schweitzer Tournament for national youth teams will take place in Mannheim from April 3rd to 10th, 2010.
