FMP, Champ NIJT

Euroleague Basketball are proud to announce that as part of the eighth edition of the Nike International Junior Tournament to be held in Paris, a total of four classification tournaments will be held across Europe in Rome, L’Hospitalet, Belgrade and London, as Europe’s elite youngsters fight for the right to play on the biggest stage of all, the Final Four. Following the successful introduction of two classification tournaments in 2008 (L’Hospitalet and Belgrade), and a third in 2009 (Rome) Euroleague have decided to add one more this season in London. With these changes, Europe’s best U18 players will be present in Paris, and the team winning the tournament in May will be crowned the undisputed European Junior Club Champion. “When we first held a junior tournament six years ago on the occasion of the 2003 Final Four in Barcelona, our aim was to create something that has never before existed - a European Junior Club Championship. Thanks to the wonderful support we receive in our excellent relationship with Nike and our collaboration with A.S. Stella Azurra, CB L’Hospitalet, FMP and Barking Abbey School, we see this come to fruition” Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball CEO said. MORE

For the second year in a row, The Eternal City opens the Nike International Junior Tournament series action with the Torneo Città Di Roma, organized by A.S. Stella Azurra in Rome, Italy and running from December 27 to 29, 2009. All games will be played at Rome's Arena Altero Felici.

The 31st annual Torneig de Bàsquet Júnior "Ciutat de L'Hospitalet", in suburban Barcelona, takes the stage next between January 4 and 6, 2010. Organized by CB L'Hospitalet, the tournament is a time-tested holiday magnet for teams, fans and scouts from all over Europe and beyond.

For the third year in a row, the qualifying process to become Europe's junior club champion will pass through the basketball capital of Belgrade, Serbia, where the Euroleague Basketball Nike International Junior Classification Tournament Belgrade-JCT will be played from February 12-to 14, 2010.

The newest entry on the Nike International Junior Tournament circuit takes the qualifying challenge off the European mainland to the United Kingdom. The Barking Abbey Academy Euroleague Basketball Junior Classification Tournament will be held February 18 to 20 in the northeast London suburb of Dagenham.