Preview: FIBA U20 Men's Youth EuroBasket 2025

Ireland are continuing preparations in Yerevan, Armenia ahead of their FIBA U20 Men's Youth EuroBasket opener against Estonia on Saturday at 13:00. The game will be broadcast live on FIBA's YouTube Channel and also on the Basketball Ireland website. 

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OUR OPPOSITION 

Ireland have been drawn in Group B alongside Armenia (97^th), Estonia (57^th) Latvia (22nd), and Montenegro (43rd). Ireland are currently ranked 73rd following the 2024 competitions.

They will face each other once over four game days starting on Saturday, July 5th before the top two teams in each of four groups advance to the quarter-finals. The third, fourth and fifth placed teams will go into the 9-21st classification games.

Prior to facing Ireland, Estonia have lost their opening game of the tournament on Friday, 79-77 to Montenegro.

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SQUAD NEWS 

Ireland U20 men's head coach Thomas Walsh has named two uncapped players in his 12 man squad ahead of FIBA Youth EuroBasket 2025. 6'4 guard and East Carolina commit Daithi Quinn, alongside another 19 year-old guard, Tiernan Stynes - son of former Dublin GAA and AFL star Jim - will win their first caps when taking the floor against Estonia.

Quinn averaged 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals per game as a junior for Tabor Academy in Massachusetts last season, while Stynes had four points, three rebounds and just over one assist per game in his freshman season at the University of Quincy. Stynes appeared in 19 games, starting four. 

Four players return from the squad which finished with a 3-4 record and 14th in the tournament a year ago - Daryl Cuff (UCC Demons), Jack Kehoe (Unattached), Aivaras Uosis (Carson Newman University, USA) and Philip Kearney (Limerick Celtics). Uosis and Kehoe both played significant minutes last year, while Cuff, who was part of UCC Demons Domino's Men's Super League winning squad this season and Kearney, who featured prominently as Limerick Celtics won the Domino's Men's Division One and U20 Men's National League, were also big contributors. 

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LAST TIME OUT

Ireland finished 14th in this competition in 2024 with a 3-4 record. Beating Azerbaijan, Netherlands and Kosovo, while losing to Great Britain, Latvia, Portugal and Croatia.  

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FIXTURES

Ireland v Estonia, Saturday, July 12th, 13:00, Yerevan (ARM) 

WATCH LIVE

Ireland v Armenia, Sunday, July 13th, 17:00, Yerevan (ARM) 

WATCH LIVE

Ireland v Latvia, Tuesday, July 15^th,  10:30, Yerevan (ARM) 

WATCH LIVE

Ireland v Montenegro, Wednesday, July, 16^th, 08:00, Yerevan (ARM) 

WATCH LIVE

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Ireland squad:

Ryan Calo (University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown, USA), Daryl Cuff (UCC Demons), Tony Ezeonu (Ohio Dominican University, USA), Declan Gbinigie (Titans BC), Fortune Igbokwe Titans BC), Philip Kearney (Limerick Celtics), Jack Kehoe (Unattached), Joshua Osayanrhion (Garvey's Tralee Warriros), Harry Scully (St. Thomas More, USA), Tiernan Stynes (University of Quincy, USA),  Aivaras Uosis (Carson Newman University, USA), Daithi Quinn (East Carolina University, USA).