Three debutants selected in Ireland U20 MNT Roster for FIBA Youth EuroBasket

Ireland U20 MNT head coach Thomas Walsh has selected three debutants in his final squad for FIBA U20 Men's Youth EuroBasket 2026, with the tournament set to get underway on Saturday, July 11th against North Macedonia in Bratislava. 

Vincent Osazee (University of the Pacific, USA) will pull on the green jersey for the first time in Slovakia, while Franciszck Chmielecki (Drogheda Wolves) and Gustas Pocevicius (Moy Tolka Rovers) will make their FIBA Youth EuroBasket bow, having previously been selected in extended squads at U16 and U18 level respectively. 

Osazee, a 6'8 power-forward/center has committed to play at University of the Pacific for the upcoming season, can play power forward or center, while Chmielecki and Pocevicius have excelled at U20 level in Ireland in recent years, with each having impressive seasons in the National League this past year. 

Four players - Joshua Osayanrhion, Fortune Igbokwe, Harry Scully and Declan Gbinigie return from the squad which finished in 7th position a year ago, a best ever performance for an Irish men's team at U20 level, while Adam Charles, Darragh Horkan, Stanley Njekwe and Dylan O'Rourke have previously represented Ireland at U16 & U18 level. 

"I am very excited to have our staff and four players returning to the programme. We had a taste of success last summer, and we really hope to build on that momentum. We have some talented players returning from American colleges, as well as players that represented their clubs very well in our National League this past season. All 12 players have shown they can compete at a high level and it will great to see them put their efforts into representing Ireland in July."

Group: 

Group A: Azerbaijan, Ireland, North Macedonia, Slovkia, Sweden. 

Fixtures:

Ireland v North Macedonia, Saturday, July 11th, EUBA Sports Hall, Bratislava (SVK), 12:30

Sweden v Ireland, Sunday, July 12th, EUBA Sports Hall, Bratislava (SVK), 12:30

Ireland v Azerbaijan, Tuesday, July 14th, EUBA Sports Hall, Bratislava (SVK), 19:30

Slovakia v Ireland, Wednesday, July 15th, EUBA Sports Hall, Bratislava (SVK), 17:00

Ireland squad:

Adam Charles (Éanna BC), Darragh Horkan (Limerick Sport Eagles), Declan Gbinigie (Titans BC/University of Galway), Fortune Igbokwe (Titans BC/University of Galway), Dylan O’Rourke (Neptune BC), Franciszck Chmielecki (Drogheda Wolves), Gustas Pocevicius (Moy Tolka Rovers), Harry Scully (Dublin Lions) Joshua Osayanrhion (Queens University of Charlotte), Stanley Njekwe (Post University, USA) Victor Okojie (UMass Lowell, USA) Vincent Osazee (University of the Pacific, USA).