At the FIBA U20 European Championship held in Slovakia from July 12 to 20, the Ukrainian national team not only won the gold medal but also introduced a new leader to the world. Team captain Egor Sushkin was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.
Statistics that speak for themselves
Sushkin's performance at the tournament can be characterized by one word — dominance. The point guard became the top scorer of the entire championship, averaging 18.9 points per game. In addition to his scoring, he demonstrated a high level of team play, averaging 4.7 assists (fourth in the tournament) and 2.9 rebounds.
Decisive contribution in the final
The climax of his success was his performance in the final match against Iceland. Egor Sushkin took responsibility in the decisive moments, scoring 26 points to secure a 74-64 victory for his team. It was this match that solidified his status as the tournament MVP.
All-Tournament Team and prospects
Ukraine had two players named to the All-Tournament Team. Alongside Sushkin, center Desmond Yamu was selected. He ranked eighth in the tournament for rebounds, averaging 9.8 rebounds, 9.4 points, and 2.4 assists per game.
For Egor Sushkin, this success was a logical continuation of his rapid growth. He made his professional debut in 2024 with Kyiv-Basket in the Ukrainian SuperLeague. In just two years with the Kyiv club, the 18-year-old basketball player rose to the level of a national team player.
The future looks promising for the star: Sushkin recently signed with a new agency, signaling his intention to try his luck in a foreign league. Meanwhile, personnel changes have occurred at his current club: head coach Dmytro Zabyrchenko left Kyiv-Basket to take charge of Kharkivsky Sokoly.
