Lopez fronts NBL’s Euro showcase

An NBL Next Stars team full of future NBA talent will head to Italy to take part in the annual Adidas Eurocamp in May.

Former Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach, Phil Handy, will coach a team led by New Zealand Breakers teen sensation Karim Lopez.

The Eurocamp is a premier pre-draft opportunity for many young stars around the world and will once again feature some big special guests in attendance, with all-time great Derrick Rose as the headline.

The showcase allows elite young athletes, who possess current or future draft eligibility, to put their best foot forward in front of NBA eyes and gives them all a chance to further impress.

"I'm super excited to have a group representing the NBL and the Next Stars program participating in such a prestigious event,” General Manager of Next Stars Liam Santamaria said.

"The Adidas Eurocamp is one of the world's premier basketball scouting events and we're thrilled to be involved."

Headlined by Lopez, a projected top ten pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Next Stars team is set to consist of exciting young talent from both Australia and abroad. American five-star prospect Tajh Ariza (St. John Bosco High School), son of NBA champion Trevor Ariza, and rising Aussie star Jai Fa’ale (NBA Global Academy) will also feature as part of the Next Stars team.

"It's a really fun group," Santamaria added.

"From elite young Aussies, to top prospects from all over the globe - and with Phil leading the team - we'll be supporting the next generation of aspiring NBA players to develop their games, gain an incredible life experience and utilise an international platform to showcase their talents."

The full roster of participating athletes for each team, including the Next Stars squad, will be announced in the coming weeks.