HELSINKI (FIBA U20 European Championship 2016) – Kostja Mushidi is taking in as much as he can while out in Helsinki, Finland representing Germany at the FIBA U20 European Championship.

The 18-year-old has been one of the shining lights of Germany’s run to the Semi-Finals, despite facing off against players two years his senior. 

But it has been anything but a one-man show.

Henrik Rodl’s side boast one of the most balanced offences in the competition, having been led in scoring by three different players in their five games. 

Mushidi demonstrated his undoubted talent as he went for 26 points off 8-of-12 shooting during the Group A win over Lithuania, after Jan Niklas Wimberg got the ball rolling with 20 points in the opening win over Hungary.

In Friday’s Quarter-Final it was the turn of Andreas Obst to step forward, pouring in 28 points as Germany finished strongly to advance to the last four of a European youth competition for the first time since 1986.

And Mushidi feels achieving such results with a well-rounded roster is a sign of the progress being made.

"We know that German basketball is improving from year to year and this generation is very good, 1996, 1997, 1998, so we had expectations," said Mushidi, who has jumped up an age group this year having spent the past two summers with fellow 1998-born players at U16 and U18 level.

"We knew we could go this far and now we are in the Semi-Finals and we are really proud, but we know we can go even farther. 

"It’s nice because everybody can score, everybody has leadership abilities and [against Ukraine] it was Andy [Obst], I had a big game against Lithuania, Nik [Wimberg] had a good game in the first game. 

"Everybody can make plays so it’s very nice to be in that kind of situation with that kind of team."

Mushidi has opted for a change of club situation heading into next season, swapping French side SIG Strasbourg for Serbia’s KK Mega Leks. 

With such impressive athleticism and understanding beyond his years, it will be a matter of time before his club looks for him to fill a leading role.

But he is well aware that leading the scoring and leading a team are two very different things, so he is doing his best to pick up all he can from the strong characters in the German locker room.

"They treat me really well," he smiled. "I’m not the rookie of the team, of course I am youngest, but I’m like everybody else.

"It’s nice to learn from guys like Andy who are two years older than me and know FIBA tournaments much better than me.

"On the court everybody is the same, everybody has the same value, so the age doesn’t matter.

"In Andy we have a great, vocal leader on the floor, Nik is a good leader too. The biggest thing for us is our coach Henrik."

So what must Mushidi improve on in order to add such qualities to his own game?

"The little things have got to be better," he said. "The consistency, of course, has to be better. [Against Ukraine] I was not in the game and I have to help my team medal."

Mushidi and Germany will guarantee themselves a medal with victory against Spain in Saturday’s Semi-Final.

But even if Germany’s young star leaves Helsinki empty handed, he will be sure to have had his fill of lessons in leadership and teamwork.

FIBA