REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - Euroleague’s prestigious youth tournament may have been rebranded with a new name, but everything points to a re-match of last year's final as the Adidas Next Generation Tournament tips off in Madrid at the Euroleague Final Four.

Last spring, Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade held a previously undefeated Real Madrid to just 42 points in capturing the 2013-14 Nike International Junior Tournament (NIJT) title 55-42. Crevena Zvezda finally broke through as they were making their fifth straight appearance at the finals. 

The NIJT gives way to the ANGT - but only the name (and a few billboards and banners) has changed. 

The ANGT continues to bring together many of the greatest young players in Europe. And the 2014-15 Finals are no exception. The only main difference this year from last is that there are two dominant teams many believe are locks for the final, which will take place just hours in advance of the Euroleague title bout at Barclaycard Center. 

Crvena Zvezda have many of their top players back including 2014 Finals MVP Vojislav Stojanovic, captain David Miladinovic, Nikola Rakicevic, Aleksandar Aranitovic and Borisa Simanic. And the team plays so well together unselfishly, it makes it very tough to know who will step up to beat you - and there are various options.

Real Madrid will have revenge on their minds with a handful of players back from last year’s finalists, including Santiago Yusta, Jonathan Barreiro, Samba Ndiaye and Emanuel Cate. And of course there is the addition of the magical 16-year-old Slovenia Luka Doncic. 

If there is anything other than a Madrid-Zvezda final on Sunday, it would a surprise. And the groups are set up that it could be that way with Madrid in Group A with Stellazzurra Basketball Academy Rome, VEF Riga and INSEP Paris. Crvena Zvezda meanwhile are in Group B with Zalgiris Kaunas, Unicaja Malaga and Spars Sarajevo.

That is not to say that the other six teams cannot beat one of the favourites and possibly reach the final - which will pit the two group winners against one another. 

Zalgiris are back in the Finals for the 11th time in 13 years and are shooting for title number three after 2003 and 2007. The Lithuanians will have a strong team that includes Martynas Echodas, who was named to the 2014 Finals All-Tournament Team, as well as Martynas Varnas, Laurynas Beliauskas and Laurynas Birutis.

The other past champion in Madrid is INSEP, who won the title back in 2010. The French side is one of four wild card recipients and loaded with talent. Both Stephane Gombauld and 2.12 center Jonathan Jeanne were part of France's team at the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship while Bathiste Tchouaffe was named to the Kaunas ANGT qualifier All-Tournament Team. The French also will have the services of Killian Tillie - the younger brother of Laboral Kutxa Vitoria forward Kim Tillie – who missed the qualifiers and has only played five games thus far this season.

Stellazzurra went undefeated en route to the Rome qualifying tournament title and will be playing in the Finals for the first time. Their undisputed leader is Andrea La Torre, one of Italy’s top players at last summer's U17 Worlds. But the Italian is only one of Rome's main players, who also include Todor Radonjic, Kristinn Palsson and Njegos Sikiras.

Unicaja Malaga return to the Finals for the first time since 2009 with a wild card after losing a qualifier final for the fourth time since 2009 - to Stellazzurra in Rome. The Spanish team feaures Romaric Belemene, Viny Okouo and Rares Uta as well as Carlos Corts.

The final two teams are debutants with very exciting players. VEF feature Rodions Kurucs, one of the most promising players of his age group while the Latvians also have Karlis Silins, Verners Kohs and Zigmars Raimo. Bosnian club Spars meanwhile have Edin Atic but the wild card recipients also include Amar Gegic. 

VEF Riga and Spars both enter the tournament as underdogs but there is plenty of reason to watch the teams - and the entire tournament. 

David Hein

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

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