Miikka Muurinen: Finland’s Teen Sensation Making Waves at EuroBasket
How an 18-Year-Old Prospect Is Holding His Own Against Europe’s Best
Every September in the United States, the buzz is usually centered around the kickoff of college football, the return of the NFL, and the excitement of a new school year. But for me, every four years, late August and early September mean something different: EuroBasket. It’s one of my favorite basketball events, and I was fortunate to witness it live in Istanbul back in 2017—the same summer Luka Dončić had his breakout, leading Slovenia to the championship.
This year’s tournament has been no less thrilling. EuroBasket has lived up to the hype with upsets, drama, and global stars like Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokić reminding fans why they’re among the five players in the world. But amid the spotlight on Europe’s established elite, 18-year-old Miikka Muurinen of Finland has emerged as one of the tournament’s most intriguing stories.
The Youngest on the Stage
Muurinen should be preparing for his senior year of high school at AZ Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona. Instead, he’s suiting up as the youngest player in EuroBasket, contributing meaningful minutes for a Finnish team that just shocked Serbia in one of the tournament’s biggest upsets in recent memory. The Finns have been led by Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz, who has been brilliant throughout the competition, averaging 26 points and 8 rebounds per game. Alongside Markkanen’s star power, Muurinen’s poise and timely contributions have helped Finland capture the spotlight.
In that game against Serbia, Muurinen finished with nine points, a rebound, and a steal in just 12 minutes. More importantly, he buried back-to-back threes over Jokić—despite having missed all of his prior attempts from deep in the competition. That kind of confidence, in the biggest game of his life, said as much about his future as any box score could.
So far, his averages—5.8 points, 2 rebounds, and just 10 minutes per game—don’t scream future star. But the flashes are impossible to ignore. He’s shooting 10-of-11 inside the arc, flashing highlight dunks, and bringing energy on both ends. The defense, motor, and toughness have stood out just as much as the scoring.
A Global Journey
Muurinen’s journey to this point has been anything but typical. Born in Finland to a basketball family, he grew up around the game at the highest level. His father, Kimmo, played for the Finnish national team, while his mother, Jenni, hooped at the University of North Carolina before also representing Finland internationally. With both parents having worn the national team jersey, Miika is now carrying the family legacy into a new generation.
At just 15 years old, he left Finland to play for Zentro Basket in Madrid, where his name quickly started to circulate among European scouts. In fact, I flew to Madrid in 2023 specifically to evaluate him because I’d heard he was an up-and-coming prospect. But in a twist of timing, just days before I landed, I learned he had already moved to the United States to attend Sunrise Christian Academy. A year later, he transferred to AZ Compass Prep, where he now plays his high school ball while maintaining his spot as one of the most highly regarded prospects in the 2026 class.
First Impressions
I first saw Muurinen live in spring 2024 at a tournament in Dubai that also featured two highly touted French prospects, Noa Essengue and Joan Beringer. Essengue went on to be selected 12th overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2025 NBA Draft, while Beringer followed five picks later to the Minnesota Timberwolves. While those two will be beginning their rookie seasons in the NBA, Muurinen will be returning to the States to play high school basketball.
His numbers in Dubai were modest—7 points and 5 rebounds per game—but the flashes were enough to capture my attention. Keep in mind, he had just flown more than 20 hours from the U.S. to the Middle East, and his timing was understandably off. Even through the inefficiency, though, the tools were obvious: a 6’10” frame, mobility, coordination, and the ability to impact games with his energy and athleticism.
Muurinen has the makings of a jumbo wing with guard skills in a forward’s body. He can handle the ball, start fast breaks after grabbing a rebound, and finish above the rim with force. In half-court settings, he’s shown the ability to post smaller defenders, attack slower bigs, and create mismatches. He plays with a toughness and edge that’s rare for his age, and he’s not afraid to put his imprint on games—even when he’s sharing the court with some of the best players in the world.
The Road Ahead
Already on the radar of NBA scouts, Muurinen is projected as one of the top recruits in the 2026 high school class, with programs like Arkansas, Duke, and Kentucky battling for his commitment. His EuroBasket experience, where he’s proven he can handle the moment against grown professionals, has only raised his profile.
At just 18 years old, Muurinen has joined his parents as a representative of Finnish basketball on the international stage. His journey from Finland to Madrid to the United States is just beginning, but the confidence, versatility, and competitive fire he’s showing at EuroBasket suggest that he won’t just be a name to remember in the future—he’s already making noise now.