Other events in Baltic States

The fifteen-year-old basketball player Anrijs Miska (born in 2000) has joined the Madrid "Real" system for young basketball prospects, the "Valmiera" basketball club informs LETA.

Miska is a 203-centimeter-tall player who has been part of the "Valmiera" basketball club's system for two-and-a-half years, becoming one of the best players in Latvia's youth basketball league last season.

The season before last, Miska helped the "Valmiera" under-15 team (U-15) win gold in the league, averaging 20.8 points and 15.9 rebounds, and becoming the most valuable player of the tournament. Last season, "Valmiera" U-16 team also won gold, with Miska averaging 15.4 points and 7.9 rebounds.

At the moment, Miska has joined the U-16 national team preparing for the European Championship that will take place in Lithuania's Kaunas.

"Valmiera" President Ivars Rudzitis said he was very happy for Miska, and proud that he had been training at "Valmiera" for more than two seasons to become what he now was. Miska is as "a very talented and hardworking player. I wish him every success in his future career," said Rudzitis.

"Couple years ago when I joined the Valmiera club I could not imagine that something like this could ever happen. I can still hardly believe it, and I am very excited about the opportunity," said Miska. "This is the first time I go somewhere else for a longer period of time, and the first few months will definitely be difficult, but the opportunity is fantastic, and I am very happy to receive such an important offer."

Miska also said he was grateful to "Valmiera" for helping his development.

As reported, Rodions Kurucs, another young and talented Latvian basketball player, signed a four-year contract with the Spanish basketball club "Barcelona" last month.