LAUSANNE (Switzerland) - Slovenia have become a name on the global basketball stage thanks in large part to Luka Doncic. Despite being only 26 years old, the international superstar has already become an inspiration for his younger compatriots - including Urban Kroflic, who looks forward to taking his country to the next level at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025.
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Slovenia are making back-to-back U19 World Cup appearances for the first time as the Balkan country had played previously in 2003 and 2023.
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It shows how much Slovenian basketball has grown over the years
"It is something that we can be proud of and it's also a good result, because it shows how much Slovenian basketball has grown over the years," said Kroflic, who will be making his debut on the global stage.
Two years ago, Slovenia finished ninth - losing just two games, to USA and Canada. They actually were beating USA by 12 points late in the third quarter before losing 77-75. Slovenia also finished 7th at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022.
"I think in the past years Slovenian youth national teams had shown that we can compete for medals even though we are a small country," Kroflic said of his home nation of about 2 million people.
The Mega Belgrade guard and his compatriots have a major role model to look up to - one of their own in Luka Doncic.
"He is someone, who people really watch and follow every day. I would say that a lot of young kids and also other people, who weren’t that much into sports started to play and follow basketball because of him. He is really something big in our country," Kroflic said.
The Celje native already has made a name for himself, having starred at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2022 with 20.7 points per game and then two summers playing at the last two FIBA U18 EuroBasket.
Krofelic last summer earned a spot on the U18 EuroBasket All-Star Five as he collected 16.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals in helping Slovenia finish third - the country's second time taking bronze in the last four tournaments. That qualified the Slovenians for this summer's spectacle in Lausanne, Switzerland.
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I am very excited for my first World Cup
"I am very excited for my first World Cup, and the thing that I am most looking forward to is to compete with my teammates for our country," said Kroflic.
Slovenia have been drawn into Group B with Canada, China and Germany.
"It's a really good group. It has four very good teams. We will go game by game and give our best to win those games," he said.
The first game will be against Germany, who Slovenia know well after playing them at last year's Albert Schweitzer Tournament and then again in the U18 EuroBasket Semi-Finals - losing both games. Slovenia bounced back to beat Israel for third place.
"Germany is a good team with a good roster, but so are we. It's the first game of the tournament, so we will give our best and try to win the game," Kroflic said.
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Kroflic actually will have another national team experience to call upon.
February 24, 2025 will remain a special day for Kroflic, who made his debut for the Slovenian senior national team in FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers.
Urban Kroflic debuting for the Slovenian senior national team
“I could not believe that I was called to the senior national team with only being 18 years old. It really was a dream come true. Great experience for me and confirmation of hard work," said Kroflic about facing Israel in the final qualifying game.
Kroflic did not score in his 4:39 minutes of game time - missing his only three-point attempt - but he did dish out 1 assist. And he got to share the court - and spending the window - alongside the likes of FIBA EuroBasket 2017 winner Edo Muric and 30-year-old veteran Gregor Hrovat.
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"We can compete for medals even though we are a small country."
"I saw what it means to them to play for the national team even though they played a lot of games already for the country," Kroflic said. "I could see how they were preparing for the games and leading the team."
Also in the window with Kroflic were Mark Padjen and Zak Smrekar, who are expected to be two of the other leaders for the Slovenia U19 team this summer in Switzerland. And Kroflic thinks going through the senior team experience together will help their bond a lot.
Mark Padjen played in four games in the Qualifiers
"We experienced what it is like to play for the senior national team, so we will try to copy the things we have learned and show them to the others on our team," he said.
Younger Slovenians back home will be watching this summer's U19 World Cup looking up to Urban Kroflic and his teammates. And this is his and their chance to help continue the legacy that one of their role models Luka Doncic helped build.
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