The DBB Albert Schweitzer Tournament (, abbreviated as AST), full name DBB Albert Schweitzer World Under-18 Tournament (), is an international basketball competition that is played between national teams of the Under-18 men's age category. It takes place every two years in Mannheim, Germany, and is contested between teams from 12 countries.
The organizers of the tournament are the German Basketball Federation (, abbreviated as DBB), and the city of Mannheim. The tournament is named after Albert Schweitzer. Since FIBA does not organize an Under-18 world championship, the Albert Schweitzer Tournament is internationally recognized and considered an official non-FIBA organized world championship for the Under-18 age group. From 1958 to 1993, the tournament was an Under-19 age competition. Since 1994, it has been an under-18 age competition.
History
The first Albert Schweitzer Tournament took place in December 1958. It was contested between eight teams, and won by Belgium. Hans-Joachim Babies, and the German basketball pioneer, Hermann Niebuhr, asked the theologian and physician, Albert Schweitzer, if they could use his namesake for the name of the tournament. After the second tournament in 1960, there was a break in play until 1966. From that point onwards, a two-year tournament cycle was established.
From 1958 to 1971, Team USA used players that were the dependents of the USA's military forces. Starting with the 1973 tournament, Team USA began to use players that were selected from throughout the entire USA high school system.
The 1991 tournament was canceled, due to the Gulf War. In 1994, the tournament switched from an Under-19 competition, to an Under-18 competition, and has since been held during even-numbered years.
The USA has won the most titles, winning ten. The USA is followed by Italy with four titles. The tournament's record attendance so far was 28,763 spectators. Due to the spread of COVID-19, the 2020 tournament was cancelled. Due to COVID-19, the 2022 tournament was also cancelled.FICYMIs Feb 11: Albert Schweitzer 2022 cancelled, Spain, France up in new FIBA youth rankings, youth European draw Feb 15. The tournament resumed in 2024.Nächstes Albert Schweitzer Turnier im Jahr 2024 .
Results +SummariesYearGold MedalSilver MedalBronze Medal4th Place Nikola Radicevic wird MVP des AST 2012 – Radicevic honoured as MVP. . Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemicAlbert Schweitzer Turnier 2020 fällt aus – AST 2020 is canceled. Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemicFICYMIs Feb 11: Albert Schweitzer 2022 cancelled, Spain, France up in new FIBA youth rankings, youth European draw Feb 15. (Boys) (Girls) (Boys) (Girls) (Boys) (Girls) (Boys) (Girls)
Performance by nation
Future stars The tournament is an important event for professional basketball scouts from around the world. Over the years, many players who have played at the tournament have gone on to become well-known pro players, both in the NBA, and the EuroLeague.
Some of the NBA players who have played at the AST are:
Magic Johnson Eddie Johnson B. J. Armstrong Eddie Griffin Luke Babbitt Kyle Lowry Ramon Sessions Cole Aldrich Vince Carter Glen Rice Kent Benson Kevin Garnett Joseph Forte Carlos Boozer Andre Barrett Jermaine O'Neal Baron Davis Tim Duncan Robert Sacre Facu Campazzo Dirk Nowitzki Detlef Schrempf Daniel Theis Paul Zipser Ariel Hukporti Tony Parker Jérôme Moïso Ronny Turiaf Boris Diaw Johan Petro Rudy Gobert Evan Fournier Nicolas Batum Alexis Ajinça Pau Gasol Raül López Víctor Claver Willy Hernangómez Toni Kukoč Dražen Petrović Dino Rađja Igor Rakočević Miroslav Raduljica Dario Šarić Bruno Šundov Zoran Planinić Bojan Bogdanović Uroš Slokar Victor Khryapa Andrei Kirilenko Šarūnas Jasikevičius Darius Songaila Arvydas Sabonis Svi Mykhailiuk Hedo Türkoğlu Memo Okur Ersan İlyasova Enes Kanter Furkan Aldemir Cedi Osman Kostas Papanikolaou Andreas Glyniadakis Antonis Fotsis Vassilis Spanoulis Omri Casspi Gal Mekel Deni Avdija Yi Jianlian Patrick Mills David Andersen Andrew Bogut Matthew Dellavedova Mitch Creek
In addition, some of the players who have played in various international senior men's professional top-tier national domestic leagues and who have also played at the AST are:
Chuck Eidson Erving Walker Lamont Barnes Chris Burgess Kevin Freeman Mark Karcher Ethan Happ Ismet Akpinar Robin Benzing Richard Freudenberg Niels Giffey Kostja Mushidi Maik Zirbes Jonas Mattisseck / Ziyed Chennoufi Andrew Albicy Antoine Diot Edwin Jackson Adrien Moerman Kim Tillie Joseph Gomis Mam Jaiteh Juan San Epifanio "Epi" Albert Miralles Quino Colom Josep Franch Pierre Oriola Alberto Díaz Tomislav Zubčić Leon Radošević Mario Delaš Toni Prostran Andrija Žižić Milan Mačvan Nikola Radičević Nikola Rebić Dušan Ristić Mihajlo Andrić Stefan Lazarević Stefan Marković Nikola Milutinov Boriša Simanić Aleksa Radanov Erazem Lorbek Sergiy Gladyr Igors Miglinieks Valery Tikhonenko Fedor Likholitov Andrey Desyatnikov Mikhail Kulagin Martynas Gecevičius Ludde Hakanson Doğuş Balbay Deniz Kılıçlı Egemen Güven Ender Arslan Kerem Tunçeri Antonello Riva Pietro Aradori Federico Mussini Dino Meneghin Diego Flaccadori Davide Moretti Idan Zalmanson Nikos Zisis Charis Giannopoulos George Bogris Vangelis Mantzaris Leonidas Kaselakis Nikos Pappas Kostas Sloukas Vlado Janković Linos Chrysikopoulos Dimitris Katsivelis Nondas Papantoniou Sofoklis Schortsanitis Lazaros Papadopoulos Christos Tapoutos Michalis Lountzis Dimitris Moraitis Kostas Papadakis Charis Markopoulos Dimitris Agravanis Lefteris Bochoridis Chen Jianghua Andrew Ogilvy Tai Webster
Awards In 2026 for the first time a Girl's tournament was held with separate awards for MVP, most talented player and All Tournament Team.AST 2026: Edoka und Takeuchi MVPs MVP Award Year MVP Kevin Freeman David Andersen Charis MarkopoulosHARIS MARKOPOULOS From Matt Blair for HH: Sofoklis Schortsanitis Ersan İlyasova Nicolas Batum Nikos Pappas Mitch Creek Nikola Radičević Ethan Happ Kostja Mushidi Jonas Mattisseck Rocco Zikarsky Jamie Edoka (Male) Miya Takeuchi (Female)
Burkhard Wildermuth Prize The Burkhard Wildermuth Prize, or Burkhard Wildermuth Award, was first awarded in 2006, and is given to the player in each tournament that is deemed to be the "Most Talented Player". The award is named after Dr. Burkhard Wildermuth, the long-time co-organizer of the Albert Schweitzer Tournament.
Year Most Talented Player Alexis Ajinça Enes Kanter Dario Šarić Cedi Osman Nicolás Aguirre Zhu Rongzhen Tomer Levinson Boyuan Zhang Darius Karutasu (Male) Divinie Obaseki (Female)
All-Tournament Team
2000:Μισάν Νικαγκμπάτσε, ο Άιβερσον του Ολυμπιακού! . Charis Markopoulos Misan Haldin Christos Tapoutos Victor Khryapa Jacob Holmes 2006: Doğuş Balbay Nicolas Batum Omri Casspi Miroslav Raduljica Alexis Ajinça 2008: Erving Walker Nikos Pappas Tomislav Zubčić Deniz Kılıçlı Enes Kanter 2010: Jackson Aldridge Evan Fournier Hugh Greenwood Mitch Creek Philipp Neumann 2012: Nikola Radičević Josep Pérez Paul Zipser Mihajlo Andrić Willy Hernangómez 2014: Federico Mussini Ludde Hakanson Stefan Lazarević Ethan Happ Egemen Güven 2016: Davide Moretti Aleksa Radanov Richard Freudenberg Boriša Simanić
2018: Jonas Mattisseck
Nikita Mikhaylovsky Callum Dalton
2024:AST 2024: Rocco Zikarsky ist MVP All Tournament Team | Final Placement Savo Drezgić Jack Kayil Roman Siulepa Hannes Steinbach Rocco Zikarsky 2026 (Boys): Jamie Edoka Lukas Bojovic Jackson Ball Mathias Santos Thomas Acunzo 2026 (Girls): Miya Takeuchi Nevena Petrovic Mia Wiegand Kako Otsuki Divinie Obaseki
See also TBF Under-16 World Cup FIBA Under-17 World Cup FIBA Under-19 World Cup
References
External links
Official Website Official Archive Website Albert Schweitzer Tournament History Albert Schweitzer Tournament Stars Albert Schweitzer Tournament Results 1958–2008 Albert Schweitzer Tournament Results 2010 Albert Schweitzer Tournament Results 2012 2012 Tournament schedule and results Tournament leaders Detailed statistics Albert Schweitzer Tournament Results 2014 2014 Tournament schedule Detailed statistics Tournament leaders Rosters Media/Scouts information Albert Schweitzer Tournament Schedule 2016 Results and standings Rosters Detailed statistics Tournament leaders Venue/Direction Media information Albert Schweitzer Tournament Results 2018 2018 Tournament Schedule Detailed statistics Venue/Directions Media/Scouts information