Finland’s teenage star leaves U.S. high school route for the EuroLeague, chasing tougher competition and faster growth
The basketball world is still buzzing after Miikka Muurinen’s unexpected decision to sign a three-year contract with Partizan Belgrade, one of Europe’s most iconic clubs. The move marks a dramatic turn for the 18-year-old Finnish forward, who just weeks ago was dazzling fans at EuroBasket 2025, where he won the Rising Star Award and helped Finland secure a historic fourth-place finish.
For many, the signing was a surprise. Instead of continuing in U.S. high school basketball or preparing for a season in the NCAA, Muurinen has jumped straight into the cauldron of the EuroLeague, widely considered the toughest competition outside the NBA.
From Arizona to Belgrade
Until recently, Muurinen was playing for AZ Compass Prep in Arizona, a program known for producing elite American prospects. His expected path seemed clear: finish his senior year, spend a season in college basketball, and then declare for the 2027 NBA Draft.
But Muurinen believed that route no longer matched his ambitions. Speaking to Finnish outlet Yle, he admitted high school basketball was no longer pushing him forward. “After EuroBasket, I looked at all my options. Arizona Compass or something new. Partizan was the best option right now,” he explained.
He will now complete his high school education remotely while training under Željko Obradović, one of the most successful and demanding coaches in European basketball.
Why Partizan?
The teenager insists this was no impulsive choice. “Ever since I was five years old, I dreamed of playing in Serbia and the EuroLeague,” he said after arriving in Belgrade. “I’ve watched a lot of Serbian basketball and know the culture. Partizan has a great coach, strong players, and offers more than the U.S. college system right now.”
Beyond personal development, the move benefits Finnish basketball too. Playing in Europe means Muurinen will be available for the Wolfpack’s 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers, something that would not have been possible had he remained in the United States.
Future still points to the NBA
Despite the bold decision, Muurinen insists his long-term plan remains unchanged. “My goal is still to play one year in college before the 2027 NBA Draft. This season in Serbia is just a step. Of course, if everything goes amazingly here, maybe I’d skip college—but I still want that experience,” he told Yle.
He has already attracted offers from NCAA powerhouses including Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, Michigan, and Indiana. Scouts, meanwhile, continue to project him as a top-five pick in 2027.
Ready for the challenge
Moving from high school gyms to Belgrade’s Stark Arena, one of basketball’s most electric atmospheres, will be a seismic change. But Muurinen says that’s exactly what he wanted. “Since I was a kid, I dreamed about playing in front of fans in Serbia, Greece, and Turkey. It will be amazing to see that.”
He also welcomes the chance to be coached by Obradović. “He’s strict and demanding, but that’s why I came here. I want to develop, and that requires a tough coach.”
For a teenager once destined for the traditional U.S. route, Muurinen’s bold gamble has shaken up expectations. Whether he returns to college or goes straight from Belgrade to the NBA, one thing is certain: the world will be watching how “Slim Jesus” adapts to life in Europe’s most intense basketball arena.