DEBRECEN (Hungary) - Galatasaray SK is one of the biggest sports clubs in the world and includes Galatasaray EKMAS, the senior basketball team, who have won 11 major honors, including five Turkish Championships, and have now competed in the Basketball Champions League for four straight seasons.

The Galatasaray Academy has always been a consistent production line of talent for the senior team and will join the Youth BCL in its second season as a serious contender.

Playing in international competitions has always been vital for Galatasaray's senior team and for the head coach of the youth program,  Erhan Toker, the same is very much the case for the academy. 

"One of the founding goals of our club is to appear in international competitions," coach Toker said.

"Accordingly, it is significant for us that our young players compete and experience here. Seeing and competing with different schools of thought for their individual development as a team will add value to our players."

Whilst a club the size of Galatasaray can never enter any competition without expectations for success, Toker is very clear that success in this case as more about the quality of performance and how the experience shapes their young athletes, than it is about outcomes.

"Playing good basketball is as important as winning," he stated.

 "It will be a tournament where our players will gain experience from every second."

"I can say that our goal is to feel this competition and to move both their careers and Galatasaray Basketball further with these young players in the coming years."

Youth BCL Players to Watch

Karem Erdem | Date of Birth: March 24,  2006 | PG

Point guard Karem Erdem is the undoubted leader of the team and already a key player for Türkiye at the FIBA U16  Eurobasket in 2022.

Erdem averaged 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists whilst playing over 30 minutes per game.

He will be expected to pull the strings for this talented Galatasaray team. 

Program Alumni

Goksenin Koksal playing for Galatasaray EKMAS in the BCL

Kerem Tunceri | Goksenin Koksal | Ege Arar

Goksenin Koksal is the club captain and flag bearer for Galatasaray EKMAS, and after 14 years with the club, he is the academy's proudest product at this moment in time.