Photo: FIBA

In today’s basketball landscape, young prospects have more pathways than ever before. The NCAA is offering record-breaking sums of money to teenagers through NIL deals.

The Australian NBL has carved out a niche with its “Next Generation” program. U.S. prep schools continue to attract elite talent, and European clubs focus almost exclusively on winning rather than development at the top level.

Against that backdrop, the news of Finnish forward Miikka Muurinen signing a three-year deal with Serbian powerhouse Partizan Belgrade came as a surprise to many.

Muurinen, however, insists that the decision was a personal dream fulfilled. Speaking with Finnish outlet Yle, the 18-year-old explained.

“Ever since I was little, I’ve dreamed of fans in Serbia, Greece, and Turkey. It’s great to see them.”

He acknowledged that while Europe was his choice for now, his long-term vision is still centered on the NCAA and eventually the NBA.

“After the EuroBasket, I started looking for a place, whether it was the current, or now former, Arizona Compass high school team, or someone else,” he said. “We looked through all the options and this is the most suitable one at this moment.”

The Finnish forward, nicknamed “Slim Jesus” for his lean frame and flair, has been a rising figure in international basketball circles.

With new NCAA rules making NIL deals more lucrative than ever, Muurinen admitted he still sees college basketball as part of his journey.

He has already targeted the 2026–27 NCAA season as the next major step before testing the waters of the 2027 NBA Draft.

“Still with the same plan,” he explained. “After this upcoming season, the goal would be to go to college and then enter the draft in the summer of 2027. Just a stop in Serbia for now.

“It’s possible that if things go well there and I like it, I’ll skip college before the draft. But I don’t think so, because I still have the desire to go to college.”

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