CHEMNITZ, GERMANY – Two incoming Black Bears are ready to compete in the upcoming FIBA Under-20 European Championships from July 14 to July 22^nd in Chemnitz, Germany. Vilgot Larsson will represent Sweden in Group D, while Mykhailo Yagodin will compete for Ukraine in Group B. The 2018 edition of the FIBA European Championships marks the fifth time that both Larsson and Yagodin are representing their home countries at the FIBA ranks.
 
Larsson, a 6-8 forward from Torsas, is eligible next season as a sophomore for UMaine after spending a season at Hill College (JUCO) in 2017-18. He represented Sweden each of the last four years at the FIBA European Championships in 2017 (U20 Division A), 2016 (U18 Division A), 2015 (U18 Division B), and 2014 (U16 Division B). Larsson put together his best European Championships statistically last year, averaging 5.9 points 3.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists during seven games in Greece.
 
Yagodin, a 6-5 guard from Odessa, is also eligible for UMaine in 2018-19 as a sophomore after spending a season with NJCAA National Champion South Plains College. In seven games at the 2017 FIBA U20 European Championships 'A' Division, Yagodin averaged 3.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in eight games. He came off the bench to spell now Los Angeles Lakers second round draft pick Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (47^th overall), who led the FIBA European Championships with 20.4 points per game.

In 2017, Yagodin played at the U20 level for Ukraine in , while playing for the U18 team in 2016 and 2015. He represented Ukraine for the first time at the U16 Championships in 2014. At the 2016 FIBA U18 European Championships, Yagodin posted 8.4 points per game, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals in eight games. He posted double-figures in scoring four times, including two 14-point performances against Albania (3-5 FG, 4 REB, 2 STL) and Scotland (2-5 FG, 2-3 3PT, 4 REB).
 
Ukraine begins the group stage with a matchup against Spain on July 14, followed by games against Croatia (July 15) and France (July 16). Larsson and Sweden opens the group stage against Italy on July 14th, and will then play Iceland and Serbia on consecutive days.
 
Larsson and Yagodin squared off in last year's FIBA U20 Division A European Championships, when Sweden faced Ukraine on July 27, 2017 in Crete, Greece. Yagodin dropped in eight points while Larsson connected on 2-of-3 shots from 3-point range for six points, as Yagodin's Ukraine squad won a hard-fought 77-74 contest at Heraklion University Hall. 
 
Some NBA alumni of past FIBA U20 European Championships include 2017 seventh overall pick Lauri Markkanen, Milwaukee Bucks power forward Ersan Ilyasova, New Orleans Pelicans power forward Nikola Mirotić and Orlando Magic center Nikola Vučević.
 
Fans can watch every game of the 2018 FIBA U20 European Championships on Youtube.com/FIBA. Follow @BlackBearsMBB on Twitter and visit GoBlackBears.com for updates on Larsson and Yagodin's performances in Germany.
 
-UMaine-