Valencia Basket's Sergio de Larrea (20) wins the award offered by Azulmarino after leading fan, coach, and media voting. Rafa Villar, Bassala Bagayoko, Izan Almansa, and Michael Ruzic join him on the Liga Endesa All-Young Team 2025-26.
At just 20 years old, he is already one of the key references for the present and future of Spanish basketball. Sergio de Larrea has been named Azulmarino Best Young Player of Liga Endesa 2025-26 after completing the best season of his still-short career and establishing himself as a fundamental piece of Valencia Basket, which has once again positioned itself among the competition's top teams.
This is his fourth season with the orange team's first squad. After playing just one game in each of his first two ACB seasons, the point guard from Valladolid began gaining prominence last season and has fully exploded this campaign, taking another step forward in his development.
With 27 games played, De Larrea has posted averages of 9.6 points, 3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 12.7 efficiency rating in less than 20 minutes per game. Additionally, he has demonstrated enormous impact on his team's collective performance, finishing third in Liga Endesa's overall +/- standings with a +7.15 average.
It should be noted that Valencia Basket's player started the season on a high note. In September, he won the Supercopa Endesa and was named MVP of the tournament after leading Valencia to victory over Real Madrid in the final. That day he delivered an outstanding performance with 21 points, 6 fouls drawn, and excellent shooting: 3/5 on two-pointers, 2/2 on three-pointers, and 9/10 from the free-throw line, making crucial shots at the most important moments of the game.
Throughout the season he has continued to accumulate standout performances. The Valladolid native surpassed 20 efficiency rating on seven occasions and set new career highs in both rating and scoring on Matchday 24 against Recoletas Salud SP Burgos, a game in which he reached 26 efficiency rating and 20 points.
His growth had already drawn attention last season, when a solid campaign with Valencia Basket's first team opened the doors to the Spanish national team for EuroBasket. However, this season he has taken a giant step forward and established himself as one of the young players with the most potential in European basketball.
Repeating the voting mechanics from previous seasons, fans, coaches, and media selected the best young players in the competition from all candidates who met the established requirements for the award.
Sergio de Larrea was the most supported player in all three voting categories, winning both the popular vote and the selections by coaches and media to claim the Azulmarino Best Young Player award for Liga Endesa 2025-26.
The Valladolid point guard was one of the candidates for the award offered by Azulmarino, reserved for players born in 2005 or later who met the participation requirements established by the competition. His outstanding season allowed him to become the successor to Jean Montero and add another individual recognition to a memorable campaign.
Liga Endesa All-Young Team 2025-26
In addition to Sergio de Larrea, Rafa Villar, Bassala Bagayoko, Izan Almansa, and Michael Ruzic make up the Liga Endesa All-Young Team 2025-26.
Rafa Villar
Also on the all-young team is Rafa Villar (21). The point guard has confirmed the good impressions he already left last season at Hiopos Lleida and has proven to be up to the task this year in Vitoria.
His physicality, court vision, and work in the shadows have made him one of Paolo Galbiati's trusted players, and he is also the only Kosner Baskonia player to have played all 34 regular season games. His best performance came on Matchday 19 against Casademont Zaragoza, when he posted 14 points and 26 efficiency rating to lead his team to victory.
Bassala Bagayoko
Also on the all-young team is Bassala Bagayoko (19). Five years ago, the center made his debut with Urbas Fuenlabrada against Real Madrid, becoming the youngest player ever to debut in ACB history. After several seasons marked by injuries, the big man has finally been able to enjoy continuity and has shown what kind of player he is.
After playing just nine games last season with Surne Bilbao, Bagayoko has participated in 31 Liga Endesa games this season, becoming increasingly important to Jaume Ponsarnau. His 20 efficiency rating against Barcelona on Matchday 12, the 14 points he scored against UCAM Murcia, and the 8 rebounds he grabbed in the road victory against MoraBanc Andorra are some examples of growth that has already earned him a place among the competition's best young players.
Izan Almansa
In the paint, Izan Almansa (20) also stands out. The Murcia native center arrived at Real Madrid this summer and quickly proved he was ready to compete at the highest level. Throughout the season he has stood out for his efficiency near the basket, posting a spectacular 71.7% shooting percentage on two-pointers.
Among his most notable performances are the 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 17 efficiency rating he scored against Bàsquet Girona on Matchday 10, or the 11 points and 16 rating he posted on Matchday 22, without missing a two-pointer (4/4). Additionally, on the final day of the regular season, and following injuries to Edy Tavares and Alex Len, Almansa took on more responsibility to set a new scoring high of 12 points, while also adding 4 rebounds and 12 efficiency rating against BAXI Manresa.
Michael Ruzic
Completing the all-young team is Michael Ruzic (19), another of the standout young players in Liga Endesa. The Croatian has experienced his consolidation in ACB this season. Under Ante Tomic and sharing a locker room with players like Ricky Rubio, Ruzic has continued to grow into an important piece for Asisa Joventut, especially during moments when injuries affected the green-and-black team's interior game.
The power forward has posted three games with 20 or more efficiency rating and surpassed 10 points on thirteen occasions. Among his most notable performances stands out the earliest double-double ever recorded at the Olímpic de Badalona, achieved on Matchday 19 thanks to his 11 points and 11 rebounds. Additionally, on Matchday 27 he became the youngest Asisa Joventut player to record at least 18 points and 9 rebounds in Liga Endesa since Luka Dončić, leading Penya to a victory of enormous importance.