DBB Albert Schweitzer Tournament

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Short description|International basketball event in Mannheim, Germany}}

{{Infobox sports league

| title = Albert Schweitzer Tournament (AST)

| current_season =

| logo = Albert Schwetizer Tournament Logo.jpg

| pixels =

| caption =

| sport = Basketball

| founded = 1958

| folded =

| fame =

| motto =

| teams = 12

| continent = {{EUR}}

| country = {{GER}}

| champion = {{Bku|18|AUS}}
(2nd title)

| most_champs = {{Bk|USA}}
(10 titles)

| website = [https://ast.basketball-bund.de/ ast.basketball-bund.de]

| President =

| ceo =

| TV =

}}

The DBB Albert Schweitzer Tournament ({{langx|de|Albert-Schweitzer-Turnier}}, abbreviated as AST), full name DBB Albert Schweitzer World Under-18 Tournament ({{langx|de|DBB Albert Schweitzer Welt-Unter-18-Turnier}}), is an international basketball competition that is played between national teams of the Under-18 men's age category. It takes place every two years in Mannheim, Germany, and is contested between teams from 12 countries.

The organizers of the tournament are the German Basketball Federation ({{langx|de|Deutscher Basketball Bund}}, abbreviated as DBB), and the city of Mannheim. The tournament is named after Albert Schweitzer. Since FIBA does not organize an Under-18 world championship, the Albert Schweitzer Tournament is internationally recognized and considered an official non-FIBA organized world championship for the Under-18 age group. From 1958 to 1993, the tournament was an Under-19 age competition. Since 1994, it has been an under-18 age competition.

History

File:Ryan Boatright Army.mil-70034-2010-04-19-170402.jpg of USA Under-18 with the ball, against France Under-18, at the 2010 AST.]]

File:Australia vs Germany 66-88 - 2018097163229 2018-04-07 Basketball Albert Schweitzer Turnier Australia - Germany - Sven - 1D X MK II - 0330 - AK8I4037.jpg of Germany Under-18, in the 2018 AST Final against Australia Under-18.]]

File:Closing ceremony - 2018097183807 2018-04-07 Basketball Albert Schweitzer Turnier Closing Ceremony - Sven - 1D X MK II - 551 - B70I8178.jpg, after winning the 2018 AST.]]

File:Closing ceremony - 2018097181246 2018-04-07 Basketball Albert Schweitzer Turnier Closing Ceremony - Sven - 1D X MK II - 323 - B70I7950.jpg

The first Albert Schweitzer Tournament took place in December 1958. It was contested between eight teams, and won by Belgium. Hans-Joachim Babies, and the German basketball pioneer, Hermann Niebuhr, asked the theologian and physician, Albert Schweitzer, if they could use his namesake for the name of the tournament. After the second tournament in 1960, there was a break in play until 1966. From that point onwards, a two-year tournament cycle was established.

From 1958 to 1971, Team USA used players that were the dependents of the USA's military forces. Starting with the 1973 tournament, Team USA began to use players that were selected from throughout the entire USA high school system.

The 1991 tournament was canceled, due to the Gulf War. In 1994, the tournament switched from an Under-19 competition, to an Under-18 competition, and has since been held during even-numbered years.{{Cite web |url=http://archiv.ast-basketball.de/typo3/index.php?id=96 |title=AST-basketball.de It all started in December 1958. |access-date=27 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006214918/http://archiv.ast-basketball.de/typo3/index.php?id=96 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}

The USA has won the most titles, winning ten. The USA is followed by Italy with four titles. The tournament's record attendance so far was 28,763 spectators. Due to the spread of COVID-19, the 2020 tournament was cancelled.{{Cite web|url=http://www.basketball-bund.de/news/albert-schweitzer-turnier-2020-faellt-ast-2020-is-canceled-1107643|title=Albert Schweitzer Turnier 2020 fällt aus – AST 2020 is canceled « Deutscher Basketball Bund|access-date=16 March 2020}} Due to COVID-19, the 2022 tournament was also cancelled.[https://takingthecharge.substack.com/p/ficymis-feb-11-albert-schweitzer FICYMIs Feb 11: Albert Schweitzer 2022 cancelled, Spain, France up in new FIBA youth rankings, youth European draw Feb 15.] The tournament resumed in 2004.[https://www.basketball-bund.de/naechstes-albert-schweitzer-turnier-im-jahr-2024/ Nächstes Albert Schweitzer Turnier im Jahr 2024 {{in lang|de}}.]

Results

class=wikitable style="text-align:left; font-size:90%; width:65%"

|+Summaries[http://archiv.ast-basketball.de/typo3/index.php?id=49 AST-basketball.de Turnierergebnisse {{in lang|de}}.]

!width=5%|Year

!Gold Medal

!Silver Medal

!Bronze Medal

!4th Place

{{center|1958}}{{Bku|19|BEL}}{{Bku|19|AUT}}{{Bku|19|DEU}}{{Bku|19|USA|1912}}
{{center|1960}}{{Bku|19|BEL}}{{Bku|19|AUT}}{{Bku|19|USA}}{{Bku|19|NLD}}
{{center|1966}}{{Bku|19|ITA}}{{Bku|19|TUR}}{{Bku|19|AUT}}{{Bku|19|USA}}
{{center|1967}}{{Bku|19|POL|1928}}{{Bku|19|AUT}}{{Bku|19|FRA}}{{Bku|19|BEL}}
{{center|1969}}{{Bku|19|ITA}}{{Bku|19|CZS}}{{Bku|19|POL|1928}}{{Bku|19|TUR}}
{{center|1971}}{{Bku|19|YUG}}{{Bku|19|ITA}}{{Bku|19|POL|1928}}{{Bku|19|ESP|1945}}
{{center|1973}}{{Bku|19|USA}}{{Bku|19|POL|1928}}{{Bku|19|YUG}}{{Bku|19|ITA}}
{{center|1975}}{{Bku|19|USA}}{{Bku|19|TUR}}{{Bku|19|ESP|1945}}{{Bku|19|POL|1928}}
{{center|1977}}{{Bku|19|USA}}{{Bku|19|ESP|1977}}{{Bku|19|TUR}}{{Bku|19|DEU}}
{{center|1979}}{{Bku|19|YUG}}{{Bku|19|ESP|1977}}{{Bku|19|USA}}{{Bku|19|URS|1955}}
{{center|1981}}{{Bku|19|USA}}{{Bku|19|URS}}{{Bku|19|BGR|1971}}{{Bku|19|DEU}}
{{center|1983}}{{Bku|19|ITA}}{{Bku|19|USA}}{{Bku|19|DEU}}{{Bku|19|FIN}}
{{center|1985}}{{Bku|19|USA}}{{Bku|19|YUG}}{{Bku|19|TUR}}{{Bku|19|SWE}}
{{center|1987}}{{Bku|19|USA}}{{Bku|19|ESP}}{{Bku|19|TUR}}{{Bku|19|DEU}}
{{center|1989}}{{Bku|19|USA}}{{Bku|19|GRC}}{{Bku|19|FRA}}{{Bku|19|CZS}}
{{center|1993}}{{Bku|19|USA}}{{Bku|19|LTU|1988}}{{Bku|19|ITA}}{{Bku|19|GRC}}
{{center|1994}}{{Bku|18|USA}}{{Bku|18|ESP}}{{Bku|18|AUS}}{{Bku|18|LTU|1988}}
{{center|1996}}{{Bku|18|USA}}{{Bku|18|FRA}}{{Bku|18|GRC}}{{Bku|18|TUR}}
{{center|1998}}{{Bku|18|ESP}}{{Bku|18|AUS}}{{Bku|18|USA}}{{Bku|18|TUR}}
{{center|2000}}{{Bku|18|SCG|name=FR Yugoslavia}}{{Bku|18|GRC}}{{Bku|18|USA}}{{Bku|18|AUS}}
{{center|2002}}{{Bku|18|GRC}}{{Bku|18|ESP}}{{Bku|18|SCG|name=FR Yugoslavia}}{{Bku|18|USA}}
{{center|2004}}{{Bku|18|TUR}}{{Bku|18|ARG}}{{Bku|18|ESP}}{{Bku|18|SCG}}
{{center|2006}}{{Bku|18|FRA}}{{Bku|18|TUR}}{{Bku|18|SRB|2004}}{{Bku|18|HRV}}
{{center|2008}}{{Bku|18|GRC}}{{Bku|18|TUR}}{{Bku|18|AUS}}{{Bku|18|USA}}
{{center|2010}}{{Bku|18|AUS}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.schoenen-dunk.de/news_a39513_DBB_Australien-triumphiert-verdient.htm |title=Schoenen-dunk.de Australien triumphiert verdient . |access-date=17 May 2012 |language=de |archive-date=7 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407084631/http://www.schoenen-dunk.de/news_a39513_DBB_Australien-triumphiert-verdient.htm |url-status=dead }}{{Bku|18|DEU}}{{Bku|17|DEU}}{{Bku|18|USA}}
{{center|2012}}{{Bku|18|ESP}}[http://www.basketball-bund.de/news/ligen-ergebnisse/albert-schweitzer-turnier/httpwww-basketball-bund-deligen-ergebnissealbert-schweitzer-turniernews-ast-2012/nikola-radicevic-mvp-ast-2012-radicevic-honoured-as-mvp-19497 Nikola Radicevic wird MVP des AST 2012 – Radicevic honoured as MVP. {{in lang|de}}.]{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Bku|18|SRB}}{{Bku|18|TUR}}{{Bku|18|DEU}}
{{center|2014}}{{Bku|18|ITA}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.basketball-bund.de/news/ligen-ergebnisse/albert-schweitzer-turnier/us-boy-ethan-happ-ast-mvp-2014-138110 |title=US-Boy Ethan Happ ist AST-MVP 2014! . |access-date=2 October 2014 |language=de |archive-date=11 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211125442/https://www.basketball-bund.de/news/ligen-ergebnisse/albert-schweitzer-turnier/us-boy-ethan-happ-ast-mvp-2014-138110 |url-status=dead }}{{Bku|18|USA}}{{Bku|18|SRB}}{{Bku|18|TUR}}
{{center|2016}}{{Bku|18|DEU}}{{cite web |url=http://www.basketball-bund.de/news/ast-2016-deutschland-erstmals-turniersieger-160385 |title=AST 2016: Deutschland erstmals Turniersieger! |author= |date=2 April 2016 |website=basketball-bund.de |publisher=German Basketball Federation |access-date=2 April 2016 }}{{Bku|18|SRB}}{{Bku|18|ITA}}{{Bku|18|FRA}}
{{center|2018}}{{Bku|18|DEU}}{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-bund.de/news/ligen-ergebnisse/albert-schweitzer-turnier/ast-2018-deutschland-verteidigt-titel-184183 |title=AST 2018: Deutschland verteidigt den Titel! |author= |date=7 April 2018 |website=basketball-bund.de |publisher=German Basketball Federation |access-date=7 April 2018 |archive-date=8 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408010246/https://www.basketball-bund.de/news/ligen-ergebnisse/albert-schweitzer-turnier/ast-2018-deutschland-verteidigt-titel-184183 |url-status=dead }}{{Bku|18|AUS}}{{Bku|18|ITA}}{{Bku|18|RUS}}
{{center|2020}}style="text-align:center;" colspan=4| Cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic[https://www.basketball-bund.de/albert-schweitzer-turnier-2020-faellt-ast-2020-is-canceled/ Albert Schweitzer Turnier 2020 fällt aus – AST 2020 is canceled.]
{{center|2022}}style="text-align:center;" colspan=4| Cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic[https://takingthecharge.substack.com/p/ficymis-feb-11-albert-schweitzer FICYMIs Feb 11: Albert Schweitzer 2022 cancelled, Spain, France up in new FIBA youth rankings, youth European draw Feb 15.]
{{center|2024}}{{Bku|18|AUS}}{{Bku|18|SRB}}{{Bku|18|GER}}{{Bku|18|ITA}}
{{center|2026}}TBDTBDTBDTBD

Performance by nation

class=wikitable
align=left

!bgcolor=silver width=50%|{{center|Country}}

!bgcolor=silver width=50%|{{center|Winners}}

align=left bgcolor=#D0E7FF

| {{Bku|18|USA}}

{{center|10}}
align=left bgcolor=#F5FAFF

| {{Bku|18|ITA}}

{{center|4}}
align=left bgcolor=#D0E7FF

| {{Bku|18|AUS}}

{{center|2}}
align=left bgcolor=#F5FAFF

| {{Bku|18|DEU}}

{{center|2}}
align=left bgcolor=#D0E7FF

| {{Bku|18|ESP}}

{{center|2}}
align=left bgcolor=#F5FAFF

| {{Bku|18|GRC}}

{{center|2}}
align=left bgcolor=#F5FAFF

| {{Bku|18|YUG}}

{{center|2}}
align=left bgcolor=#D0E7FF

| {{Bku|18|BEL}}

{{center|2}}
align=left bgcolor=#F5FAFF

| {{Bku|18|FRA}}

{{center|1}}
align=left bgcolor=#D0E7FF

| {{Bku|18|TUR}}

{{center|1}}
align=left bgcolor=#F5FAFF

| {{Bku|18|SCG}}

{{center|1}}
align=left bgcolor=#D0E7FF

| {{Bku|18|POL}}

{{center|1}}

Future stars

The tournament is an important event for professional basketball scouts from around the world. Over the years, many players who have played at the tournament have gone on to become well-known pro players, both in the NBA, and the EuroLeague.{{Cite web |url=http://archiv.ast-basketball.de/typo3/index.php?id=94 |title=AST-basketball.de Magic Johnson was a part of AST in 1975. |access-date=27 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073533/http://archiv.ast-basketball.de/typo3/index.php?id=94 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}[https://archive.today/20140913173657/http://www.inthoops.com/inthoops.com/2000AST.htm 2000 Albert Schweitzer Tournament.]

Some of the NBA players who have played at the AST are:

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{colend}}

In addition, some of the players who have played in various international senior men's professional top-tier national domestic leagues and who have also played at the AST are:

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{colend}}

Awards

= MVP Award =

class="wikitable sortable"
YearMVP
{{center|1996}}{{flagicon|USA}} Kevin Freeman
{{center|1998}}{{flagicon|Australia}} David Andersen
{{center|2000}}{{flagicon|Greece}} Charis Markopoulos[http://www.interbasket.net/greek/Prospects/prospects.htm HARIS MARKOPOULOS From Matt Blair for HH:]
{{center|2002}}{{flagicon|Greece}} Sofoklis Schortsanitis
{{center|2004}}{{flagicon|Turkey}} Ersan İlyasova
{{center|2006}}{{flagicon|France}} Nicolas Batum
{{center|2008}}{{flagicon|Greece}} Nikos Pappas
{{center|2010}}{{flagicon|Australia}} Mitch Creek
{{center|2012}}{{flagicon|Serbia}} Nikola Radičević
{{center|2014}}{{flagicon|USA}} Ethan Happ
{{center|2016}}{{flagicon|Germany}} Kostja Mushidi
{{center|2018}}{{flagicon|Germany}} Jonas Mattisseck
{{center|2024}}{{flagicon|Australia}} Rocco Zikarsky

= Burkhard Wildermuth Prize =

The Burkhard Wildermuth Prize, or Burkhard Wildermuth Award, was first awarded in 2006, and is given to the player in each tournament that is deemed to be the "Most Talented Player". The award is named after Dr. Burkhard Wildermuth, the long-time co-organizer of the Albert Schweitzer Tournament.

class="wikitable sortable"
YearMost Talented Player
{{center|2006}}{{flagicon|France}} Alexis Ajinça
{{center|2008}}{{flagicon|Turkey}} Enes Kanter
{{center|2010}}{{flagicon|Croatia}} Dario Šarić
{{center|2012}}{{flagicon|Turkey}} Cedi Osman
{{center|2014}}{{flagicon|Chile}} Nicolás Aguirre
{{center|2016}}{{flagicon|China}} Zhu Rongzhen
{{center|2018}}{{flagicon|Israel}} Tomer Levinson
{{center|2024}}{{flagicon|China}} Boyuan Zhang

= All-Tournament Team =

{{colbegin}}

{{colend}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}