Jekabs Graudins claims EYBL U17 Hoops Agents weekly honour

- January 13, 2026

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

Renne Ikalainen

Talented Jekabs Graudins (2009) put on an extraordinary performance in the last round for Spars/Ventspils University and that's him to receive a Hoops Agents Player of the Week award for round 8.
The 16-year old had the game-high 32 points adding eight rebounds and four assists for Ventspils Spars in his team's victory, helping them to outclass Fryshuset (#37, 2-2) with 28-point margin 112-84. Spars/Ventspils maintains the 4th position in EYBL U17 . They would have been even better if they did not have these two lost games earlier in Regular Season. Spars/Ventspils will need more victories to improve their 6-2 record. In the team's last game Graudins had a remarkable 75.0% from 2-point range and got three three-pointers out of 6 attempts. He turned to be Spars/Ventspils' top player in his first season with the team. Graudins has impressive league stats. He is in league's top in assists (7th best: 5.5apg) and averages solid 3.5spg and 57.8% FGP.

The second most remarkable performance in last round's games was young guard Renne Ikalainen (185-G-2009) of second-ranked Kouvot Kouvola. Ikalainen impressed basketball fans with 41 points, 4 rebounds and 9 assists. It was enough for Kouvot to edge slightly lower-ranked Ventspils Spars (#4, 6-2) by 2 points 85-83. It was definitely game of the week between two contenders to the title. Kouvot consolidated its place in top 2 of the standings. His team lost just one game this season, while they won 6 matches. Ikalainen is a newcomer at Kouvot and it seems he did not have too much trouble to become one of team's leaders. He belongs to the best scorers in the league with 22.1ppg (#9). His other stats are also decent: 4.9rpg and 8.7apg.

The third best performed player last round was Severi Jalonen of Turku & Kotka YMCA U17 team (#45). Jalonen showcased his all-around game by recording 27 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in the last round. He was a key player of Turku YMCA, leading his team to a 96-74 easy win against the lower-ranked BSA (#61, 1-7). Turku YMCA can only dream about fighting for top spots in the league. They have rather bad season and 2-5 record places them close to the bottom of the standings. Jalonen has a very solid season. In 7 games in EYBL U17 he scored 16.6ppg. He also has 7.6rpg and a FGP of 53.2%.

Other top performing players last week:
4. Jahkaya Nicholson) of KoLa - 27 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists
5. Renars Ramats (2009) of Ventspils Spars - 18 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists
6. Giole Di Malta) of Svincolati - 32 points and 8 rebounds
7. Arturs Melins (2009) of DSN - 24 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists
8. Rasmus Veller) of Fryshuset - 32 points and 3 rebounds
9. Roberts Timenieks (2009) of DSN - 26 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists
10. Ibrahim Fanga) of Fryshuset - 21 points and 8 rebounds

The Player of the week is selected based on efficiency calculation, but also including game result, importance of the game, if played recorded double-double/triple-double, etc.
The efficiency formula is a combination of various formulas used by different basketball organizations/leagues. We got involved many basketball scouts and journalists to assure it's accuracy.
The formula: 1.5*PTS + 3*(REB+AST+ST+BL-TO) - 2*BSAG - 4*PF + 3*PFRV + 4*(2FGPM+3FGPM) + 1.5*FTM - 3*(2FGPA-2FGPM) - 3*(3FGPA-3FGPM) - (FTA-FTM)

The Player of the Week awards are presented by Hoops Agents. Hoops Agents is the most complete website about the agencies and players they represent. With more than twenty years of experience, Hoops Agents is already recognized as the most reliable destination for the players who wish to continue their career in professional basketball and are searching for a reputable and connected representation. Hoops Agents is also most complete source of transactions news.

Tags : JEKABS GRAUDINS, SPARS/VENTSPILS UNIVERSITY, LATVIAN BASKETBALL,