Ukraine coach Iryna Nahorna is very pleased with the progress her side has made in the build-up to the U20 European Championship for Women.

Nahorna and Co have returned from Poland, the host nation for the U20 event, where they played Slovakia, Hungary and the Poles in a friendly tournament.

When Gulsah Gumusay runs onto the court in Gdynia, Poland, on July 9, it won't be the first time she's played in a top-notch basketball competition this summer.

The 1.80m forward recently competed with the senior team at the EuroBasket Women in Latvia.

One year ago, Serbia won a bronze medal at the U20 European Championship for Women in Italy.

Now led by captain Sonja Petrovic, FIBA Europe's 2007 Young Women's Player of the Year, their goals could be even higher when the under-20 event is staged in Gdynia, Poland, July 9-19.

It was cold outside but the thoughts of the European basketball community were on the summer this afternoon in Freising, Germany where the draw was held for the 2009 FIBA Europe Youth Competitions.

Officials from across the continent gathered to learn the path their youth national teams will take if they hope to grace the medal podium at this summer's youth championships.

The draw for FIBA Europe's 2009 Youth Competitions will take place this Saturday, 31^st January in Freising, Germany.

The draw will determine the groups for the 14 men's and women's youth tournaments that will take place this summer across Europe.  That total consists of six A Division championships, six B Division championships and two C Division championships, both at the U18 level.