Miikka Muurinen
| AZ Compass Prep | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward, shooting guard |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 4 March 2007 Finland |
| Nationality | Finnish |
| Listed height | 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in) |
| Listed weight | 92 kg (203 lb) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kansas) AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Arizona) |
Miikka Muurinen (born 4 March 2007), is a Finnish high school basketball player for AZ Compass Prep.[1][2]
Youth career[edit]
Muurinen came through the youth program of Beat Basket in Järvenpää, Finland.[3] At the age of 15, he moved to Spain and joined Zentro Basket in Madrid.[4]
High school career[edit]
For the 2023–24 season, Muurinen moved to the United States to attend Sunrise Christian high school program.[5] In March 2024, he competed in the Euroleague Next Generation tournament in Dubai, representing the Next Generation Select Team,[6][7] and averaging 7 points, 5 rebounds and one block per game over seven matches.[8]
On 20 June 2024, it was announced that Muurinen would join Arizona Compass Prep high school program for the upcoming season.[9]
International career[edit]
In August 2023, Muurinen was part of the Finland U16 squad competing in the 2023 FIBA U16 European Championship tournament in Skopje, North Macedonia, where he averaged 16.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game over seven games.[10]
On 25 June 2024, Muurinen made his senior debut with the Finland national team aged 17, in an Olympic qualifying preparatory friendly game against New Zealand, helping Finland to take a 73–70 win by recording two points, an assist and three blocks.[11][12][13] He made his second appearance for the Finland senior national team on 28 June 2024, in a friendly game against Latvia, which Finland won 90–84.[14] Muurinen was also named in the Finland roster for the 2024 FIBA Olympic qualifying matches against Bahamas, Poland and Spain, averaging 2.7 points and 1.7 rebounds per game in 7.8 playing time.[15]
Personal life[edit]
His both parents are former professional basketball players. His father Kimmo Muurinen played 153 games for Finland national team, and his mother Jenni Laaksonen represented Finland women's national basketball team in 68 games. He was also coached by his mother while playing in the youth teams in Järvenpää.[16][17]
References[edit]
- ^ Määrätietoinen Miikka Muurinen on Susijengi-debyytin äärellä – Vertailu Markkaseen ei hetkauta, koripallo.com, 25 June 2024
- ^ Suomi-koriksessa ei ole nähty näin kovaa NBA-lupausta sitten Lauri Markkasen – Miksi kukaan ei puhu hänestä mitään?, Apu, 13 May 2024
- ^ Miikka Muurinen profile, basket.fi
- ^ Epäterveellinen amerikkalainen elämäntapa aiheutti Miikka Muuriselle kulttuurišokin: ”Ero on suuri”, Helsingin Sanomat, 2 July 2024
- ^ Miikka Muurinen, nbadraftroom.com
- ^ Miikka Muurnen, euroleaguebasketball.net
- ^ Miikka Muurinen debytoi pirteästi Petteri Koposen alaisuudessa nuorten Euroliigassa, basket.fi, 25 March 2024
- ^ Miikka Muurinen, euroleaguebasketball.net
- ^ Miikka Muurinen AZ Compass Prepin riveihin, basket.fi, 20 June 2024
- ^ Miikka Muurinen, fiba.basketball
- ^ Sasu Salinin haamukori oli jees, mutta Miikka Muurinen oli tosi jees – ”En ollut koskaan nähnyt mitään vastaavaa”, Salon Seudun Sanomat, 25 June 2024
- ^ Miikka Muurinen säväytti debyytissään miesten koripallomaajoukkueessa, Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, 25 June 2024
- ^ Thomas Tumba ja Miikka Muurinen debytoivat Susijengissä, susijengi.com, 25 June 2024
- ^ Superlupaus Miikka Muurinen, 17, villitsi Nokia-areenassa – ”En ole ennen tuollaista kokenut”, Helsingin Sanomat, 28 June 2024
- ^ Miikka Muurinen, fiba.basketball
- ^ Suomen huippulupaus Miikka Muurinen, 17, tähyää NBA:n varaustilaisuuteen – vanhemmilta melkoiset lajigeenit, Helsingin Sanomat, Raiko Häyrinen, 24 June 2024
- ^ Miikka Muurisesta, 17, rohkeaa puhetta – Suomen huippulupaus sai huimat geenit lajiinsa, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 24 June 2024