Miikka Muurinen

Miikka Muurinen (born 4 March 2007), is a Finnish high school basketball player for AZ Compass Prep.[1][2]

Miikka Muurinen
AZ Compass Prep
PositionPower forward, shooting guard
Personal information
Born (2007-03-04) 4 March 2007
Finland
NationalityFinnish
Listed height2.09 m (6 ft 10 in)
Listed weight92 kg (203 lb)
Career information
High schoolSunrise Christian Academy
(Bel Aire, Kansas)
AZ Compass Prep
(Chandler, Arizona)

Youth career

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.

High school career

For the 2023–24 season, Muurinen moved to the United States to attend Sunrise Christian high school program.[4] In March 2024, he competed in the Euroleague Next Generation tournament in Dubai, representing the Next Generation Select Team.[5][6]

On 20 June 2024, it was announced that Muurinen would join Arizona Compass Prep high school program for the upcoming season.[7]

International career

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.[8]

On 25 June 2024, Muurinen made his senior debut with the Finland national team, 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.[9][10][11] 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.[12]

Personal life

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.[13][14]

References
  1. Määrätietoinen Miikka Muurinen on Susijengi-debyytin äärellä – Vertailu Markkaseen ei hetkauta, koripallo.com, 25 June 2024
  2. Suomi-koriksessa ei ole nähty näin kovaa NBA-lupausta sitten Lauri Markkasen – Miksi kukaan ei puhu hänestä mitään?, Apu, 13 May 2024
  3. Miikka Muurinen profile, basket.fi
  4. Miikka Muurinen, nbadraftroom.com
  5. Miikka Muurnen, euroleaguebasketball.net
  6. Miikka Muurinen debytoi pirteästi Petteri Koposen alaisuudessa nuorten Euroliigassa, basket.fi, 25 March 2024
  7. Miikka Muurinen AZ Compass Prepin riveihin, basket.fi, 20 June 2024
  8. Miikka Muurinen, fiba.basketball
  9. Sasu Salinin haamukori oli jees, mutta Miikka Muurinen oli tosi jees – ”En ollut koskaan nähnyt mitään vastaavaa”, Salon Seudun Sanomat, 25 June 2024
  10. Miikka Muurinen säväytti debyytissään miesten koripallomaajoukkueessa, Etelä-Suomen Sanomat, 25 June 2024
  11. Thomas Tumba ja Miikka Muurinen debytoivat Susijengissä, susijengi.com, 25 June 2024
  12. Superlupaus Miikka Muurinen, 17, villitsi Nokia-areenassa – ”En ole ennen tuollaista kokenut”, Helsingin Sanomat, 28 June 2024
  13. Suomen huippulupaus Miikka Muurinen, 17, tähyää NBA:n varaustilaisuuteen – vanhemmilta melkoiset lajigeenit, Helsingin Sanomat, Raiko Häyrinen, 24 June 2024
  14. Miikka Muurisesta, 17, rohkeaa puhetta – Suomen huippulupaus sai huimat geenit lajiinsa, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 24 June 2024
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