QUINCY, Ill. – Quincy University men's basketball sophomore Tiernan Stynes has earned the opportunity to represent his family's heritage on the international stage, as Ireland Basketball officially named Stynes to its U20 National Team roster for the upcoming 2025 FIBA Youth EuroBasket tournament in Yerevan, Armenia. The announcement was made in late May, with Stynes set to don the green and white this July in one of Europe's premier youth competitions.

The FIBA U20 European Championship, also known as the FIBA Youth EuroBasket, is an annual tournament showcasing the top under-20 basketball talent across Europe. The event brings together rising stars from more than twenty nations, divided into groups to compete in a series of round-robin games before entering the knockout rounds. For players like Stynes, the tournament offers an elite platform for development and international recognition.

Though born in Australia, Stynes qualifies to represent Ireland through his late father, Jim Stynes—one of the most revered figures in Australian sporting history and a proud Irishman. Jim was recruited out of a tryout camp in Dublin at the age of 18 and moved to Australia, where he carved out a legendary career in Australian Rules Football. His durability and excellence on the field led him to set a long-standing AFL record of 244 consecutive games played, while his off-the-field impact was equally profound—founding the Reach Foundation for youth mentorship, earning the Order of Australia, and later becoming president of the Melbourne Football Club.

Jim Stynes' passing at age 45 after a courageous battle with cancer was commemorated with a state funeral, and his legacy lives on through multiple honors, including a statue at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and a bridge named in his memory. Tiernan now carries that legacy forward—channeling his father's athletic spirit and Irish roots as he steps into this international spotlight.

"I was so excited and felt immense gratitude," said Tiernan upon learning of his selection to the Irish squad. "I'm very excited to honour my family and be able to play basketball in Europe and travel. So excited to be able to put the colors on and compete."

Tiernan recently completed his freshman campaign with the Hawks during the 2024-25 season. The 6'6" guard appeared in 19 games, earning four starts and averaging 3.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 14.2 minutes per game. He delivered his best performance of the season in Quincy's final game on March 1 against UIndy, scoring a career-high 13 points.

Quincy head coach Brad Hoyt praised both the opportunity and the young man behind it: "What an earned opportunity for Tiernan to represent a country that has meant so much to him and his family. His work ethic and preparation was at such a high level, we are just excited to see his impact on this stage. We are not only proud of Tiernan, but truly excited for a great young man to compete at such a high level."

Ireland returns four players from last year's team, which finished 14th in the tournament with a 3-4 record. The group stage schedule for Ireland in the 2025 FIBA Youth EuroBasket is listed below (all games played in Yerevan, Armenia):

• July 12 – Ireland vs. Estonia

• July 13 – Armenia vs. Ireland

• July 15 – Latvia vs. Ireland

• July 16 – Montenegro vs. Ireland