Pitt C Federiko Federiko to Compete for Finnish National Team

Pitt Panthers center Federiko Federiko will hope to earn a spot on his country's national team.

PITTSBURGH -- Last summer, Spanish twins Guillermo and Jorge Diaz Graham returned home to Spain to compete for a spot on their home country's national team and this year, one of their Pitt Panthers teammates will do the same. 

Pitt's starting center Federiko Federiko will head home to his native Finland this June to train with and play four games for the Finnish national team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, per a release from the program. Finland was placed in Group E with Germany, Australia and Japan. 

Federiko cut his teeth on the defensive end for Pitt this past season. As a sophomore, he took over in December for former All-ACC forward, John Hugley and was incredibly solid for the final three and a half months of the season. The Fins will open competition in Okinawa, Japan and continue play in Indonesia, the Philippines and elsewhere in Japan. 

Averaging 6.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.66 blocks per game while making 66.7% of his shots over 35 appearances and 27 starts, Federiko was one of the better defenders in the conference, earning a vote for ACC Defensive Player of the Year. 

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