Telekom Baskets Bonn have been among the leading sides in Germany for several years.

Heading into a 2010-11 campaign that will see them play not only in the BEKO Basketball Bundesliga but also the EuroChalllenge, the club has made an important move by signing three players from its youth ranks to long contracts.

Fabian Thülig (20), Jonas Wohlfarth-Bottermann (19) and Florian Koch (18) have signed deals that will keep them with the club through the 2014-15 season.

"As a long-time Baskets youth player," the 1.95m Thülig said, "I am very excited about this opportunity and the trust placed in me."

Each player is impressive in his own way.

The 2.07m Wohlfarth-Bottermann is mobile for a big man.

He is currently on national team duty with Germany, getting ready for this week's opening tip at the U20 European Championship in Croatia.

"I'm looking forward to next season but will now hope to have a successful first European Championship.

"My goal is to develop myself step by step, then at some point to play an important role in the Bundesliga."

Koch is also excited.

"My goal is to just play good basketball," he said.

"Those contracts are also a signal towards our 500 kids and youngsters," Baskets president Wolfgang Wiedlich said. "All three of them have grown up with us in basketball terms, were or are leading players in our NBBL (Junior Bundesliga) team Bonn-Röhndorf.

"It is just consistent that, at the end of the day, such youth players move into the first division team."

Wiedlich says players have to have the right mental approach.

"I am convinced that Fabian, Florian and Jonas have this type of mindset," he said.

"They are humble and don't take off too quickly when they have success. What is more, they possess the ambition that is required to be successful in the Bundesliga."