FIBA 2025 U19 WORLD CUP GUIDE

Who Am I?

I’m Can Peker Pekcan. I’m 21 years old and addicted to basketball. I have been a writer on several sites and currently appear in videos about Türkiye’s youth league on the Stop Press Medya YouTube channel. I share articles on my Twitter and Medium accounts. I want to be professional scout.

You can reach me on Twitter (X) or LinkedIn.

Twitter (X): canpekerpekcan
LinkedIn: Can Peker Pekcan

I originally published the article as a PDF. You can access the PDF file, which also includes the images, by clicking here.

Groups

Group A: Argentina, Mali, New Zealand, Serbia

Group B: Canada, China, Germany, Slovenia

Group C: Dominican Republic, Israel, Jordan, Switzerland

Group D: Australia, Cameroon, France, USA

P.S: DOB listed as DD/MM/YYYY.

ARGENTINA

#1 Tyler Kropp

DOB: 06.03.2007

Height: 6’8″

Position: Forward

He’s a good scorer forward with an effective post-up game and strong rebounding ability. He understands spacing well and has good footwork. I see some shooting upside in his game. His FTs, mid-range and 3PT (small sample size) look promising. I’m excited to see his overall performance at the tournament.

#11 Felipe Minzer

DOB: 13.09.2007

Height: 6’6″

Position: Guard/Forward

Versatile lefty wing. He’s a strong scorer thanks to his drives, shifty moves and shooting ability. He plays at his own pace and excels in isolation and transition. Shows playmaking potential. Has active hands on the defense and makes smart reads on both ends off the floor. Good rebounder who stays active on the offensive glass. Needs to improve his shooting consistency, FT percentage and watch out for turnovers. I watched him live at the 2024 U17 World Cup and he was one of my favorite prospects in the tournament.

#12 Ivan Prato

DOB: 21.01.2007

Height: 6’10”

Position: Forward/Center

Big man with a shooting threat and solid rebounding skills. He can also handle the ball. I was impressed with his performances in the Italian U19 League, where he showed dominance. However, he didn’t meet expectations at the 2024 U17 World Cup and ANGE Belgrade.

#14 Simon Gradin

DOB: 31.03.2008

Height: 6’10”

Position: Forward/Center

Gradin caught my attention at the ANGE Dubai. He’s a dominant rebounder, efficient finisher at the rim and a solid rim protector. I liked his physical tools and athleticism. He’s 2 years younger than the tournament, but if he get good chances he could have a breakout performance.

MALI

#10 Sekou Ousmane Bagayoko

DOB: 28.04.2008

Height: 6’3″

Position: Guard

Bagayoko is a confident guard with good shooting potential. He doesn’t shy away from responsibility and has solid size for his position. While he needs to improve his shot selection, don’t be surprised if he hits 4–5 threes in a game.

Made his senior national team debut at the age of 16.

#21 Ladji Coulibaly

DOB: 15.07.2006

Height: 6’10”

Position: Center

Coulibaly moves and runs the floor very well for his size. He’s a strong rim protector with his great wingspan and active hands. He’s also a dominant rebounder. Not so consistent, but he shows some shooting touch as well.

#15 Youssouf Traore

DOB: 26.12.2006

Height: 6’10”

Position: Center

Traore was named MVP of the 2024 U18 AfroBasket. He’s a dominant rebounder on both ends of the floor who put up impressive numbers during the tournament. Has a good positional size with a strong, muscular frame. Shows some playmaking moments. Needs to improve his finishing touch around the rim and limit turnovers.

#30 Mohamed Sangare

DOB: 07.04.2007

Height: 6’8″

Position: Forward / Center

Sangare has a great physicality with the broad shoulders. He’s a dominant rebounder, an efficient finisher around the rim and has shooting touch at the mid-range. Uses his strength effectively in the paint.

NEW ZEALAND

#12 Oscar Goodman

DOB: 05.02.2007

Height: 6’9″

Position: Forward

Goodman has all the tools for a modern forward. He’s strong, athletic, a shooting threat, has solid court vision, good rebounder. Needs to improve his FTs.

He was one of my favorite prospects at the U17 World Cup and selected to the All-Star Five.

#4 Jackson Ball

DOB: 10.03.2008

Height: 6’4″

Position: Guard

Ball has a high BBIQ and excels in off-ball movement. He’s a reliable three-point shooter and a strong driver to the rim. I really like his smooth spin moves. Plays like a mature player. He was one of the best players in the NZNBL at just 16.

#6 Tama Isaac

DOB: 27.12.2006

Height: 6’2″

Position: Guard

Isaac is a versatile guard and a skilled playmaker with strong court vision and passing ability. He controls the pace effectively and finishes well with both hands. He’s active on the glass and solid at the FTs. Needs to be more consistent from threes. He has shooting potential, but it’s streaky.

#14 Lachlan Crate

DOB: 23.01.2007

Height: 6’8″

Position: Guard/Forward

Crate is an athletic 3&D wing. Makes smart cuts, moves well off the ball, reads the game effectively, and thrives in transition. Needs to contribute more on the boards.

#11 Julius Halaifonua

DOB: 09.05.2006

Height: 7’0″

Position: Center

Halaifonua is a stretch big with excellent size. He’s a confident shooter and a reliable rebounder. Missed significant playing time this season due to injury.

#13 Carter Hopoi

DOB: 14.04.2006

Height: 6’10”

Position: Forward

Two-way forward with athleticisim. Hopoi has good footworks and finishes well despite contact and is highly effective in the paint. the glass and utilizes his wingspan well. Makes an impact on both ends of the floor.

He needs to more consistent on FT and improve his threes. Shows flashes as a ball handler, but still has room to grow in that area. Also needs to limit turnovers.

#0 Hayden Jones

DOB: 09.01.2007

Height: 6’7″

Position: Guard/Forward

Jones is a versatile wing and an effective isolation scorer with strong drives and soft mid-range touch. He’s active on the boards and has playmaking tools. Needs to improve his 3PT shooting.

#5 Troy Plumtree

DOB: 17.01.2007

Height: 6’8″

Position: Forward

Plumtree is a glue guy who does the little things right. He’s an athletic forward, effective finisher at the rim, reliable on FTs, good rebounder and makes smart reads. His shooting remains a question mark.

SERBIA

#27 Aleksa Dimitrijevic

DOB: 30.05.2006

Height: 7’0″

Position: Center

Dimitrijevic combines intriguing size with good mobility. He’s a strong rim protector, good finisher at the rim and smart player who can play as a faciliator in the post. Needs to improve his shooting.

#5 Savo Drezgic

DOB: 11.08.2006

Height: 6’4″

Position: Guard

Drezgic is one of the best scorers of the tournament with a strong offensive arsenal. He’s an aggressive driver, confident shooter and effective self-creator. Excels at drawing fouls and converting from the line.

He shows flashes as a playmaker with operates pick&roll, but needs to avoid sloppy passes and limit turnovers. Smart defender who reads passing lanes well and generates steals.

#47 Andrej Kostic

DOB: 02.11.2006

Height: 6’6″

Position: Guard/Forward

Kostic is a reliable wing shooter with creation upside. He’s effective catch&shoot and off-ball shooting threat. Drives rim with confidence and finishes well. Can also play as a secondary ball handler.

#10 Milos Sojic

DOB: 21.03.2006

Height: 6’9″

Position: Forward

Sojic is a skilled big with a high BBIQ. He’s a good finisher at the rim, effective rebounder and consistently makes smart reads. Finds cutters well with accurate passes. Consistent player and potential riser for the tournament.

CANADA

#4 Jordan Charles

DOB: 23.07.2007

Height: 5’11”

Position: Guard

Charles is a shifty guard with an explosive first step and impressive handles. He can control the pace and is a capable playmaker. Finishes through contact in the paint and good shooting upside. Compensates for his size disadvantage with his BBIQ.

#11 Efeosa Oliogu

DOB: 05.04.2006

Height: 6’6″

Position: Guard/Forward

Oliogu is an athletic slashing wing with good size. He’s an effective transition threat, strong finisher with high-level layup package and a capable passer. High energetic player on the defensive end. Needs to develop as a shooter.

#0 Tristan Beckford

DOB: 20.08.2006

Height: 6’6″

Position: Guard/Forward

Beckford is a highly athletic wing with notable vertical explosiveness. He’s effective transition threat, has strong rebound instincts and attacks the rim with ease. Needs to improve his shooting.

#13 Stefan Ilic

DOB: 22.10.2008

Height: 6’9″

Position: Forward/Center

Ilic is one of the youngest prospects in the tournament. He’s a good rebounder, strong rim protector, effective player at the dunker spot, has some footwork moves. Keep an eye on as a long-term prospect.

Some other notes: Olivier Rioux is the tallest teenager in the world with 7’8″. Abdul Aziz Olajuwon is the son of the Hakeem Olajuwon.

CHINA

#11 Boyuan Zhang

DOB: 22.01.2007

Height: 6’8″

Position: Guard/Forward

Zhang is one of the best shooters in his generation, consistently showcasing his shooting talent across tournaments. He has excellent shooting mechanics, is effective catch&shoot threat, and can create his own shot. He drives well to the rim and finishes through contact, and is reliable from the FTs.

Defensively, he contributed with blocks and steals but needs to stay locked in more consistently. With his combination of size and shooting, he has strong upside as a prototypical 3&D wing.

Sinan Huan

DOB: 08.05.2007

Height: 7’1″

Position: Center

Huan is a strong rim protector with his long wingspan. Runs the floor well, lob threat and has post-up game. I want to see more dominant performance at this tournament.

GERMANY

#0 Jack Kayil

DOB: 27.01.2006

Height: 6’3″

Position: Guard

Kayil is a reliable shooter with a quick release. He’s a good defender with his instincts and pressure. I like his hesitation moves, he uses them effectively to beat defenders off the dribble.

#3 Christian Anderson

DOB: 02.04.2006

Height: 6’2″

Position: Guard

Anderson is one of the best scorers in the tournament. Great shooter with a quick release, impressive shot-maker, drives well to the rim thanks to his handles. Reliable on FTs. Smart defender, puts up pressure on the opponent. Also operates the pick&roll effectively.

#7 Declan Duru

DOB: 12.01.2007

Height: 6’7″

Position: Forward

Duru is an athletic forward with a strong frame. He’s a solid rebounder and seems to have developed as a shooter. We’ll see how consistent he is during the tournament. He was the leader on the court at U17 World Cup, constantly communicating with teammates. Needs to improve his ball-handling and decision-making.

#6 Hannes Steinbach

DOB: 01.05.2006

Height: 6’9″

Position: Forward/Center

Steinbach is an excellent rebounder, he consistently created second chance opportunities with his activity on the offensive glass. Strong finisher around the rim and can attack closeouts with his drives. Has a shooting threat, but needs to be improve his consistency on both FTs and 3PTs. Also needs to work on building physical strength.

#12 Eric Reibe

DOB: 29.06.2006

Height: 7’0″

Position: Center

Reibe is a stretch big with solid shooting ability. He’s effective in pick&pop situations, has good footwork moves in the paint and strong rebounder.

SLOVENIA

#4 Mark Padjen

DOB: 25.01.2006

Height: 6’6″

Position: Guard

Padjen has promising scoring potential. He’s a confident shooter who can create his own shot and drives to the rim effectively with his shifty handles. Solid on FTs.

#7 Vit Hrabar

DOB: 01.03.2006

Height: 6’9″

Position: Forward

Hrabar has great positional size and a long wingspan. He’s a notable three-point shooting threat and moves well for his size. Can handle the ball as well.

#8 Urban Kroflic

DOB: 28.03.2006

Height: 6’6″

Position: Guard/Forward

Kroflic is a versatile wing contributes in all aspects of the game. He’s an effective transition player, finishes well with both hands and is a reliable shooter. Good playmaker thanks to his court vision and passing ability.

#9 Zak Smrekar

DOB: 10.08.2006

Height: 6’7″

Position: Forward

Smrekar is an intriguing athlete who drives to the rim with shiftiness and control. Shows flashes, but needs to become more consistent as a shooter to round out his offensive game.

JORDAN

#0 Saif Al-Deen Saleh

DOB: 18.07.2006

Height: 6’8″

Position: Forward

Saleh has solid size for a forward and is an aggressive driver and strong finisher around the basket. Good on FT and decent 3PT threat. Active on both defensive and offensive rebounds. Needs to improve his ball-handling and limit turnovers. Has potential to grow into a reliable two-way forward.

#7 Rawhi Zeid Kilani

DOB: 25.08.2006

Height: 6’3″

Position: Guard/Forward

Kilani is a developing playmaker with a decent outside shot. Shows promise as a secondary ball handler and floor spacer. Needs to work on his finishing at the rim to round out his offensive game.

SWITZERLAND

#0 Dayan Nessah

DOB: 16.04.2006

Height: 6’7″

Position: Forward

Nessah is an intriguing scorer with his explosiveness and shooting upside. He’s an effective finisher at the rim thanks to his shifty moves. He will be the leader of the team on their home court.

#10 Lucas Maniema

DOB: 06.03.2006

Height: 6’4″

Position: Guard

Maniema is one of the quickest players in the tournament. He possesses an explosive first step and crafty ball-handling skills. Good on FTs.

Some other notes: Melvine Mbamen stands out as an athletic rim protector.

ISRAEL

#10 Omer Mayer

DOB: 08.10.2006

Height: 6’4″

Position: Guard

Mayer is a high-upside combo guard with strong playmaking and scoring ability. Shows great feel on both ends of the floor and applies solid defensive pressure.

Last season, he had an impressive showing at the U18 EuroBasket, playing the “Robin” role alongside Ben Saraf. This time, he is expected to be the “Batman” of the team. Definitely a strong candidate to lead the tournament in scoring.

#12 Yaron Goldman

DOB: 19.06.2006

Height: 6’3″

Position: Guard

Goldman is a scorer potential. When he catches fire, he’s extremely tough to stop. However, he still needs to improve his decision-making and defensive consistency.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

#23 Lucas Morillo

DOB: 24.10.2007

Height: 6’7″

Position: Guard/Forward

Morillo has good positional size. He’s 3-level scorer potential with his drives, mid-range jumpers and 3PT shooting threat. I want to see his 3PT shooting with more volume to evaulate his consistency. He is also active on the glass.

#1 Danny Carbuccia

DOB: 23.02.2006

Height: 6’1″

Position: Guard

Carbuccia is a combo guard with scoring and playmaking ability. He attacks the rim aggressively, operates effectively in the pick-and-roll, and is reliable from FTs. Tough defender with active hands, but he still needs to improve his three-point shooting to round out his game.

#7 Frank Siaca

DOB: 10.12.2006

Height: 6’9″

Position: Center

Siaca is an intriguing big man with notable playmaking skills. He passes well from the top of the key and shows good vision finding cutters with accurate feeds.

CAMEROON

#5 Amadou Seini

DOB: 05.01.2007

Height: 7’1″

Position: Center

Seini is a dominant big man with exceptional size, excellent rebounding ability and strong rim protection. He finishes well around the rim and is highly active on the offensive glass. Needs to improve his FTs.

#2 Hermann Bel

DOB: 06.02.2006

Height: 6’10”

Position: Forward/Center

Bel is an effective rebounder with broad shoulders and good physical tools. Needs to improve his finishing at the rim.

Some other notes: Keep an eye on Noe Bom. Cameroon has three 2008-born prospect.

AUSTRALIA

#6 Dash Daniels

DOB: 18.12.2007

Height: 6’5″

Position: Guard

Daniels is a really good perimeter defender, effective both on ball and off ball. Uses his lenght well. All-around player. Drives well to the rim, good playmaker and active on the rebound. Needs to be consistent on threes. Nice two-way playmaker prospect.

#3 Jacob Furphy

DOB: 05.08.2006

Height: 6’4″

Position: Guard

Furphy is a 3-level scorer with smooth shooting mechanics. He drives well to the basket and is a strong finisher in the paint. While he may not be the most explosive athlete, his scoring ability helps him stand out.

#13 Emmett Adair

DOB: 25.01.2006

Height: 6’9″

Position: Forward

Adair is a strong rebounder, especially active on the offensive glas. He is effective in the paint and has shooting potential, though he didn’t attempt many shots from the perimeter at the U18 Asia Cup. I would like to see him take more shots. He can impact both ends of the floor and is a good rim protector. Needs to improve his FT.

#14 Jack Whitbourn

DOB: 21.02.2006

Height: 6’11”

Position: Center

Whitbourn is a standout rebounder who uses his size well and stays active on the offensive boards. He has shown promising defensive ability but needs to work on his touch around the rim to become a more reliable scorer.

#8 Roman Siulepa

DOB: 09.07.2006

Height: 6’5″

Position: Forward

Siulepa is an athletic and physical forward. He runs the floor pretty well, is a strong defender and rebounder, finishes effectively at the rim. Needs to improve his shooting touch. Nice two-way forward potential.

#9 Mading Kuany

DOB: 10.07.2007

Height: 6’7″

Position: Forward/Center

Kuany is a skinny, athletic big man with great length. He’s a strong rim protector thanks to his long wingspan but needs to improve his shooting.

#15 Ajak Nyuon

DOB: 13.05.2007

Height: 6’10”

Position: Forward/Center

Nyuon possesses impressive length and athleticism, moving extremely well for his size. He is a dominant rebounder and reliable rim protector. To become a more complete player, he needs to develop a more consistent shooting touch.

FRANCE

#3 Yohann Sissoko

DOB: 06.05.2006

Height: 6’5″

Position: Guard

I like Sissoko’s offensive creativity. Has good handles, great moves, quick first step, explosiveness, can finish through the contact, good court vision. Can create a space for himself with his bump. Knows how to draw fouls. Looks like an all-around playmaker prospect. Shooting needs to improve, but his drives, playmaking and BBIQ make him an impressive prospect.

#1 Talis Soulhac

DOB: 19.09.2006

Height: 6’2″

Position: Guard

Soulhac is a combo guard potential with his playmaking and scoring. He drives well to the rim with a quick first-step. Can create for himself and teammates. Smart defender.

#4 Marc-Owen Fodzo Dada

DOB: 11.11.2006

Height: 6’3″

Position: Guard

Dada is an athletic guard with a long wingspan. He’s an elite finisher around the rim and has good shooting upside. Defensively, he puts solid pressure on the ball. His debut tournament with national team after his breakout season.

#5 Mohamed Diakite

DOB: 08.04.2006

Height: 6’9″

Position: Forward

Diakite is an athletic forward with elite physical tools. Strong defender. Drives well to the rim with his explosiveness and has a reliable shooting threat for his size.

#6 Thomas Bassong

DOB: 12.07.2006

Height: 6’8″

Position: Guard/Forward

Bassong has great positional size with his long wingspan. He’s an versatile two-way threat thanks to his athleticism, shooting ability and lockdown defender potential.

#10 Noa Kouakou-Heuge

DOB: 28.04.2007

Height: 6’8″

Position: Forward

Heuge is an athletic forward. He’s an effective rebounder. Has a good touch around the rim. He isn’t a consistent shooting threat, but he could be.

#22 Soren Bracq

DOB: 23.02.2007

Height: 6’4″

Position: Guard

Bracq is a combo guard with a mature playing style. His confidence on the court is noticeable. He has smooth shooting mechanics with a quick release. It will be nice to see his consistency.

USA

I could easily list almost every player from this outstanding USA team. They’re stacked with talent, but I’ll just highlight a few..

#7 AJ Dybantsa

DOB: 29.01.2007

Height: 6’8″

Position: Guard/Forward

Dybantsa is the best prospect in the tournament. If you’re in Switzerland, consider yourself lucky. Because watching Dybantsa is pure entertainment. He combines elite athleticism with outstanding shot-making ability,

#4 Koa Peat

DOB: 20.01.2007

Height: 6’8″

Position: Forward

Peat is an elite finisher at the rim, using his combination of power and soft touch. He throws down strong dunks and finishes through contact. Needs to improve his shooting ability.

#11 Tyran Stokes

DOB: 12.10.2007

Height: 6’7″

Position: Forward

Stokes is an intriguing athlete, he even posterized one of his own teammates at the U17 World Cup. He is effective in transition, finding the right player at the right time. However, his three-point shooting and free-throw consistency still need work.

JJ Mandaquit: Pure point guard with a high BBIQ and passing ability.

Caleb Holt: Impressive 3&D wing prospect.

Brandon McCoy: Tough, lockdown defender with the tools to disrupt opponents.


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