FIBA U17 World Cup: African Players to Watch
The future of NCAA, NBA and other professional basketball often is typically first shown to the world at large in FIBA youth international competitions.
Young players from around the globe get a chance to represent their nations and showcase their talents on a world stage this week as the U17 World Cup tips off June 29-July 7 in Turkey.
We’ve compiled a grouping of some of the most intriguing players of African descent – whether they have an African nationality or not.
Nour Gassim Touré | 6’4” G | Guinea | Principa School (USA)
Guinea’s most complete player in U16 African championships a year ago, Gassim Toure averaged 20 PPG, 8 RPG and 8 APG en route to winning a gold medal and an MVP award. He is athletic, poised and unselfish as he slashes through gaps in the defense, knocks down open threes and crashes offensive and defensive glass.
Hugo Yimga Moukouri | 6’8” SF | France | INSEP (FRA)
Fresh off dominant ANGT performances, Yimga Moukouri rejoins a loaded France team as one of its star players. His rugged approach to driving and rebounding the ball set him apart from the field.
Ajak Nyuon | 6’10” F | Australia | Centre of Excellence (AUS)
Nyuon is all limbs but has a great skill base. He is incredibly mobile at his size, able to penetrate from the perimeter and has good shooting form already.
Arafan Diane | 7’0” C | Guinea | Institut de Sport Dynastie (CAN)
With playmaking at all positions at a premium in the highest levels of basketball, Diane fits a coveted mold. He is a big body who can take up space for rebounds and post looks, but is also surprisingly quick on his feet and has good touch on shots and passes. Division I offers are starting to roll in for good reason.
AJ Dybantsa | 6’9” G/F | USA | Utah Prep (USA)
A well-known commodity, Dybantsa (Jamaican and Congolese parents) is a World Cup MVP frontrunner entering the competition. His slashing, shooting and playmaking at his size make him an easy pick for the number one NBA draft pick in a couple years.
Ali Assran | 6’9” F | Egypt | Al Ahly SC (EGY)
Egypt’s glue guy offers a good deal of defensive versatility, able to defend perimeter players as well as post threats. Assran possesses a high motor and simply doesn’t quit on a play, as he averaged a double-double and chased loose balls during the U16 championship.
Noa Kouakou-Heugue | 6’8” SF | France | INSEP (FRA)
Kouakou-Heugue has played a lot of high-level basketball with INSEP and just knows where to be on both sides of the ball. Long and rangy, the forward picks up deflections, runs hard in transition and finds ways to finish plays.
Sékou Touré | 6’2” PG | Guinea | Busch Academy (USA)
Touré routinely shifted defenses with his crafty, deliberate handle. Though he didn’t shoot efficiently from distance last year, he gets into the paint with ease and finds open teammates in ideal positions. His pesky defense creates open floor opportunities for everyone.
Youssef Elhalawany | 6’2” PG | Egypt | Smouha SC (EGY)
Elhalawany is easily Egypt’s most creative player whether he’s hunting his own shot or opening something up for a teammate. A year ago, he posted great playmaking numbers of 6.6 APG along with a 2.88 assist-turnover ratio and solid three point volume.
Mading Kuany | 6’7” F | Australia | NBA Global Academy (AUS)
Rangy and athletic, the forward likes to get out in transition after defensive stops he’s capable of spotting up and skilled enough to make connecting passes and change up his finishes.
Paul Osaruyi | 6’8” PF | Canada | Dream City Christian School (USA)
Osaruyi’s ability to get off the floor quickly and out-jump a lot of the competition he’s faced thus far has been instrumental. He has good hands and coordination which helps him gather wayward passes and convert from the in-between space with floaters and half-hooks.
Cameron Houindo | 6’10” PF | France | INSEP (FRA)
Another INSEP product who’s steady progression is set to take a leap, Houindo is an athletic play finisher. He rolls and cuts well, finishing through contact above the rim.
Karanmadi Gassama | 5’3” G | Guinea | Cergy-Pontoise (FRA)
Effectively Guinea’s secret weapon a year ago, Gassama doesn’t let his size dictate his play. He is a microwave scorer capable of lighting it up from anywhere in the gym and at an efficient clip. The final four games of the U16 African championships saw him average 19 PPG on 44% shooting from 3 and nearly 10 attempts per game.
Mohamed Shahin | 6’3” G | Egypt | Smouha SC (EGY)
Shahin proved to be a solid secondary playmaker for Egypt and he also has shown good shotmaking inside and outside the arc. He affected all major statistical categories in the U16 African championships.
Mohamed Lamine Touré | 6’7” F/C | Guinea | San Gabriel Academy (USA)
In last year’s U16 competition, Lamine Touré competed with his own teammate for the championship’s top rebounder. He has a nose for the ball, keeping possessions alive and creating something out of nothing in the half court and full court.
Christopher Ebunangombe | 6’5” PG | France | ESSM Le Portel (FRA)
The young crafty playmaker has had a good preparation and is on deck to start to make a name for himself globally. A pass-first point guard who makes the right plays, Ebunangombe also possesses a tight handle and smooth outside jump shot.