Adidas NextGen EuroLeague—Istanbul: African Standouts
Breaking down standout players with African roots at the first ANGE qualifier of the 2024-25 season.
The first qualifier of the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague cycle kicked off in Istanbul, Turkey, giving the basketball world a first glimpse at some of tomorrow’s collegiate athletes and professional players. Although few teams get to advance to the finals at the end of the season, qualifiers such as this one give evaluators a good look at prospects in an extremely competitive context.
Istanbul featured a handful of players of African backgrounds who had very good showings for their clubs. We broke down some of the standouts who piqued our interest during that weekend.
Isaac Guedegbe | Next-Gen Istanbul
5’10” | Point Guard | 2007 | Benin/France/Spain
Guedegbe was the consummate floor general. A quick and shifty point guard, he was a fantastic decision-maker, deftly balancing scoring and distributing responsibilities on the way to averaging 13 points (48% 2P, 42.9% 3P, 90.9% FT), 7 assists, and 0.8 steals per game. Scoring at all levels while making plays for very capable teammates is quite the feat considering his size. Overall, Guedegbe’s confidence in his shot is one of his most important attributes, opening the door for other skills and translatable at all levels.
Arthur Tsafack | Gran Canaria
6’7” | Forward | 2007 | Cameroon
Though listed as a center, Tsafack thrived as a combo forward who got downhill at will. His length and strength made him impossible to stop in the paint, converting 60.5% of his two point attempts, and his production and efficiency led him to a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Though he moves and defends well enough to expand his game, he’ll need to prove it by showing he can make mid- and long-range jump shots going forward.
Mervedi Miteo | Gran Canaria
6’10” | Center | 2008 | Democratic Republic of Congo
At 15 years old, Miteo was one of the youngest players participating, while also being one of the most productive. He nearly averaged a double-double (12 PPG, 9.6 RPG) and was very solid on defense with 2.4 stocks per game. He showed encouraging flashes of connective playmaking and shooting as well.
Codé Mbengue | Gran Canaria
6’10” | Center | 2008 | Senegal
Mbengue’s raw stats aren’t impressive in and of themselves, but the context of this being his first time meeting his teammates and not sleeping on the flight from Senegal to Turkey makes him very intriguing. In limited minutes, he showed dominant flashes on the glass, in the post and on defense. His length, fluidity and agility stood out, but added strength will make him even more interesting as a prospect as he develops in Gran Canaria’s system.
Moussa Coulibaly | Gran Canaria
6’9” | Center | 2009 | Mali
As the youngest member of a forward-thinking Gran Canaria team, Moussa Coulibaly was very efficient as a finisher, leading his team in field goal percentage at 64%. Most of his finishes came in face-up situations, and limited playing time didn’t stop him from producing at a high level. The young big man averaged 9.5 PPG and 5.8 RPG in just 16 minutes per game. Coulibaly showed great flashes of potential, displaying agility with his long strides and hands that corralled rebounds. Despite being raw, Coulibaly should fill into his frame nicely as he develops.
Ngijol Songolo has played for Cameroon’s senior national team and for professional clubs in Serbia and France before training youth in the US and coaching camps at the NCAA Division I level. He has also consulted for Cameroon’s youth national teams, NCAA programs, and global agencies, in addition to contributing to the Draftstack. Follow him on Twitter and Bluesky.