BEIRUT (FIBA Asia Cup 2021) - Most of these players will barely be 20 by the time the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 comes by, but don’t count them out as potential contributors to their respective national teams with the performances they have been showing so far at the youth level.

Here are 10 youngsters born in 2001 that have a bright future ahead of them that might include a stint at the FIBA Asia Cup 2021!

New Zealand

Mitchell Dance

Mitchell Dance was New Zealand’s primary option in both the FIBA U16 Asian Championship and the FIBA U17 World Cup earlier this year, using his strong build and footwork to bulldoze his way to the paint. He averaged 15+ points and 6+ rebounds in both competitions, showing his potential as a bruising forward/guard for the Tall Blacks to keep their eyes on. The 6’4” wing might have to improve his all-around efficiency if he looks to get a crack at a perimeter-heavy New Zealand squad, but he seems to have the physical tools to make it happen.

China

Jiao Boqiao

Already standing at 6’11”, Boqiao looks like he could be projected on similar paths as other tall Chinese big men before him. He’s already been featured at both the FIBA U16 Asian Championship and the FIBA U17 World Cup this year, putting up decent numbers across the board. It might be an uphill battle for Jiao Boqiao to even get a look with plenty of other superstars like Zhou Qi, Abudushalamu Abudurexiti, Wang Zhelin, and even Wang Quanze way up ahead of him in the depth chart. However, if he can put in a couple more outstanding performances in the next few years, we might have reconsider where he stands among China’s long list of talented big men.

Lebanon

Rayan Zanbaka

At the FIBA U18 Asian Championship, Lebanon failed to make it to the Quarterfinals and one thing they seemed to be lacking was a consistent scoring presence. That was a void left by missing out on Rayan Zanbaka who starred for them at the FIBA U16 Asian Championship earlier in April. The elder Zanbaka poured in 20.1 points per game as well as 7.7 rebounds to be among one of the most efficient players in the tournament with a 16.6 Player Efficiency Rating. The shooting guard’s scoring prowess had been on full display even earlier than that at the WABA U16 Championship in 2017 where he averaged 29.0 points and 9.5 rebounds, highlighted with a 42-point outing on Iran. Lebanon has plenty of solid veterans steering the team forward and by the time 2021 rolls around, it might be a good time to get a volume scorer like Rayan Zanbaka on board to get tuned into the system.

Japan

Keisei Tominaga / Yuki Kawamura

One of the hottest teams in Asia aren’t exactly lacking a three-point shooting presence, already with Naoto Tsuji (2.2 3PM/G), Makoto Hiejima (1.2 3PM/G), and Yuki Togashi (1.8 3PM/G) on board. It wouldn’t hurt to consider improving on that area (currently 9^th in FIBA WCQ) by inserting Keisei Tominaga into the rotation at some point in the near future. Tominaga surely has to improve his body strength and add more depth to his game in general, but he can already be considered an elite shooter from long range. In both the FIBA U16 and U18 Asian Championships, Tominaga nailed a total of 42 threes (3.2 per game) at a decent 38.5% clip. The future is already looking bright with Rui Hachimura and Yudai Baba but the prospect of adding a floor spacer like Tominaga should make things a lot easier for everyone.

Japan’s depth at the point guard position looks solid, already with Hiejima and Togashi and having Yuki Kawamura just waiting around the corner to blossom is a welcome bonus. Kawamura (5’7”) is of a similar height than that of his senior Togashi (5’6”) and both are lightning quick and are good at spotting up open teammates. Kawamura led both the U16 and U18 Asian Championship squads in assists, making him a prospect as point guard of the future for Japan. He might need to improve his long range shooting a bit, but that’s also why he’s worked so well with sharpshooting Tominaga this past year.

Japan’s future is already solid heading into the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 (not to mention the Olympics 2020 where they will be hosts) but to have a promising backcourt like Tominaga/Kawamura makes their it even brighter.

Syria

Mhd Ammar Al Ghamian

The Syrian big man has nearly been an automatic double-double from the WABA U16 Championship in 2017 and the WABA U18 Championship to the FIBA U18 Asian Championship this year. With his big frame (6’8”) and intensity, it has been hard for opposing players to keep Al Ghamian away from the boards and out of the paint. More than the numbers however, is how he’s proven himself to be an emotional and vocal leader that the senior team should look to invest on for the future. Syria has already inserted him in the roster for Asian Games 2018, so expecting him to make the final squad at the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 is certainly not out of the question.

India

Princepal Singh / Rajeev Kumar

Asia better look out as Princepal Singh and Rajeev Kumar might very well be one of the best one-two punches in the near future and maybe as soon as the FIBA Asia Cup in 2021.

The duo are still steps away from that level, but their promising outings in recent youth FIBA competitions are pointing towards that direction. Singh was as solid as advertised in the FIBA U18 Asian Championship, showing some improvement from the FIBA U16 Asian Championship earlier in the year. With 15.5 poitns, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks across his stat line, India will surely look to start building around his potential in the future.

If Singh’s contributions seemed a bit dimmed down at the FIBA U18 Asian Championship, it was only because Kumar was stealing some of the spotlight from him. Kumar had averaged 26.0 points at the SABA U18 Championship and was primed to be a lead option from the wing for India, but no one expected his 40-point outburst on Korea. He still needs the ball in his hands a lot to impact the game at this point, but it’s that confidence to take matters into his own hands that makes him an intriguing piece to look at for the senior team.

*The following teams have yet to qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 but are right in the mix to qualify with the Regional Qualifiers coming up. They also have some bright young talents that could be useful should they eventually qualify for the 2021 event*

Thailand

Toby Tai Sathitsumpan

The 17-year-old was already included to the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 SEABA Pre-Qualifier squad for Thailand and though he still a long shot to make the senior squad at this point, he’s displayed positive outings to make a case that’ll he’ll be even better in 2-3 years.

His 11.8 PPG is a bit skewered with 25+ point performances against Brunei and Cambodia and visibly struggled against physically mature teams like Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. However, it is difficult to find a young gun that is as confident on the court going up against senior players as Sathitsumpan was. The gunner is now back in Portland, USA to further hone his skills as he enters his junior year of high school. With positive progression, he could be a very important piece of Thailand basketball as soon as the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 should they qualify.

Malaysia

Tang Jun Kai John

Malaysia already have a great core of youngster in Wong Yi Hou, Ivan Yeo, and Ting Chun Hong in the senior level and it might not be too soon to start adding Tang Jun Kai John (or John Tang) into the mix. Tang has been their star from the SEABA U16 Championship in 2017 and carried the team on his shoulders at the FIBA U16 Asian Championship. He’s a solid scorer both off the dribble and from long range with a nice frame to build on, though he could improve a bit on his physicality to draw more fouls and get to the free-throw line. Malaysia are an already young squad that’s building up for the future, so to add in a youngster like Tang for the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 should they qualify is only going along with that trend.

FIBA