MIES (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers) - It's a common theme in national team basketball. Players find a higher gear while suiting up for their countries and the performances raise the eyebrows of scouts, paving the way for jumps to big clubs.

There have been numerous instances in the Second Round of the World Cup Qualifiers, with several players capitalizing on time with their respective national teams.

 Cameron Reynolds

Stockton Kings   ➡ Minnesota Timberwolves  
It's hard not to draw the conclusion that Reynolds' performance in the USA's 111-80 triumph over Panama on February 22 did not catch the eye of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The NBA team even wrote about his effort in a news release on February 27 that announced the signing of the 24-year-old forward to a 10-day contract: "... Reynolds scored 26 points on 10 of 17 shooting, including 6 of 11 from three-point range. He set the U.S. Men's World Cup Qualifying individual records for points, field goals made and attempted and three-pointers made and attempted." Reynolds was positively dazzling and now he's got a chance to win a Timberwolves jersey

 Dairis Bertans

Olimpia Milano  ➡ New Orleans Pelicans  

The New Orleans Pelicans got a chance to see Bertans play in Latvia's European Qualifier at Montenegro on February 25, a game the visitors won, 80-74. While Bertans suffered the disappointment of Latvia failing to qualify for the 32-team World Cup after the country lost, narrowly, a goal differential tie-breaker to the Montenegrins, his spirits were lifted on March 2 when the Pelicans announced they had signed the 29-year-old point guard. Bertans long ago proved he belonged in the NBA, including with his displays at FIBA EuroBasket 2017. In the opening game of that tournament against Serbia, Bertans had 23 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. He shot 12 of 29 (41.4 percent) from behind the arc in that event.

 Janari Joesaar

Kalev Cramo  ➡ Iberostar Tenerife  
If anyone needed proof of how important the World Cup Qualifiers are for players that need a big stage to show off their talent, they should consider the case of Estonian Joesaar. The 1.98m (6ft 6in) small forward, on the books of Kalev Cramo in his homeland, put in a terrific all-round performance for Estonia in their 71-70 upset of Serbia in Tallinn on February 21. The 25-year-old had 8 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 24 minutes to help make sure that Serbia did not clinch a World Cup place until their very last Qualifier. Iberostar Tenerife of Spain's vaunted Spanish Liga Endesa (ACB) and the Basketball Champions League announced three days later they had signed Joesaar to a one-and-a-half-year contract.

 Yuta Watanabe

Memphis Hustle   ➡ Memphis Grizzles  
It was all hands on deck for Japan in the Asian Qualifiers after they began their campaign with four defeats. The 24-year-old Watanabe, a 2.06m (6ft 9in) forward, averaged 17.5 points per game for the Akatsuki Five in their wins over Kazakhstan and Iran on September 13 and 15. After returning to the United States, Watanabe got a chance to play for the Memphis Grizzlies against the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA pre-season on October 5 and not long after he made his debut in the NBA, on October 27 in a game against Phoenix.

 Kristian Kullamae

Baunach Young Pikes  ➡ Brose Bamberg
Putting on the Estonia shirt didn't hurt Kullamae's chances of being brought into Brose Bamberg from Baunach Young Pikes.  After drilling three shots from deep and pouring in 18 points in the 71-70 win over Serbia on February 21 - a game in which he also had 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block - the 19-year-old followed that up with 18 points and 5 assists on February 24 in an 84-77 Estonia triumph at Georgia on the last Gameday of the European Qualifiers. 

 Souleyman Diabate

Levicki Patrioti   ➡ SLUC Nancy   
One of Diabate's greatest achievements with his Cote d'Ivoire national team was helping it reach the World Cup in China. Even in his team's only defeat of the Second Round, an 84-73 setback to Nigeria in Lagos on September 14, his outstanding play and leadership in the African Qualifiers stood out and everyone will see him work his magic at the World Cup in China. Even though the Elephants lost to the D'Tigers in that game, Diabate was pure magic with 11 points, 9 assists, 6 steals and 5 rebounds. The 1.82m (6ft) playmaker joined French outfit SLUC Nancy in January and has helped them move to second place in the French Pro B standings. 

 Bryan Pamba

Roanne  ➡ Caen  
Last month's African Qualifiers in Treichville, Cote d'Ivoire, came at the right time for Pamba, who signed for French Pro B side Caen shortly thereafter. The 27-year-old hit 7 of his first 13 shots in the last window for Cote d'Ivoire and averaged 14 points over the course of the three games, all of them wins. He poured in 14 points in the Elephants' stunning 72-46 triumph over Nigeria and then 18 against Rwanda.

FIBA