REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - We are embarking on perhaps the most important summer for 3x3 basketball with the success of the 2015 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships going a long way in determining how quick the game pushes forward.

Without a doubt, 3x3 basketball has seen a massive shift forward in the last couple of years - in the minds of basketball observers, players and functionaries and in its global positioning on the basketball landscape.

But for any young sport to develop and take the next major step into the consciousness of the general public, there needs to be star power involved. And luckily for the organizers of the 2015 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championship, that is exactly what the fans in Debrecen, Hungary will see - actually are seeing, since the event runs from 4-7 June.

FIBA's site for the event promises the "future stars of 3x3" at the fourth edition of the tournament. But many of the players gracing the courts in Hungary are future stars in all of basketball - which adds to the attractiveness and drawing power of the championship.

That's not to say that the previous 3x3 U18 World Championships haven't had names to bring in the casual (read 5x5) fans.

At Rimini 2011, Amedeo Tessitori had already helped Italy reach the Semi-Finals of the 2011 U18 European Championship. And New Zealand's Tai Webster was known at least in that his older brother Corey Webster had already made his way into the Kiwis national team.

Ahead of Alcobendas 2012, fans knew the name Damien Inglis from France and Larry Austin had played a big role in helping the United States win the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship title.

Two years ago in Jakarta, Gabriel Deck had already starred at the international level while Philippines' Kobe Paras was the son of a former Filipino basketball star turned movie star. And American Cliff Alexander had played with Jahlil Okafor in high school in Chicago and was beginning to make a name for himself.

Of course, that list of players is not exhaustive. But there were not many more let's call them stars going into those tournaments.

Fast-forward two summers and the 2015 edition features some serious firepower. There are a handful of elite level players - 5x5 basketball players - ready to showcase themselves on the 3x3 court.

The Philippines once again feature Paras, who turned into a star in his own right at the 2013 3x3 U18 World Championships. And Paras will later this year begin his U.S. collegiate career at UCLA.

But the Philippines also have Michael Nieto, the undersized forward who battled so passionately and bravely against much taller competition at the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship.

New Zealand have perhaps the biggest name in the tournament as well as two more who are quickly climbing the ranks.

Big man Tai Wynyard made headlines around the world when he committed to attend the University of Kentucky and then played at the Nike Hoop Summit. His 3x3 U18 teammate Sam Timmins has already locked up a scholarship with the University of Washington while Matt Freeman is being tracked seriously by about a dozen major college programs.

A world champion tag would definitely help their status - following in the footsteps of Webster, Isaac Fotu and Reuben Te Rangi in 2011.

The other team with the biggest talent is France as Les Bleus will be led by Killian Tillie, younger brother of French international Kim Tillie and son of two volleyball legends. Tillie was named the MVP of the 2014 U16 European Championship and just recently was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT) playing for INSEP at the Euroleague Final Four youth tournament.

But Tillie is not alone. France also have Bathiste Tchouaffe, who was named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2014 U16 Euros and the ANGT qualifying tournament in Kaunas.

Spain's Daniel De La Rua meanwhile won the ANGT title as the point guard for the champions Real Madrid.

Jalek Felton also has major basketball family ties as the American is the nephew of NBA guard Raymond Felton.

Another player who has already made their way onto the 5x5 youth basketball scene is Argentina's Martin Fernandez who played at the 2014 U17 World Championship and has been shortlisted for the team for the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship.

And German Till Pape was named to the All-Star Game for the U19 NBBL league in Germany.

While this column obviously focuses on youth basketball, I do want to briefly extend this to the senior level as well - mainly because it extends on the importance of this summer.

The first-ever European Games will start on 12 June in Baku. Like the Asian, Pan-American, African, Commonwealth or Mediterranean Games, the European Games is a multi-sports event - think an Olympics for Europe.

One of the sports at Baku 2015 is 3x3 basketball, and there are a couple of big names who could help draw the 5x5 crowd to the 3x3 game.

Besides having the best 3x3 players such as Dusan Domovic-Bulut and Dejan Majstorovic from Serbia and Angel Santana from Romania, Baku 2015 will have well-known 5x5 players such as Belgians Hind Ben Abdelkader, Ann Wauters and Sara Leemans, Greek Georgios Bogris and Nacho Martin of Spain.

The stars will be out in force in 3x3 this summer. Now it's the basketball world's turn to take the lead and push the sport forward.

David Hein

FIBA

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

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