SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) - Emmanuel Mudiay played so well at this past weekend's Nike Hoop Summit, that he set his name among the top college prospects.

Mudiay is a popular player because of his stellar high school career at Prime Prep Academy in Dallas, Texas, is a very athletic 1.96m point guard from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

On Saturday, the Congolese-born 17-year-old reminded everyone of his potential with a dominant performance at this year's edition of the international event by leading all scorers with 20 points, although the World Select Team lost 84-73 to the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Select Team.

For those unfamiliar with the Nike Hoop Summit, it is an annual event traditionally held on US soil and which gathers the top US high school aged players taking on the best international players from around the world, aged 19 or younger.

Usually, at this time of the year, scouts, international media and basketball administrators turn their attention to the Nike-sponsored event eager to find the new NBA star.

It has been over two decades since the launch of the event, which has served as an open door to some of the biggest names in the current NBA, including the likes of Kevin Garnett, Tony Parker or Dirk Nowitzki just to name a few.

Mudiay was not the first African-born player to feature in the game, and probably will not be last to grab the spotlight.

Last year, Cameroon's Joel Embiid - who spent this past season at the University of Kansas and officially declared for the 2014 NBA Draft - helped the World Select Team past the USA 112-98.

A few years ago, both Serge Ibaka and Mudiay's fellow countryman Bismack Biyombo took part in the game, before they went on to turn a childhood dream of playing in the NBA.

In 2011, Biyombo finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds and a Nike Hoop Summit record 10 blocked shots for the first triple-double in the game’s history, the world select team fell 92-80.

Last August, Mudiay committed to join the Southern Methodist University in the NCAA Division 1, coached by renowned coach Larry Brown.

There is not doubt that Mudiay has an eye in the NBA.

However, with the NBA ruling of a minimum age (19) requirement to enter the league as well as the debate over the end of the 'one-and-done' college policy, Mudiay might not be brought into the NBA conversation any time soon.

Mudiay is said to be a natural leader and over the weekend he showed it when asked to comment on the World Select Team's defeat at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

"I honestly feel like the game was my fault," he said.

"They came out stronger than we did in the second half. We came up short, they had a good game plan, they executed towards the end," said the native of Kinshasa, who moved to Texas with his family over a decade ago.

Until his NBA moment comes, the 17-year-old Mudiay - who is often compared to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook - should have plenty of time to make the most of his student/athlete career under one of the top minds in the game's history.

Julio Chitunda

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.

FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.