NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - Several months on from the conclusion of the FIBA U19 Women's World Championship, it seems like a good time to check on the progress made by the tournament's All-Star Five and statistical standouts.

Whenever you attend a youth tournament, it is easy to subsequently forget about the young stars you witnessed, especially when the international season closes and the club and college campaigns swing into action.

Perhaps front of the queue in terms of news are Maria Vadeeva and Daria Kolosovskaia, who both made the All Star Five on home soil and have been selected for the Russia senior team as part of the roster which will commence EuroBasket Women 2017 qualifiers later this month.

Their club play-caller at Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje, Alexander Vasin, was recently handed the nationa team's coaching reins and rather interestingly, will be assisted by Dmitry Donskov, who coached them en-route to the Final in Chekhov.

For Vadeeva - who was actually the most efficient player at the U19 Worlds, a fact sometimes overlooked when debating progress and her true potential - a senior call-up is hardly new territory having debuted at EuroBasket Women 2015 way back in June.

For Kolsovskaia, who led by example in her captaincy role, this is a well-deserved call-up.

Both have been playing in the Russian Premier League with Sparta&K and EuroCup Women.

Vadeeva has harvested an incredible 15.6 points at a mesmerising 61 percent from the floor in domestic action - competing in what is one of the most highly-rated and respected leagues in the women's game.

The other three members of the All-Star Five are all stepping out in the NCAA - including Australia's Alanna Smith, who will debut for Stanford this weekend. Big things are expected from the Melbourne native and her opening campaign will be interesting to follow. Smith and Stanford have been tipped to finish second this season in the Pac-12 poll of coaches.

Another freshman likely to cause a positive stir is Napheesa Collier - although she may find it a little more difficult to stand out on a UConn roster jam-packed with top level talent as always seems to be the case. Her wing play really did catch the eye in Chekhov and Vidnoe, not least in the Final when she grabbed a double-double.

Finally, MVP A'Ja Wilson will look to once again propel the South Carolina Gamecocks to a standout season during her sophomore year.

The frontcourt star was superb in Chekhov as she climbed to the top of the podium for a second time - having won her first title at the 2013 FIBA U19 Women’s World Championship in Lithuania.

Wilson will of course once again play under Dawn Staley, who guided the USA to their unblemished record in Chekhov.

The leading scorer in the tournament was Angela Salvadores. The FIBA Europe Young Women's Player of the Year poured in 18.4 points per game for Spain at the event and is about to embark on her freshman year in the NCAA.

The teenager will step out for Duke as one of their five freshman guards and will be looking to make the biggest impact. She will also get to line-up alongside Azura Stevens, whose 18 points in the Final against Russia played a pivotal role in her country retaining their title.

And the first few weeks of her career have proven to be hugely enjoyable as she has helped give her new club Gernika Bizkaia an unexpected share of the lead in Liga Femenina.

Llorente had a four of five shooting effort last weekend against Uni-Ferrol and was just one basket short of a fine double-double, after doing her usual thing on the glass and accumulating ten boards.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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