REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - The NBA All-Star Weekend has grown to mean more than just the All-Star Game and all the other highlights with the best players in the world.

For the past four years, the top young talents from around the world have been able to compete amongst one another at the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global Camp. 

And once again this year's group of players features some of the projected future stars in international basketball - many of whom have already left a major mark on the game.

Here is a breakdown of some of the top names who will be participating in the camp from February 16-18 at the Los Angeles Lakers' practice facility as part of NBA All-Star 2018. The campers will be coached by five-time NBA All-Star Al Horford (Boston Celtics; Dominican Republic) and 2018 NBA All-Star Goran Dragic (Miami Heat; Slovenia), along with Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers; Lithuania), Timofey Mozgov (Brooklyn Nets; Russia) and Sam Dekker (LA Clippers; U.S.).

Luka Samanic - 2000 - Croatia

Samanic is already being hailed as the next big thing from Croatia - a 6ft 9in (2.07m) forward who does it all and is spending his second season with Barcelona. Samanic helped Croatia get back to Division A as the MVP at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2017 Division B, and this summer will be trying to get the Croatians back to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.

Sekou Doumbouya - 2000 - France

Doumbouya exploded on the scene in 2016 as he helped France win the FIBA U18 European Championship title, being named to the All-Star Five one day before his 16th birthday. Doumbouya, who won't turn 18 until late December, is spending his second full season playing for Poitiers' professional team in the French ProB. The forward, who was born in Guinea and arrived in France when he was a child, ranks as one of the top prospects in his age group.

Killian Hayes - 2001 - France

Hayes was named MVP of the FIBA U16 European Championship 2017 in leading France to the title and a spot at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018. Hayes has dominated this season at Cholet's U21 team and has already made his debut with the professional team. 

N'Faly Dante - 2001 - Mali

Dante is one of his country's next emerging superstars and he is playing high school in the United States at Sunrise Christian in Kansas. The big man played at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2016 as a 15-year-old, but he did not play at the FIBA U16 African Championship 2017, where Mali won their first-ever international title. Dante's presence at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018 would give Mali a huge and impressive one-two combination along with Oumar Ballo. 

Charles Bassey - 2000 - Nigeria

Bassey is a second African representative who is playing in the Unites States, playing for Aspire Academy in Louisville. The Lagos native is a long, athletic force around the basket who can also take his game outside a bit. Bassey used to sell fried chicken roadside in Nigeria before arriving in the United States. Bassey has yet to play for Nigeria internationally.

Ariel John Edu - 2000 - Philippines

AJ Edu, as he is more commonly known, is a half-Filipino, half-Nigerian born on the first day of the new millennium - January 1, 2000 - in Cyprus and plays with South Gloucestershire & Stroud College of the Great Britain EABL. The 6ft 9in (2.07m) has yet to play internationally in 5x5 basketball but he did play for the Philippines at the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup 2017.

Kody Stattman - 2000 - Australia

Stattmann is a great shooter who has already played twice for Australia internationally - at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2016 before committing to the cause to get Australia back to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup after missing the 2017 edition and playing at the FIBA U17 Oceania Championship 2017 - the qualifier for the FIBA U18 Asian Championship 2018. Stattmann, who has good size at 6ft 7in (2.01m), has agreed to attend the University of Virginia.

Carlos Paez - 2000 - Venezuela

Paez is the first Venezuelan to play in the BWB Global Camp. The Carabobo native is small at 5ft 11in (1.80m) but is a very intelligent point guard and is a great shooter. Paez, who has played for Venezuela at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2015 and South American U15 Championship 2014, is playing with Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas.

A couple of the other names to watch out for are Paul Eboua from Cameroon, Omar Dieng of Italy, Senegal's Biram Faye, Marko Pecarski of Serbia and Francisco Caffaro of Argentina.

David Hein

FIBA

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