NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - Following on from last week's column, it is now the turn of Groups C and D at the FIBA U19 Women's World Championship to provide some inspiration for my Chekhov and Vidnoe watch list.

In truth, Group C has more of a blue collar feel. Belgium will look towards the skilful hand of Julie Allemand, someone who is a real leader in the backcourt and had the thrill of making it all the way to the EuroCup Women Final with Castors Braine last season.

She is a good decision-maker and can be very productive, whether it is taking on scoring responsibility herself or creating for others. Allemand will also have to step up since Aline Verelst and Kyara Linskens - Belgium's other top two scorers from last year's U18 European Championship Women - won’t be in Russia.

France will also look to a backcourt leader in the shape of Louise Dambach. She made the All-Tournament Team last year in Matosinhos and impressed with not only her efficiency, but particularly her reading of the game and quick hands which harvested almost three steals per game.

I have written many times about how Camille Cirgue uses the most of her limited athleticism to really squeeze out an influential role with her maturity and I enjoy watching her play due to her great fundamentals.

I am also looking forward to seeing if Marie Milapie can do a job in the paint. She rebounded well last year in Portugal but maybe could have finished better at the rim, so I am hoping this element of her game will be better.

Bridget Carleton is a player I admire very much after impressing me for Canada at last year's FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship. She has good size for a guard and should be one of the main sources of points.

Her team-mate Daneesha Provo is really going to have to show a big dose of leadership on and off the floor, with Shaylisha Colley absent and that will be an important dynamic.

Set to arguably be the best African player on show, Djeneba N'Diaye will be looking to fuel Mali and certainly brings offense to the table.

She fired a game-winning 26 points in the 2014 AfroBasket U18 Women Final with Egypt last year and also sunk 25 points as Mali racked up a stunning success against Italy at last summer's U17 Women's Worlds.

Meanwhile, Mariam Coulibaly is a strong operator under the basket and she is someone I will be looking out for too.

Group D looks very interesting and of course has one of the biggest stars of the recent women’s basketball youth scene in Ji Su Park.

I've just about run out of superlatives for the 1998-born Korea center who I have generally described as a phenomenon in the past and nothing has changed in that regard. She now has a FIBA Women's World Championship to call upon - when aged just 15-years-old. I rest my case.

The biggest factor circled on this year's watch-list is whether any other Korea player can step out from her shadow and show that there is genuine optimism for the senior team moving forward, and that all the eggs are not in the Ji Su Park basket!

Serbia were relying on Aleksandra Crvendakic who is unashamedly a real favourite of mine - but now seems destined to miss out.

Under the radar for Serbia and having not received the attention or credit due, is Julijana Vojinovic. She actually played more minutes than anyone else on the roster last year and also top scored for her nation in Matosinhos.

Brazil will look to Gabriele Guimaraes to provide the power to their game after she almost collected a tournament double-double in Colorado Springs last year at the FIBA Americas U18 Women’s Championship. Vitoria Domingos is also capable of putting points on the scoreboard.

Last but not least, Australia are the one team in this half of the draw that you feel have a multitude of players who could really step up, or are very interesting.

Alanna Smith was the big performer at the FIBA Oceania U18 Women's Championship last year and I can't wait to see her play 'live' for the first time.

I also love the rebounding skills of Anneli Maley which she demonstrated at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship, while Eziyoda Magbegor was just 15-years-old when she was selected and I have heard she has some seriously eye-popping athleticism.

Throw in 2013 podium climber Tahlia Tupaea and a duo of NCAA competitors in Kristy Wallace and Alicia Froling and it's clear why the Gems are right near the top of my watch-list as an actual team.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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