55 Isaiah Hartenstein (GER)
16/02/2017
David Hein's Eye on the Future
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What to make of U19 Draw: Groups A and B

REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - The road map to the final of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 is now laid out with the draw to this summer’s global spectacle being announced.

From 1-9 July we will see which team will rise as kings of the world in the land of the pharaohs with Cairo hosting for the first FIBA global spectacle in Africa.

With the wait over for teams wondering who they will face in Egypt, let’s break down the pools - this week with Groups A and B while next week we tackle Groups C and D.

Groups confirmed ✔ for the #FIBAU19 Basketball World Cup 2017 (1-9 July in Cairo 🇪🇬)

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Group A is topped by "Americas TBA" which has prompted questions about what is meant by that. Brazil finished third from the FIBA Americas qualifier last summer but their federation has been suspended by FIBA. It is still unclear how this issue will be resolved so let's leave this team out of the break down for now.

New Zealand surprised Australia in the FIBA Oceania U18 Championship 2016 in December and qualified for the U19 spectacle for the first time - having competed in the event in 2009 as hosts.

Sam Waardenburg emerged as a star from the Oceania qualifier but will be tested at the world level just like the rest of the New Zealand group. But any chances for the Junior Tall Blacks will likely rely upon Tai Wynyard, who was absent at the U18s as he was with the University of Kentucky. If Wynyard can bring along some of that Wildcats power, then maybe the tight-knit New Zealand could spring a surprise or two.

Korea come into the tournament looking to take the next step at the world stage. This is their fourth straight U19 tournament and sixth in the last seven editions. But the Asians have yet to finish better than 11th.

One could argue Korea are close to passing China at the youth level with their frenetic style of play. The clear leader of this Korean team will be Yang Jae Min with his ability to play inside and outside. Yang is gaining invaluable experience from playing in Spain where he is regularly going against some of the best young players from Spain and the rest of the continent.

Korea will be challenged by the size and athleticism of their opponents and when talking about physicality and athleticism, France is right up there the rest of the world. And Les Bleuets must be considered one of the favourites if they are at full strength.

Frank Ntilikina is a superstar point guard who might not be in Cairo is he's selected in the NBA Draft. While Ntilikina would undoubtedly be missed, the European U18 champions still are loaded. Sekou Doumbouya was named to the All-Star Five of the FIBA U18 European Championship a day before his 16th birthday, and the man-child continues to wow observers playing in the second division ProB in France.

There have never been any questions about Killian Tillie’s talent on the court. It's been a matter of him getting and staying on the court with a long history of injuries. Tillie, playing collegiately in the US for the number one team in the country, undefeated Gonzaga University, is planning on playing in Cairo and would help make the depth of the French team tough to match.

Germany top Group B and many observers wouldn’t be surprised if they finish on the podium in Cairo with their elite level of talent. The Germans - who disappointed at the FIBA U18 European Championship but still finished fourth - actually have just as much depth and star power as France with the likes of Isaiah Hartenstein and Kostja Mushidi. Both are somewhat questionable for Cairo as it’s unclear if they will be drafted.

But Germany have loads of talent just waiting to fill their possible void - including Richard Freudenberg and Isaac Bonga, who missed the continental championship due to college and injury, respectively. Germany have not played at the U19 spectacle since 1987 but no one would be surprised if they end up on the podium on 9 July.

Hosts Egypt are back in the tournament for the fourth time in the last five editions. Despite not needing to qualify, the Egyptians took second place at the FIBA AfroBasket 2016, losing to Angola twice, including in the final.

Egypt will be led by Ahmed Khalaf, who will be playing at his second U19 tournament after last summer playing at his second FIBA U17 World Championship. Teaming up with the Spain-based Khalaf in the post will be Esam Mostafa while US-based and American-born point guard Tarek Raafat will be critical to any chances the Egyptians have in front of their home fans in Cairo.

Puerto Rico are back at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup for the first time since 2009. While the leaders of the FIBA Americas U18 Championship team, which finished fourth in Chile, were Christian Negron and Jhivan Jackson, the Central Americans will also feature a group of players who played as lower-level players at the FIBA U17 World Championship 2014, including Leandro Allende and Jorge Pacheco.

Arnoldas Kulboka (left) and Gytis Masiulis will make Lithuania a tough team to beat in Cairo.

And the fourth team in Group B is Lithuania, finalists at the FIBA U18 European Championship. This is another loaded team from Europe featuring a star trio of 1998-born players in Tadas Sedekerskis, Arnoldas Kulboka and Gytis Masiulis to go along with a 1999-born generation led by Arnas Velicka and Grantas Vasiliauskas who took second at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2015 and third place at the FIBA U17 World Championship 2016.

One note about Group B, Germany and Lithuania faced off in the U18 European Semi-Finals with Lithuania winning en route to the final. 

With Groups A and B crossing over for the Round of 16, there are some pretty enticing match-ups possible after the group stage.

That’s it for now. Until next week with Groups C and D.

David Hein

FIBA

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David Hein

David Hein

Walk into the media tribune of any major basketball event and there's a good chance you will come across David Hein. Having covered dozens of FIBA events, including numerous women's and youth events, there are few players Dave doesn't know about, and few players who don't know him. His sporting curiosity means he is always looking to unearth something new and a little bit special. David Hein's Eye on the Future is a weekly column digging out the freshest basketball talent worldwide and assessing what the basketball landscape will look like a couple of years down the line.