Youth likely plentiful at 2016 FIBA OQTs
REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - The Olympics are the ultimate goal for every basketball player. And even though a spot in the most important event is up for grabs, all 18 teams at the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs) have at least one youngster in the mix for the squads in Belgrade, Manila and Turin.
A couple of senior national teams already look like recent reunions of an U18 continental championship team - such as Canada and Turkey. But even the top nations with established programs have youngsters knocking on the door to play at the OQT - such as Serbia, Italy and France.
Here is a group-by-group breakdown of some of the exciting young talents who OQT fans might see this summer.
Croatia
Croatia's exciting youngsters have already started to move out the old guard with Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja taking on leadership roles at EuroBasket 2015. If there is an injury to one of Croatia’s veteran centers, the 1997-born duo of Ante Zizic and Ivica Zubac could battle for that extra spot. The 19-year-old Marko Arapovic has started the majority of games this season for Cedevita Zagreb in the Euroleague. And then there’s 18-year-old Dragan Bender, who might have just been drafted and not be available anyhow.
Greece
The Greeks are going through the next stage of their youth movement after the national team retirements of long-time leaders such as Vassilis Spanoulis. But there are plenty of guys urging to get into the Hellas squad. It would seem that the 1994-born trio of Eleftherios Bochoridis from Panathinaikos and Dimitrios Agravanis and Ioannis Papapetrou from Olympiacos would be the next ones to step up. Maybe the 1996-born Wake Forest big man Kostas Mitoglou as well.
Iran
Iranian officials have already started to plan for the future as 1994-born Sajjad Mashayekhi and 1995-born Behnam Yakhchali both played at the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship. The logical progression would be to add the 19-year-old Mohammad Yousof Vand to the mix as well in Italy.
Italy
The Italians actually might be one of the teams without any really young guys at the OQT. The 1996-born duo of Federico Mussini and Diego Flaccadori both have done good things this season, but it might be a stretch for them to play in Turin this summer.
Mexico
Mexico had the 1993-born center Israel Gutierrez play at both the 2015 Pan-American Games and the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship. So he might be back in the mix while 1994-born guard Jose Estrada is playing well this season with Mexican club Halcones Rojas de Veracruz.
Tunisia
The 1993-born Omar Abada played for Tunisia at the 2015 AfroBasket and it would seem a solid bet that he will play in Turin as well since he also played at this season’s 2015 FIBA Africa Cup for Men’s Clubs with Etoile Sportive Rades.
Canada
Canada were already a young team at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship with an average age of 23.9 years. But there’s a chance they could get even younger this summer. Andrew Wiggins would be returning but he could be joined by fellow 1995-born NBA talents Trey Lyles and Tyler Ennis. Another possibility would be the 1996-born Dillon Brooks while it would seem that 18-year-old Jamal Murray will get drafted in the NBA Lottery and not be available for Manila.
France
France are another stacked team with a set veteran core. The 1994-born Mouhammadou Jaiteh was at EuroBasket 2015 and he could return this summer.
New Zealand
The 22-year-old Isaac Fotu and 20-year-old Tai Webster both already played at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup while 1994-born Reuben Te Rangi and 1998-born Tai Wynyard both appeared at the 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship.
Philippines
The Manila hosts might present two 1993-born players to the home fans as Filipino college standouts Kiefer Ravena and Kevin Ferrer both might make the team after playing at the 2015 SEA Games.
Senegal
Senegal have a trio of young big men they could bring in the mix – all of them who would be playing for the country for the first time. The 1996-born Wally Niang helped Real Madrid to the 2015 Adidas Next Generation Tournament title while 1993-born Mamadou Ndiaye and 1995-born Tacko Fall are 2.29m centers playing NCAA ball with University of California-Irvine and Central Florida, respectively.
Turkey
The trio of youngsters Cedi Osman (1995), Furkan Korkmaz (1997) and Kartel Ozmizrak (1997) all made Turkey's team for EuroBasket 2015. Three more players who could theoretically be included in the team this summer are 1996-born duo Berk Ugurlu and Tolga Gecim and 1995-born Kenan Sipahi.
Angola
Angola have a core group of veterans who could be an enormous benefit to teach the ropes to a pair of exciting youngsters playing high school together in the United States. Silvio De Sousa and Bruno Fernandes are both 17-year-olds who are impressing more and more people at the famed Montverde Academy. And playing at the OQT would be a great learning experience for both.
Czech Republic
The Czechs have a pair of 1995-born players who could brought into the mix to help provide production and energy from the bench in Martin Peterka and Adam Pechacek.
Japan
Japan really should look a bit to the future with the 2020 Olympics taking place at home. And it would be good for them to bring in a couple of new faces. One would be the country’s gem for the future, 1998-born Rui Hachimura, who would gain some fantastic experience playing against teams like Latvia and Czech Republic. Another would be 1992-born Seiya Ando.
Latvia
Latvia might have the most exciting young player in the entire competition in Kristaps Porzingis, if the 20-year-old plays. Two other interesting 1995-born players who could make it into the team are Spain-based Rolands Smits and Anzejs Pasecniks.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is another veteran team that probably won’t have many spots for youngsters. But one who could make the team is 1993-born Maurice Harkless of the Portland Trail Blazers. Harkless was in the mix for the team for the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship.
Serbia
Serbian coach Aleksandar Djordjevic has an embarrassment of riches to choose from, including a good core of young talents. In addition to the excellent 1994-born trio of Nikola Milutinov, Nikola Jankovic and Vasilije Micic, there are the 1995-born emerging stars Nikola Jokic and Marko Guduric.
As you can see, there is no lack of young talent to watch this summer at the OQTs. The future is truly now.
David Hein
FIBA
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