DEBRECEN (Hungary) - In the wake of the recent FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 draw, now is a good time to reflect on the amazing talent that shone in 2018.

This year's edition in July promises to be a real eye-opener and hugely exciting. Not least because the 2020 version was cancelled due to the pandemic and it now means that everybody is extra hyped after an unexpected wait. Also because four years ago, the level was absolutely incredible in Minsk.

Here's an 'Elite Eight' list of those who shone at the last U17 Worlds - providing some inspiration for those ballers heading to Debrecen, Hungary in a few months and to further excite those of us who will be following.

Sika Kone - Mali

POWER FORWARD/ 1.90m, 6'3 / 2002

An absolute colossus for her country at youth level, not only in Minsk, but especially last year at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball Word Cup when she catapulted her nation to a historic Semi-Final spot and made the All-Star Five. Kone also competed in the FIBA Women's AfroBasket where Mali took a silver medal.

Most recently, she erupted in Belgrade for the senior team and put herself on the center of the radar globally, with some spectacular work at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 Qualifying Tournament. She was rewarded with a place in the All-Star Five - richly deserved after averaging a competition double-double of more than 16 points and 10 boards per game . Now she is predicted to be a top 10 pick in this year's WNBA Draft.

Shyla Heal - Australia

 POINT GUARD  / 1.67m, 5'6 / 2001

Four years ago, Heal put herself on the map with some terrific performances for the Sapphires as they took a bronze medal in Minsk. The guard was the driving force behind that as she netted more than 16 points per game - something that proved more than enough for her to lineup in the All-Star Five.

Then a year later, Heal was doing more good things for the Gems at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Bangkok as Australia made the Final for the first time since 1997, eventually winning the silver medal. At club level, Heal has made positive waves in her homeland, being named the WNBL Rookie of the Year and back in February, she made her senior tournament debut for the Opals at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade.

Paige Bueckers - USA

POINT GUARD  / 1.80m, 5'11 / 2001

If you want a gauge of just how much of a star Bueckers is becoming, then aside from her accomplishments on the basketball floor, she is about to rack up a staggering 1 million followers on Instagram. The guard was instrumental in USA taking their customary gold in Minsk, prior to then being named MVP in Bangkok a year later at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup when she led the tournament in assists and ensured USA recaptured the title they had surprisingly lost in 2017.

Also attaining success wearing a USA vest in 3x3, Bueckers is being backed to soon make the transition to the senior USA team. First though. she is looking to take UConn to an NCAA Championship. 

Iliana Rupert - France

CENTER  / 1.94m, 6'4 / 2001

Rupert was superb in Minsk as she made the All-Star Five with some terrific performances for silver medalists France. This was merely a pre-cursor to the talented center stepping up to the senior team and four years after her work at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup, she has three medals at the highest level in her collection already.

Rupert has clinched back to back FIBA Women's EuroBasket silver medals (2019 and 2021) and had thr thrill of winning a bronze medal last year on her Olympic debut in Tokyo. She is also a lock to appear at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Sydney later this year. The rising star has also been crowned a two-time EuroLeague Women Player of the Year via her stellar work with Bourges Basket and is lining up to play at the EuroCup Women Final Four in April.

Raquel Carrera - Spain

POWER FORWARD / 1.90m, 6'3 / 2001

Drawing plenty of praise for her performances with Spain when on the court in Minsk, Carrera has since underlined her maturity in a big way by developing into an important player at the senior level. In fact, she is destined to be a leading light for a long time as Spain look to rebuild with a new generation. The forward made her senior tournament debut last year on home soil at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket, although a disappointing 7th place finish took the shine off the experience.

A few weeks later and Carrera was stepping out at Tokyo 2020 and getting to experience the Olympics with her country. All of this came wedged between two pieces of historic silveware with Valencia BC. She was a pivotal figure in helping the club land the EuroCup Women title last April,  making some huge plays, prior to the club then winning the SuperCup Women last October.

Marine Fauthoux - France

 POINT GUARD  / 1.76m, 5'9 / 2001

Known for her smarts and composure, Fauthoux is continuing on a pathway to becoming the primary playmaker for the senior French team. She shone at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup a year with a silver medal, after guiding her country to gold at the FIBA U16 Women's European Championship 12 months earlier. Those performances fast-tracked her to senior action and like her national team colleague Iliana Rupert, has been picking up podium finishes.

The point guard already has two silver medals from the FIBA Women's EuroBasket and also an Olympic bronze medal to proudly admire after her Tokyo experience last year. Meanwhile at club level, she has been lighting it up. On loan at Basket Landes from LDLC ASVEL Feminin, Fauthoux has been sensational in EuroLeague Women and is the red-hot favorite to be crowned the Young Player fo the Year. She will also be looking forward to being part of the national team heading to Sydney for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.

Aliyah Boston - USA

POWER FORWARD  / 1.93m, 6'4 / 2001

Boston was USA's leading scorer in the Minsk U17 Final after scoring 16 points and gained All-Star Five recognition as a result, having been effective throughout the competition. That came a year on from being MVP at the FIBA Under-16 Women's Americas Championship and going three in a row, the frontcourt star also came up with gold at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup in 2019. 

That pedigree at the youth level gave her the foundation to make a move to the senior team for the first time last year when she carried USA to a top of the podium finish at the 2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup. Now Boston is focused on trying to win an NCAA Championship with South Carolina Gamecocks.

Jade Melbourne - Australia

POINT GUARD  / 1.78M, 5'10 / 2002

An emerging Opal, Melbourne's playmaking skills are making people sit up and take notice in a big way. The guard wa the yongest member of the Sapphires team in Minsk that took third place. She then went on to propel the Gems to the Final of the U19 Women's Basketball World Cup last year, averaging 12.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game which was good enough to land a place in the All-Star Five as well as claiming a silver medal.

Just a few months later, the guard then had thr thrill of being part of a young senior Opals team that went to the FIBA Women's AsiaCup in Amman and delivered a bronze medal. One of the best elements was that she got to learn from the likes of Sami Whitcomb. And, even if making the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 in Sydney might just be out of reach, although not impossible by any means, Melbourne is tipped to eventually establish herself as a mainstay of the Australia backcourt.

FIBA