MIES (Switzerland) - The FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023 starts in under two weeks and teams, federations and fans alike are dreaming of what could happen from June 24-July 2. Here is a look at why each team could win the tournament in Hungary. 

This is the second part of a breakdown over two articles, starting with Korea and going to USA.

Here is Volume 1 of Argentina to Japan

Korea

Kang Sungwook

Korea have long been a regular at the U19 World Cup, appearing in the global competition for the ninth time in the last 12 editions. But the Asian country has never really excelled - their top finish being 11th place in 2007. And it would be a stretch to give Korea even an outsiders' chance. But let's make the case.

Korea are returning eight players from the team that surprised many by winning the FIBA U18 Asian Championship 2022, knocking off hosts Iran in the Quarter-Finals, China in the Semi-Finals and Japan in the Final. Four of the top six scorers are back as well - three of them who scored in double figures. Unfortunately for Korea, the team's top two players Lee Juyeong and Lee Chae Hyung are the ones missing, who accounted for 42 percent of the team's scoring, 25 percent of its rebounds, 46 percent of the assists and 61 percent of the steals from the U18 Asian tournament.

Kang Sungwook will be the main player who needs to step up his production to compensate for the missing production. And the guard knows that and is ready for the challenge. Kang will be helped because he plays together with Kim Yoonsung at Sungkyunkwan University. Yoo Minsoo will be called upon to do more playmaking and both he and Yun Kichan averaged double figures last summer and also play together at Korea University.

Three of the four players who were not on the U18 team last summer played together at the FIBA U16 Asian Championship 2022, where the team finished sixth. Also on the U16 team was U18 Asian champion Ku Mingyo, who showed that he can lead a team with 16.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks at the cadets level. And the only player who has not yet played for Korea is Ryu Jeongyeol, who towers of the rest of his teammates at 6ft 11in (2.11m). Korea will need to work together in an otherworldly manner if they want to lift the trophy.

Lebanon

Karim Rtail

After a magical 2022 Lebanon basketball is hoping for more stardust this year, starting with a great performance at just their second U19 World Cup following 2007. Lebanon expect to have all their main players back from the team that finished fourth at the FIBA U18 Asian Championship 2022. And they will likely have a couple of bottom level players who finished fourth at the FIBA U16 Asian Championship 2022 and then made the country's debut at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022.

The leader will be Karim Rtail, who was the team's leading scorer at the U18 Asian event. He spent this season in Montenegro and then played three games in the Lebanese top flight after participating in the Basketball Without Borders Global camp.

The biggest help will come from Karl Zamatta, who played in all three competitions - U16 and U18 Asia and U17 World Cup - last summer. The 2006-born big man followed the route of emerging Lebanese superstar Youssef Khayat in going to France and played this season with Dijon in the French U21 league.

Rayan Hachem will be responsible for playmaking duties after he led the team in scoring (13.0ppg) at the U16 Asian Championship and was tops on the team in assists at the U16 Asian event and the U17 World Cup. Sharing the point guard spot will be Gio Abo Sleiman, who did a solid job at point guard with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.4-to-1.8 at the U18 Asian competition.

One wild card could be Mohammad Habhab, a 6-9 center from Dearborn, Michigan and led his USA high school team in scoring, rebounds and blocks and was second in assists with a bit of an outside shooting game.

One thing is certain, Lebanon will go into the tournament as underdogs, but they can also use that to their advantage knowing they face zero pressure.

Madagascar

Mathias M'Madi

Many people reading this may just have done a double-take to make sure they read it correctly - yes, Madagascar will be playing at the U19 World Cup, the first-ever appearance for island nation in southeastern Africa. Madagascar enter the global stage as the FIBA U18 African Championship 2022 runners-up.

And the main leader of the team is Mathias M'Madi, who was named MVP of the U18 continental tournament last summer after leading all scorers with 20.8 points and 5.0 assists. The French-born guard, who plays in France for Chalon, participated at the 2022 Basketball Without Borders Africa camp and the 2023 BWB Global camp. He will need to be at the top of his game for the Malagasy to have the chance for success.

One of M’Madi's right hand guys will be Donovan Rakotonanahary, who ranked second on the team in scoring, rebounds and assists. The power forward has spent the past season in the United States developing his game and brings loads of excitement at both ends.

Captain Lovasoa Andriatsarafara and Jerry Pepin Rabibisoa provide Madagascar with more size and rim protection - combining for 3.3 blocks per game last summer. Andriatsarafara also took part in the BWB Africa camp. And Rabibisoa showed he can be an outside threat, hitting 35 percent from long range - Madagascar’s top percentage.

One wild card could be Sydney Raolompanatena, another France-born forward who will give another dynamic to the team plus the excitement of being part of something bigger. Madagascar will go into the U19 World Cup with zero pressure and just play their game.

Serbia

Ilija Milijasevic

Serbia might not have the biggest of names on prospects lists but the Balkan side will have most of the same team back that finished third at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2022. And it was a team that had five players score between 8.5 and 10.9 points per game.

Djordje Curcic was the leading scorer of the team last summer and head coach Vladimir Djokic will probably rely on him again along with backcourt mate Ilija Milijasevic, the second-leading scorer and top assist man. Power forward Marko Sarenac is a good offensive rebounder with quick hands on defense and also can hit a three-pointer - the team's leading outside shooter at the U18 continental tournament.

Lazar Djokovic, Aleksa Milenkovic, Nikola Djapa and Vasilije Erceg provide Serbia with good rim protection on defense. One of the crucial players could Luka Vudragovic as he gives Serbia a serious outside shooting threat. One additional aspect of dynamics could be Filip Borovicanin, who returns to Europe after playing a minor role at one of the best teams in college basketball in USA - University of Arizona. Given the lack of star power, Serbia could enter the tournament a bit under the radar, which is definitely not a good thing for opponents, to take lightly an established program like Serbia.

Slovenia

Jan Vide

Slovenia are back at the U19 World Cup for the second time and the last time the country was on the global stage at this age group the team included the likes of Erazem Lorbek, Domen Lorbek and Sasa Zagorac in 2003. Slovenia making it to Hungary is a bit of a surprise considering the lack of star firepower when they finished fourth at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2022. But the team that surprised France in the Quarter-Finals to lock up a U19 World Cup berth will be getting some reinforcements.

Jan Vide was the leading scorer at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022 and then did not play with the older 2004 generation at the U18 European Championship later in the summer. But the walking bucket maker will be on board and gives Slovenia instant creditability thanks to his scoring instincts. He spent the entire 2022-23 season working on his playmaking at Real Madrid and that will come in handy when defenses try putting multiple defenders on him in Debrecen.

The U18 team did not have any clear scoring option as Zan Zemljic paced the team with 10.6 points while also picking up a team-high 5.1 assists. Arne Osojnik and Alen Zulic both averaged 9.0 points as the co-second best scorers. Zulic’s outside shooting prowess will be much needed in Debrecen.

Gasper Kocevar gave Slovenia a solid force in the paint at both ends and the 6-9 center going to Germany to play for Oldenburg will help open his eyes to more out there. Another player who played in Spain and could play a major role is Sergej Macura, who comes from a basketball family and plays for Baskonia.

Spain

Izan Almansa

Spain come to the U19 World Cup as the U18 European champions with most of the team back that took the continental title last season and added a couple of players who finished second at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022.

Izan Almansa was actually the MVP of both tournaments last summer and will once again be the leader of the team with his dynamic inside game. But Spain are much much more than just Almansa. Ab Sediq Garuba, the younger brother of Usman Garuba, is a huge energy boost while Alejandro Moreno is a deadly shooter and Rafael Villar and Jordi Rodriguez both do a good job running the offense. They will be helped massively in that department by the 2005-born Sergio De Larrea, who is one of most creative playmakers in the world. De Larrea teamed up with Almansa on the U17 World Cup team along with Lucas Langarita, a strong, athletic guard who impacts the game at both ends of the court.

Baba Miller returns to Europe after a season in the USA in college and brings an enticing package of a guard in a big man’s body. And he will be a major problem for opponents. There is also serviceable big man Martin Iglesias, who is efficient around the basket.

This Spain group knows how to win and the challenges they will face and it would not be a surprise at all if they compete for the title.

Turkey

Berke Buyuktuncel 

Turkey come into the U19 World Cup and must be considered a serious contender for the title, if not at least a podium spot. Turkey finished ninth in 2021 but the country took third place back in 2015.

Speaking of the 2021 U19 World Cup, that is actually one of the reasons Turkey can dream of a title this time around. Star talent Berke Buyuktuncel as well as Samet Yigitoglu and Tan Yildizoglu all played at the competition two years ago - Buyuktuncel still only 16 years old. The forward spent his second full season as a pro player in the Basketball Champions League for Tofas Bursa and was on the All-Star Five as Turkey finished second at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2022.

Buyuktuncel is a big wing player who can do a lot of things at both ends, just like Eray Buyukcangaz, who played in the BCL with Darussafaka Lassa; and Hamza Mestoglu, who played in the Spanish third division after two seasons in the UCAM Murcia youth system including debuting in the Spanish ACB in December 2021.

Yigitoglu is one of a trio of very solid big men along with Berke Ismailcebi, who debuted in the Turkish league with Galatasaray and 7-footer Efe Demirel. Yildizoglu also has played for Galatasaray’s pro side this season and is one of a loaded group of playmakers. Melih Tunca has great size, length and poise while Emir Savas is super tough despite being undersized and has played for Gaziantep in the FIBA Europe Cup this season. Oh, and Ozgur Cengiz was the point guard last summer that guided the team to second place at the U18 European Championship with a 3.7-1.1 assist-to-turnover ratio. On top of that, Berk Akin and Kerem Konan are both good scorers and Efe Vatan has impressive athleticism.

Add it all up and Turkey will be a tough customer who every team should highly highly respect.

USA

Ian Jackson

Trying to guess the final USA roster at this point is pretty much impossible but one certainty is that the two-time reigning champions will rely heavily on their supreme athleticism. Head coach Tad Boyle will have his team exert suffocating defense and try to get as many easy baskets as possible.

The team will include a mix of players who won the FIBA U18 Americas Championship 2022 or the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022. Mark Armstrong, Eric Dailey Jr and Kel'el Ware were all on the U18 team with Ware being the biggest star attraction of that trio with his game in the paint at both ends.

Jeremy Fears is a solid and mature playmaker who helped USA win the FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2021 and then the U17 World Cup as well. Two of Fears' U17 World Cup teammates were Johnuel ‘Boogie’ Fland and Ian Jackson, who are dynamic guards who can flash with the ball and also provide tough defense.  Karter Knox is another wing who can finish above the basket and Asa Newell is a big who can shoot outside as well.

Then there is the trio of Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper and Tre Johnson, who are three of the highest rated high school players in 2024 and just provide even more weapons.

The whole thing about USA teams at U19 World Cups is getting them to buy into the team collective concept as they are all stars on their own teams. If Boyle succeeds in that, USA will be tough to beat. 

Disclaimer: Some of the players mentioned above may not be selected for their respective country's final roster.

FIBA