Team Profile: Reinforced South Sudan an emerging force, not just Cinderella

MANILA (Philippines) - South Sudan enter unchartered waters as they make their global debut at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

Even so, the game's youngest nation will be hungry to show it is not a Cinderella but rather an emerging force with plenty of reinforcements since the African Qualifiers.

The Roster

The Bright Stars were already the biggest surprise of the African Qualifiers - losing just 1 of 12 games - and head coach Royal Ivey will have his major core back. That core is topped by captain Kuany Kuany and Nuni Omot, Deng Acuoth and Mareng Gatkuoth - the latter trio played in all 12 qualifiers.

Nuni Omot

Even with that core, South Sudan Basketball Federation president Luol Deng didn't sit idly by. The preliminary roster included major reinforcements, including a huge one in Wenyen Gabriel, who has played 147 NBA games for six teams over the last four years, including 68 with the Los Angeles Lakers last season. South Sudan also added a Carlik Jones, who has played for three NBA teams during the past two seasons.

Deng also convinced Marial Shayok and Emmanuel Akot who both played for Canada at the youth national team level, to come on board. Additionally, the South Sudan roster includes Mangok Mathiang, a South Sudanese national who played in a couple of games for Australia in the 2019 World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

The Question

How will South Sudan react to being on the world stage for the first time, especially when African teams haven't had much success in FIBA's flagship event over the years? After having only been founded as a nation in 2011, and having joined FIBA in December 2013, the team reached the Quarter-Finals in their first FIBA AfroBasket, in 2021, and then rolled through the African Qualifiers.

The Bright Stars never looked overwhelmed in the qualifying campaign: twice beating a Tunisia team that had hammered South Sudan in the AfroBasket 2021 Quarter-Finals by 15 points; twice defeating Egypt and Cameroon and losing their only game to Senegal by three points. Now the Group B opponents are Puerto Rico, China and Serbia at the World Cup. How bright can the Bright Stars shine?

Head coach Royal Ivey will need to have his team right from the get-go

The Hope

Optimism reigns in the South Sudan camp. The team has really nothing to lose and everything to gain with its debut in front of the world. The Africans have a difficult but manageable group with China, Puerto Rico and Serbia - having to finish in the top two to reach the next stage.

The Bright Stars should have enough talent to get the job done, especially if they rally around being a major beacon of hope for the people back in their homeland and their compatriots around the world.

The Fear

The moment is too big and the still somewhat inexperienced players just cannot execute when it matters most. With Serbia being the group favorites, South Sudan face a crucial game to start the World Cup against Puerto Rico.

The Central Americans will not be overwhelmed and also punish mistakes, so South Sudan must be ready. If they don't get that win, then they would probably have to hope for a three-way tie for second place.