MIAMI (United States) – The FIBA AmeriCup will bring together the best players from across the continent from August 22 to 31 in Nicaragua. This offers a stage for young stars to step into the spotlight and boost their national teams’ chances at victory. Here are five emerging talents to keep an eye on at the AmeriCup:
Nicolás Martínez – Uruguay
Born: October 28, 2003 Height: 207 cm / 6'9" Position: Power Forward Martínez made his debut with the senior national team during the AmeriCup Qualifiers and quickly drew attention. In his first game against Paraguay, he scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds. He went on to play in the final two games, finishing with averages of 8.7 points and 3.7 boards. His size will be critical for a Uruguay squad short on interior presence, although he can also play comfortably on the perimeter. In Uruguay’s top league with Malvín, he averaged 9.0 points and 5.4 rebounds in just over 21 minutes per game.
Yeferson Guerra – Venezuela
Born: July 6, 2003 Height: 188 cm / 6'2" Position: Shooting Guard With Venezuela in a generational transition, Guerra is expected to take on a bigger role. He played last season in Argentina’s top division with Unión Santa Fe and will look to showcase the experience he gained there. In the Argentine league, he averaged 7.3 points and shot 38 percent from 3-point range. Guerra debuted for Venezuela during the AmeriCup Qualifiers, averaging 4.0 points in four games.
Juan Fernández – Argentina
Born: November 21, 2002 Height: 205 cm / 6'9" Position: Center Fernández has been on the radar for years, competing in one U17 World Cup and two U19 tournaments before making his senior debut during the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers. Despite his experience, he is still very young. Fernández has spent several seasons developing in Spain, and last year played for Girona, averaging 9.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game. He is now one of Argentina’s key interior players. In the Qualifiers, he appeared in all six games, producing 9.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks.
Jean Montero – República Dominicana
Born: July 3, 2003 Height: 188 cm / 6'2" Position: Point Guard Montero, a former youth standout, made his senior debut in 2021 during the AmeriCup 2022 Qualifiers. At just 22 years old, he is already a cornerstone of the Dominican Republic team. Playing in Spain’s top league, he has twice been named Best Young Player, most recently with Valencia after averaging 15.9 points, 4.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 steals. In three games during the AmeriCup Qualifiers, he averaged 14.7 points.
Kyshawn George – Canadá
Born: December 12, 2003 Height: 201 cm / 6'7" Position: Small Forward George is the youngest player on Canada’s roster, yet he remains among the most talented on his team and in the tournament as a whole. He is coming off a strong rookie season with the NBA’s Washington Wizards, averaging 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in 26.5 minutes over 65 games. Drafted 24th overall in 2024 by the New York Knicks, he was later traded to the Wizards. This will be his first senior appearance with Canada, though he previously played for Switzerland at the U16 level. FIBA