ISTANBUL (Türkiye) - Basketball fans knew some of the biggest stars coming to the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2026. But many players who were less known blossomed in their opportunity to shine on the big stage.
Here are 10 of them.
Yahya Basaran - Australia
Basaran did not play in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup 2025, which took place in August-September; but he did appear in two games in the FIBA U17 Oceania Cup 2025 in December. The big man was returning to his native Türkiye and played well throughout the FIBA U17 World Cup, averaging 9.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.
He was Australia's leading rebounder and ranked third in the event in blocks. And he opened eyes to the world basketball scouts with his strong play at both ends.
Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje - USA
You may wonder what argument there is that the tournament's Most Valuable Player could be considered a breakout. Sure, Boumtje Boumtje already had a name coming to Istanbul - he had signed to play the up-coming season with Duke University. But American basketball audiences had not seen him play as he was making his FIBA debut and had been playing in Spain for the last three seasons.
Boumtje Boumtje was simply incredible at both ends, leading USA in scoring (19.6 ppg), rebounds (10.9 rpg) and blocks (2.1 bpg) to go with 2.0 assists and 1.7 steals.
Jayden Cecil - New Zealand
Cecil made a massive splash in his FIBA debut by pouring in 42 points in the opening game - a double-overtime loss to Türkiye. The guard did not really slow down the rest of the way with games of 37 and 38 points as well in finishing with 29.9 points per game - the second-highest scoring average in FIBA U17 World Cup history behind Dzanan Musa's 34.0 ppg for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2016.
Cecil, who also averaged 5.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steals, was born and raised in Australia but decided early this year to play for the homeland of his father. Don't be surprised if Cecil is called to the Tall Blacks soon.
Nathan Djako - Côte d'Ivoire
Djako was playing for the Elephants for the first time and he won't turn 16 until December. The guard helped Côte d'Ivoire grab three wins in their first FIBA U17 World Cup appearance with 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 3.7 steals.
He led his country in scoring and steals and he ranked second in the tournament in steals. Djako will definitely be a big name for the Elephants for the future.
Chris Echezuria - Venezulea
You might look at Echezuria's numbers - 4.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.6 steals - and wonder if that truly warrants being a breakout player. Then maybe you should consider that the guard only turned 15 in January. Echezuria is based in Spain at the Pablo Laso Academy and is considered one of the Venezuela's next star talents.
And he certainly showed flashes in Istanbul. Oh, and since he was born in 2011 he could actually play at the event in 2028 should Venezuela once again qualify.
Matjia Lukic - Serbia
Lots of the talk about the Serbia team was focused on Nikola Kusturica - rightfully so, of course. But Lukic proved to be the Robin to Kusturica's Batman as he averaged 16.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks, ranking second in points.
Lukic, who played last season at Pablo Laso Academy in Spain, made a big jump from last summer when he collected 8.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals in helping Serbia win the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2025.
Yuma Mendoua Ze - Cameroon
Mendoua Ze was making his national team debut as the country expanded its player pool ahead of its first FIBA U17 World Cup appearance. Moudoua Ze was one of the Lions' top players, averaging 8.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals.
He missed the last two games due to an injury. The wing has played in France's youth ranks since 2022 and will certainly be in the mix for future Cameroon national teams.
Asa Montgomery - USA
Montgomery came into USA Basketball's training camp kind of as an underdog to make the team as he was playing in the lower-ranked EYCL (Elite Youth Circuit League) as opposed to the more popularly known AAU circuit EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League).
But the forward, who led the EYCL in scoring, earned his spot on the USA team and his play in Istanbul opened more eyes back in the USA. He averaged 9.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 17 minutes of action.
Jakob Siftar - Slovenia
Siftar was making his FIBA debut after he was unable to play last summer at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2025.
The guard shined this past season in the Spanish youth ranks at Barcelona and came to Istanbul knowing he would be needed to produce since the team missing two key players from last summer's squad. Siftar made a loud introduction with 31 points in his first ever FIBA game against Puerto Rico and he finished with 16.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
Zhao Boxin - China
Zhao was not an unknown coming to Istanbul, having already averaged 8.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks at the FIBA U16 Asia Cup 2025.
But the 2010-born big man really excelled on the global stage. He averaged 7.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and a tournament-best 3.6 blocks. He collected 14 blocks in the first two games of the event.
FIBA