MIES (Switzerland) - The countdown to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 has reached single digit days. The teams are in their final week of preparations before they make their way to Switzerland. So before the games tip off, let's look at which players have the best chances of winning the Most Valuable Player award when it's all said and done.
Who will follow in the footsteps of Spain star Izan Almansa, who carried his country to the title in 2023 and then took home the honor as the best individual performer.
We examined which countries have the best chances to hoist the trophy on July 6 and then picked who could leave Switzerland with the MVP award.
#10 Eric Reibe - Germany
Germany are definitely one of the top favorites for this tournament and there will be another German player higher up on this list, but let's give another option. It actually wasn't easy to figure out which second German to choose. Jack Kayil and Hannes Steinbach both would be possible choices but Eric Reibe has a very versatile game.
He can dominate around the paint at both ends, but the 7-footer can also force opposing big men out because he has shoot the three-pointer. Reibe will also be a great pick-and-roll partner with Christian Anderson.
#9 Felipe Minzer - Argentina
Argentina have a strong core of leaders who have been playing together for a couple of years now - both at the cadet and junior level. And one of those guys is Felipe Minzer.
The dynamic wing can drive to the basket and also shoot from the outside, and he will have to have a big tournament if Argentina hope to win their first title.
#8 Tristan Beckford - Canada
Canada will have an athletic, dynamic team and one of the main leaders for the North Americans will be Tristan Beckford, who was named to the All-Star Five of the FIBA U18 AmeriCup 2024. The wing can score in multiple ways and finishes above the rim.
Beckford also uses his athleticism for his strong perimeter defense and knows how to crash the offensive glass.
#7 Urban Kroflic - Slovenia
Slovenia come into the FIBA U19 World Cup as a darkhorse contender thanks to their great ability to play together. That chemistry will be helped even more thanks to the talent level of the individual players getting higher and Urban Kroflic is one of the country's next stars.
The lefty wing does a bit of everything - and does it all well. He can shoot, drive, playmake and also play defense on the perimeter.
#6 Talis Soulhac - France
France will have some unproven players on their squad in Switzerland meaning if they hope to win the title for the first time they must have strong play from their point guards. And Talis Soulhac will be the main man in charge of playmaking.
He has decent size for the position and can run the show while also driving to the basket. His outside shot isn't the most reliable but he can shoot from beyond the arch. Soulhac also provides solid defense on the perimeter.
#5 Dash Daniels - Australia
Australia will have a number of players who can hurt the opposition and Dash Daniels is one of them and one who can do that at both ends. The guard has a good drive to the basket and can finish above the rim.
He also can take over the playmaking duties at times and excels also at the defensive end with his quick hands.
#4 Tyran Stokes - USA
Just like with Eric Reibe and Germany, determining a second MVP candidate from the United States was rather difficult but it's clear that Tyran Stokes will leave his mark on the game. The wing is a relentless scorer, who loves to get out in transition and finish above the rim. Stokes can also drive to the basket and also has great bounce to finish after offensive rebounds and inside in general.
His thrilling scoring ability takes away from his excellent playmaking with both court vision and passing skills. Defensively he relies on his long frame and athleticism for steals and blocks.
#3 Savo Drezgic - Serbia
Serbia come to Switzerland hungry to finally hoist the trophy again after 2007 or at the very least reach the podium for the first time since 2013. And if they do that then Savo Drezgic will have had a strong tournament. The point guard had an up and down season as he did not play that much in the United States.
But he returned briefly at the end of the season to play with Mega Belgrade and brings the talent to produce a triple-double. Drezgic has strong scoring instincts but also good size to rebound the ball at both ends. He also has excellent passing skills and court vision.
#2 Christian Anderson - Germany
Germany enter the FIBA U19 World Cup 2025 as European U18 champions - the first time in history - and Christian Anderson is a massive part of that success. The point guard is the consumate leader who has a great all-around game. Anderson possesses lightning quickness which can only be stopped with fouls when he has the ball. He is growing stronger physically, which makes it even harder to defend him.
At the same time, Anderson has great basketball IQ and reads the game extremely well, which matches well with his excellent passing and playmaking skills. He also is a lock-down defender with quick hands and can finish on the break. He just is a killer and winner - helping Texas Tech University nearly reach the NCAA Final Four in his freshman season.
#1 AJ Dybantsa - USA
USA are on a mission to reclaim the trophy and the leading star among many stars on the USA squad is AJ Dybantsa, who many have as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Dybantsa himself is hungry to collect a second world title after being selected in the All-Star Five as USA rolled to the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 crown. Dybantsa is a scoring machine with countless ways to fill up the basket.
He possesses electric ball-handling skills and can really pass the ball as well. Dybantsa also has great size to provide his team rebounding help and his athleticism and length allow him to play great defense as well. If USA do win, Dybantsa will have shined all tournament and wowed fans in Switzerland.
*The MVP Ladder rankings are entirely subjective and are in no way a true and accurate FIBA ranking system. All comments are purely those of the author and the purpose is to entertain the fans.
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