MIAMI (United States) – A star-studded group of players will be available during the first window of the FIBA World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2027. The games will be played November 27 through December 1. FIBA AmeriCup 2025 standouts like Georginho De Paula, Norchad Omier and Santiago Vescovi will continue leading their teams, while legends like Gabriel Deck managed to secure their presence at the last minute. Here are 10 players to watch:
Gabriel Deck - ARG
Position: Forward Age: 30 Height: 202 cm / 6'8"
The Real Madrid superstar has only played nine games for Argentina since his dominant run at the AmeriCup in 2022 that culminated with a victory over Brazil in the final and a gold medal. After failing to qualify for both the FIBA World Cup 2023 and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Deck (along with fellow veteran Facundo Campazzo) returns to get his country started on the right foot. His presence gives the squad a boost on both ends of the floor, and his experience should blend perfectly with rising stars Gonzalo Corbalán and Juan Fernández.
Georginho De Paula - BRA
Position: Forward Age: 29 Height: 197 cm / 6'6"
De Paula was a key member of the team that won gold at the AmeriCup this summer in Nicaragua. He will step into an even bigger role in the absence of Yago Santos and Bruno Caboclo, among others. He finished in the top five in efficiency (18.6) after averaging 11.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks. Head coach Aleksandar Petrovic will rely on his versatility to fill whatever gaps are needed, while helping to get the most out of a young big man rotation that includes Nathan Fernandes and Mathias Vazquez.
Norchad Omier - NCA
Position: Power Forward Age: 24 Height: 205 cm / 6'8"
Omier was simply too much for the competition during AmeriCup 2025 in his home country Nicaragua, but his team couldn’t achieve a much-awaited victory. The big man paced the field in efficiency (37.3) after averaging 22.3 points, 18.3 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals per game across 3 contests. He shot 53.8 percent from the field and 40 percent from long distance. After graduating college and participating in the NBA Summer League, he signed with the Cleveland Charge in the NBA G League and continued to dominate. He’s currently averaging a double-double (17 points and 10.2 rebounds) with 1.7 blocks and 58.3 percent from the field. Nicaragua plays a home-and-home set against United States.
Santiago Véscovi - URU
Position: Point Guard Age: 24 Height: 188 cm / 6'2"
Véscovi had a breakout performance at the AmeriCup 2025, leading Uruguay to a seventh place finish after impressive victories over United States and Bahamas. The University of Tennessee graduate was seventh in efficiency (17.8) in Nicaragua after averaging 14.3 points, 3.5 assists, 3 rebounds and a steal. He shot a torrid 64.3 percent from the field, including 46.7 percent from beyond the arc. In the absence of Bruno Fittipaldo and Emiliano Serres, Véscovi will have to team up with Joaquín Rodríguez, Luciano Parodi and Mateo Bianchi to keep Uruguay competitive against Panama.
Trae Bell-Haynes - CAN
Position: Point Guard Age: 30 Height: 188 cm / 6'2"
After taking a backseat to Mfiondu Kabengele, Leonard Miller and Kyshawn George—Bell-Haynes will be back to leading Canada against Bahamas. The point guard has seen his role steadily increase over the last couple of years and was instrumental in first getting Canada to the AmeriCup 2025 and then to a fourth place finish. This time around he’ll likely share the backcourt with veteran Thomas Scrubb and form a powerful pick and roll duo with returning star Kyle Alexander. The 30-year-old is having a solid start to the season with Casademont Zaragoza (Spain), averaging 15.1 points and 4.6 assists.
Gian Clavell - PUR
Position: Shooting Guard Age: 32 Height: 193 cm / 6'4"
This is Clavell’s team now. The 32-year-old shooting, fresh off an excellent performance at the AmeriCup 2025 (14.3 points, 3.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds), needs to step up once again for Puerto Rico. With José Alvarado, Ismael Romero, Jordan Howard, Tremont Waters and even George Conditt IV absent, Clavell will be the most experienced high-usage player available.
He won’t be alone, though. Point guard Zakai Zeigler will make his debut for the Boricuas. Chris Ortiz is back with the team and AmeriCup veterans Isaiah Pineiro, Gary Browne and Arnaldo Toro will step up to bigger roles.
Javonte Smart - USA
Position: Point Guard Age: 26 Height: 193 cm / 6'4"
Smart led USA in efficiency (16.7) at the AmeriCup 2025, where the Americans finished in third place. After averaging 15.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists in Nicaragua this summer, he’s expected to provide continuity for an almost brand-new roster picked by head coach Stephen Silas. The Osceola Magic guard will be joined by a group of players with plenty of NBA experience like Brandon Knight, Marjon Beauchamp, Kessler Edwards and Torrey Craig as they take on Nicaragua.
Franco Miller - BAH
Position: Point Guard Age: 26 Height: 188 cm / 6'2"
An incredible run at the AmeriCup 2025, where he popped off for 22.7 points, 5 assists and 3.3 rebounds—has positioned him as a leader for the Bahamian National Team. The islanders will face Canada without their contingent of NBA players (Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield, VJ Edgecombe and Eric Gordon, among others), but they’ve been building up a strong core of players competing in Europe and the NBA G League. Look for Miller to join forces with whoever is available out of Isaiah Mobley, Tavario Miller, Travis Munnings and Rashad Davis to give Canada trouble during the first window.
Braian Angola - COL
Position: Small Forward Age: 31 Height: 195 cm / 6'5"
Braian Angola’s star turn at the AmeriCup 2025 is exactly what the doctor ordered for Colombia. The recent iterations of the national team always had strong production at the guard spots from Hansel Atencia, Romario Roque and imposing presences on the inside with Juan Tello, Andrés Ibargüen and Jaime Echenique. But with that trio of big men unavailable this summer in Nicaragua, Angola stepped up and did it all to the tune of 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4.8 assists. His 17.8 efficiency was the seventh best mark of the tournament, and this was despite a poor shooting performance. Now, with everyone in tow, Angola can fit into an intermediary role where his experience and jack-of-all-trades skillset can shine.
Felipe Haase - CHI
Position: Power forward Age: 27 Height: 205 cm / 6'9"
Haase was instrumental in getting Chile this far by averaging 12.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists across their three victories in the 2025 FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Pre-Qualifiers. The 27-year-old power forward, who is one of the leaders of this exciting generation of Chilean players alongside guards Sebastián Herrera and Sebastián Carrasco. Plus fellow big man Nicolás Carvacho, now wants more and a ticket to the second round isn’t out of the realm of possibility. With Carvacho unavailable this time around, the Mexico City Capitanes (NBA G League) star will the focal point of the interior offense against a Brazilian squad that’s also missing several key contributors. Venezuela and Colombia, two other nations undergoing different phases of building or rebuilding, round out a totally up for grabs Group C.
FIBA