MUNICH (Germany) - The Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers is here, with 24 teams still alive in their quest for one of the 12 spots in next year's World Cup.
While the stakes are now higher, one thing remains the same from the First Round: there will be a lot of young talent on display, with multiple players set to play key roles for their national teams.
In this piece, we selected 10 players born in 2004 or later who will make their mark during the upcoming window.
Victor Wembanyama - France
Center
Birth Date: January 4, 2004 (22 years old) Height: 2.22m (7ft 3in) Team: San Antonio Spurs (NBA)
Wembanyama will return to the French national team for the first time since the team's silver-medal run at the 2024 Olympics. Since then, the 22-year-old has established himself as one of the best players on the planet, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, being named to two All-Star teams and, this year, leading the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA Finals.
As shown by their 5-1 record, France are a strong candidate to win Group L, and with one of the best players in the world on the roster, their goal of qualifying for the World Cup will certainly be much easier.
Hugo Gonzalez - Spain
Forward
Birth Date: February 5, 2006 (20 years old) Height: 1.99m (6ft 6in) Team: Boston Celtics (NBA)
Gonzalez is coming off a rookie season in the NBA in which he developed into a key two-way piece for the Boston Celtics, making an impact with his defensive versatility, his ability to move the ball on offense and his three-point shooting. The 20-year-old was even more impactful for Spain during July's qualifying window, which included a 16-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist game against Denmark.
With his performances both at the NBA level and in FIBA competitions, Gonzalez is primed to be the leader of Spain's next generation, one that could break out at next year's World Cup.
Saliou Niang - Italy
Forward
Birth Date: May 14, 2004 (22 years old) Height: 1.99m (6ft 6in) Team: Louisiana State University (NCAA)
Niang played just two games during the First Round, but he was masterful, averaging 16 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, while shooting 72.2 percent from the field. The 22-year-old, who committed to play for LSU in the NCAA after a solid season with Virtus Bologna in Italy, makes an impact with his combination of size and athleticism, attacking the rim off the dribble and defending multiple positions.
Niang, who was already selected in the NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, should be an important piece for Italy in this window, as the team sits at a 5-1 record and looks to secure its spot in Qatar 2027.
Nikola Kusturica - Serbia
Shooting Guard
Birth Date: April 30, 2009 (17 years old) Height: 2.02m (6ft 8in) Team: UCLA (NCAA)
Kusturica has been included in Serbia's preliminary roster after an incredible FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup run in July, where he averaged 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks and led Serbia to a second-place finish. The UCLA commit has made an impact in each of his appearances with the Serbian junior national teams with his unique combination of size, ball-handling ability, three-point shooting and defensive productivity.
Kusturica has broken out as one of the top prospects in the world and a potential top pick in the 2028 NBA Draft, and his debut with the senior national team will be one of the most anticipated events of this window.
Sergio de Larrea - Spain
Point Guard
Birth Date: December 4, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Team: Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
De Larrea was selected in the first round of this year's NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, and he turned heads in the NBA Summer League, where he stood out with his playmaking for others, finishing as the leader in assists per game.
The former Valencia player possesses a unique combination of size, passing vision and three-point shooting ability, and his versatility to make an impact both with and without the ball in his hands could be instrumental for Spain in this window and make him a key piece of the team's next generation.
Omer Kutluay - Türkiye
Point Guard
Birth Date: March 27, 2009 (17 years old) Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in) Team: Real Madrid (ESP)
Kutluay was recently named to the All-Star Five at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup after averaging 28.4 points per game and leading the competition with 9.0 assists per game. The Real Madrid prospect is a complete offensive engine who can create his own shot both on pull-ups and drives to the basket, while also being able to make plays for teammates.
With Türkiye being one of just two undefeated teams left in the tournament, Kutluay could see his first minutes with the senior national team in this window. If his junior team performances are any indication, it will be the start of a long national team career.
Ruben Prey - Portugal
Power Forward
Birth Date: February 16, 2005 (21 years old) Height: 2.08m (6ft 10in) Team: St John's University (USA)
Prey returns to the national team for the first time since February 2024, when he averaged 8.5 points and 3.0 rebounds across two games in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers. Since then, Prey has been developing in the NCAA with the St. John's Red Storm, where, despite playing limited minutes, he has been able to showcase his combination of size, defensive impact and flashes of ball-handling and three-point shooting.
The addition of both Prey and Neemias Queta for this window gives Portugal much-needed size in the paint, as the team looks to qualify for its first-ever World Cup.
Aday Mara - Spain
Center
Birth Date: April 7, 2005 (21 years old) Height: 2.20m (7ft 3in) Team: Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)
Mara became Spain's highest NBA Draft pick since Ricky Rubio after the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him 12th overall in this year's Draft. The Zaragoza native was key for the Michigan Wolverines in this year's title run in the NCAA Tournament, displaying the elite size and length to make an impact as a rim protector, rebounder and interior finisher, while also showing tremendous upside as a passer.
Widely considered Spain's best center prospect since the days of Pau and Marc Gasol, the 21-year-old is expected to be the team's long-term answer in the paint.
Maxim Klitschko - Ukraine
Center
Birth Date: April 1, 2005 (21 years old) Height: 2.16m (7ft 1in) Team: AS Monaco (FRA)
Klitschko has developed into a rotational piece for Ukraine, as the team has won all three of its games with him on the roster, and he was especially impressive in his last game against Denmark, when he put up 9 points and 2 rebounds in just 15 minutes of play.
With his elite size and length, Klitschko has been a factor as a rebounder and interior finisher, and his impact in the paint could make a difference for Ukraine as the team looks to qualify for the World Cup for only the second time ever.
Ilay Dolinski - Israel
Center
Birth Date: February 6, 2005 (21 years old) Height: 2.04m (6ft 8in) Team: Ironi Kiryat Ata B.C. (ISR)
Dolinski has already developed into a key player for Israel. He put up 10 points and 3 rebounds in just 8 minutes of play during his debut against Cyprus, and since then, his minutes with the national team have been increasing.
With his productivity in the paint as an interior finisher and rebounder, as well as his flashes as a three-point shooter, Dolinski could be a key piece for an Israel team facing an uphill battle, as their 2-4 record has them at the bottom of Group K.
FIBA