AfroBasket 2013 features youngsters learning game abroad

REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - AfroBasket 2013 is drawing to a close this weekend with three of the four semi-finalists - Egypt, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and Angola - ready to book spots for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. It's the perfect time to look at the top young players born in 1992 and after at the tournament in Abidjan.

Topping the list are four young players who are learning the game outside of their home country.

Senegal's 21-year-old Abdou Badji is playing at his second AfroBasket and averaging 6.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in Abidjan, including 20 points and eight rebounds against Rwanda.

The power forward, who also has a Swiss passport, has been playing in Switzerland since 2010 and has improved every season. Last season, he averaged about nine points and five rebounds including two double-doubles and nine games with at least two blocks for Union Neuchatel Basket.

Cape Verde, who lost to Egypt in the Quarter-Finals, have two of the top youngsters in the competition. Canadian-born Dimitry Coronel has averaged 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals in Cote d'Ivoire. The 21-year-old small forward played last season at the University of Maine.

Cape Verde center Walter Samuel Da Veiga has been in Spain since the 2009-10 season, even earning some playing time last season with the Liga Endesa team Gran Canaria. At the AfroBasket, the 21-year-old 2.20m center has averaged 8.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.

Republic of Congo (CGO)'s 21-year-old Karl Niamamoukoko has played in Spain since 2009 - with Estudiantes Madrid. The power forward has been a solid contributor in Abidjan with 3.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 block.

After helping Widad AC de Casablanca to the Moroccan league title, Reda Ali Harras helped Morocco to the Quarter-Finals, where they lost to Angola. The 20-year-old guard, who averaged 1.5 points at AfroBasket 2011, is one of Morocco's leaders in Cote d’Ivoire, averaging 3.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.4 steals.

Semi-finalists Egypt have two young players, one of them playing a big role in the country's magical run. The 20-year-old guard Yossef Abou-Sousha is averaging 5.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steal.

The other Egyptian talent is 18-year-old center Anas Mahmoud, who played at the 2012 U17 World Championship but has only earned nine minutes in two games in Cote d’Ivoire.

Niamamoukoko is just one of a number of young players on CGO's roster. Point guard Japhie Nguia is 21 years old while Medhie Mouesse, who collected 16 points and 3 rebounds in 23 minutes versus Central African Republic, is 20 years old, just like Rodel Ongoundou, who had 12 points, six rebounds and two assists against CAF. And Exoce Garnett Louoni Gampourou is an 18-year-old center.

Central African Republic are also a young team as Anthony Gouzhy, who turns 20 on August 30 and scored 19 points against GCO, is one of the leaders with 7.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists.

The 21-year-old power forward Jimmy Djimrabaye was supposed to play at his third AfroBasket but did not appear in any games, while Alban Yabanda is also 21 years of age. In addition, the 18-year-old Jose Ngoko has chipped in 1.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.8 blocks.

The 20-year-old small forward Ibrahima Cherif Haidara has been a leader for Mali with 10.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals, including double-doubles against CGO and Burkina Faso. Guard Mahamadou Kante is 21 years old and center Boubacar Sidibe will turn 19 years of age in September.

Rwanda also have a trio of interesting youngsters in 18-year-old Olivier Shyaka, who had 13 points and eight rebounds in a loss to Tunisia; 19-year-old power forward Patrice Twagirayezu and 20-year-old guard Lionel Hakizimana.

Algeria's 21-year-old forward Abdellah Hamdini collected 10 points against both Morocco and Mozambique and totaled 10 rebounds in those games while the team also has 19-year-old playmaker Zaki Guermat.

Cameroon also have two youngsters in the pair of 21-year-olds Steve Moundou Missi and Frank Tchoubaye Bakala. And Bienvenue Nissao is a 17-year-old shooting guard for Burkina Faso and collected 4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists.

David Hein

FIBA

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