MIAMI (United States) - Window 3 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers brings the final First Round matchups, as several teams continue their push to secure a place in the Second Round and move one step closer to Doha, Qatar. Among all 16 national teams that are set to suit up, each will bring young players that are looking to grow on the international stage. Here are some of the emerging talents that are set to continue making a name for themselves at Window 3’s games.
Reynan Santos - Brazil
Position: Small Forward Age: 22 Height: 195 cm / 6'5" Santos has established himself as one of Brazil’s top young talents of his generation. He burst onto the scene for the nation at the FIBA U18 South American Championship 2022, garnering MVP honors after leading Brazil to a first-place finish. He followed that up by earning a spot on the All-Star Five at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup 2022, where Brazil finished second. The 22-year-old made his senior national team debut by helping Brazil qualify for the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 and subsequently participated in the competition itself. Playing 15.9 minutes per contest, he played a key role in helping the South Americans win their first gold medal at the continental championship since 2009. Santos did not appear in either of the previous two qualifying windows but figures to play a notable role for Brazil, which will be missing Georginho De Paula for these July games. Brazil currently sits at 4-0 and has already secured their position in the Second Round.
VJ Edgecombe - Bahamas
Position: Guard Age: 20 Height: 196 cm / 6'5" Edgecombe has made an appearance on the Bahamian national team and will play in his second FIBA event in this upcoming window. His sole other appearance was in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Spain, where he helped the Bahamas reach the final and fell just one game short of reaching the 2024 Olympics. There, he averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 57.1 percent from the floor. The Bahamas’ preliminary roster includes fellow NBA players in Deandre Ayton and Buddy Hield, along with plenty of other talented players from the country. The team currently sits at 1-3 and is on the outside looking in for a spot in the Second Round. They will host Jamaica and Puerto Rico with hopes to win to keep their FIBA World Cup dreams alive. Edgecombe is coming off his rookie year in the NBA, in which he finished third in Rookie of the Year voting. A member of the Philadelphia 76ers, he averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
Kyshawn George - Canada
Position: Small Forward Age: 22 Height: 194 cm / 6'4" Last summer, George wore the Canadian threads for the first time and led Canada to a fourth-place finish at the FIBA AmeriCup. Averaging 13.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals across six games, George earned All-Star Five honors. Now, he returns to play for Canada a year later alongside a star-studded Canadian roster in Window 3 that includes reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dillon Brooks, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and plenty of other NBA talent. The Canadians are 4-0 and have already clinched a Second Round position but have the opportunity to close out the First Round with an unblemished 6-0 record if they defeat Puerto Rico and Jamaica at home in Hamilton. George is coming off his second season in the NBA, where he took a leap for the Washington Wizards. The small forward averaged 14.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
Lee Aaliya - Argentina
Position: Power Forward Age: 21 Height: 205 cm / 6'8" Much like Reynan Santos with Brazil, Aaliya has spent years among Argentina’s top talents of his generation. After finding his way onto the FIBA U18 South American Championship 2022 All-Star Five, he returned a summer later for Argentina at the FIBA U19 World Cup 2023. In Hungary, he averaged 17.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game on 56.3 percent shooting to earn a spot on the All-Star Second Team. After helping Argentina qualify for the FIBA AmeriCup 2025, Aaliya returned to the court for the South Americans last December in Window 1 of these qualifiers. Then, he averaged 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game as Argentina won its two games against Cuba. Aaliya will be accompanied by a loaded Argentine roster that includes Facundo Campazzo, Gabriel Deck, and others for Window 3. Argentina is currently 3-1 and has already secured their place in the Second Round. Aaliya will look to help the squad get revenge on Uruguay after a February loss, as well as secure another win over Panama.
Edson Tovar - Venezuela
Position: Guard Age: 21 Height: 182 cm / 5'11" Up until a few months ago, Tovar had never played for Venezuela’s national team. In his first-ever game for the South Americans, however, he came off the bench while facing powerhouse Brazil and made his impact felt by totaling 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 19 minutes. Though Venezuela lost by 10, it was the closest that a team has gotten to defeating Brazil in these qualifiers thus far. Tovar will look to build on his performance from Window 2 as Venezuela sits at 1-2 with three games ahead of them in June. These games against Brazil, Chile, and Colombia at home will determine the team’s fate and if they will advance. Venezuela has appeared in both of the last two FIBA World Cups, in 2019 and 2023.
DISCLAIMER: The players featured in this article were included on the preliminary rosters released by their respective National Member Federations. However, the final 12-player rosters for each team competing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers Window 3 will be confirmed following the Technical Meetings held one day before each game.
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