AHMEDABAD (India) - It has only been two years since the last FIBA U18 Asia Cup edition was held but a number of players have already made quite the jump, and are now becoming known globally as future stars.
And so, we take a look at some of those - you may have even seen them in the recent FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers - in this series, where we take a look at how their careers have gone since.
Dash Daniels (AUS)
Of all the players in this list, Dash Daniels already has a FIBA Asia Cup title to his name. He was part of the Australia team that completed a rare treble in the 2025 competitions in Saudi Arabia via 6-game sweep.
With that, he has now won championships in almost every FIBA Asia tournament he's competed in, having previously struck gold in the U16 and U18 levels. But the NBA Global Academy alum's story is just starting.
Daniels is currently playing professionally in the NBL, having taken the road less travelled. He had multiple offers to play collegiate ball in the United States but chose to stay at home, eventually making history.
At 16, he signed with the Melbourne United, becoming the youngest to ever play in Australia's top-flight league. He has since taken his act to the South East Melbourne Phoenix under the NBL Next Stars program.
Saif Saleh (JOR)
Saif Saleh will always be remembered for being part of a special Jordan batch that brought the young Falcons back to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in 2024 and he's since taken his act to the senior level.
The athletic winger made his men's team debut during the recent FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers' third window, and he wasted no time introducing himself right in his very first game.
Saleh starred in their 108-59 rout of Iraq to open the window with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field - including a 2-of-4 clip from deep - on top of 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in 23 minutes off the bench.
He went on to finish the window with norms of 9.3 points and 6.0 rebounds as the 20-year-old - who's attending NCAA DII school Pace University - showed that he could be an asset to the West Asian contenders.
Abdulla Yassin Mousa (QAT)
There's no doubt that 2024 was a banner year for Abdulla Yassin Mousa. From being one of the youngest to ever play in the FIBA West Asia Super League, he went to wow lots of fans and observers in the U18 Asia Cup.
Since then, the second-generation hooper has hit major strides in his young career. He's seen action in the Basketball Without Borders camp twice, with 2026 proving to be his most memorable thus far.
It's because he was invited to the BWB All-Star festivities in Los Angeles, and made sure to make an impression when he ruled the Three-Point Shootout contest in yet another display of his shooting prowess.
And before we forget, he's been part of the Qatar men's team too, as one of the young talents that the program has been trying to develop the best they could in preparation for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027.
Jacob Furphy (AUS)
Jacob Furphy was instrumental in Australia's successful U18 Asia Cup title defense and he went on to carry over his fine play over at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup the following year in Lausanne, Switzerland.
And that run of his in the Swiss capital would pave the way for him to the United States.
The Centre of Excellence standout committed and played for the University of Connecticut, marking the start of his NCAA Division I journey which should be instrumental in his goals of going as far as he could in his career.
Furphy, who made his Boomers debut in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, has since transferred to another D1 school in Boston College, where he hopes to take on a more significant role after riding the Huskies' bench.
Daniel Edi (KOR)
Literally months after the 2024 U18 Asia Cup, Daniel Edi made headlines when he declared himself eligible for the Korean Basketball League Draft straight out of high school - a path less taken by aspiring pros.
He'd be picked by the Seoul SK Knights, and went on to enjoy a solid rookie season with the revered ball club, which some remember for participating in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup (now the BCL Asia) in 2018.
But little did Edi know then that his first year as a pro would also lead to a tour of duty with the Korean senior team. He's now become a key cog of the squad since Window 2 of the ongoing World Cup Qualifiers.
Honorable mentions
Aside from the aforementioned quintet, there have been others who hit strides after the showcase in Jordan.
Emmett Adair, the 2024 Most Valuable Player, has since become part of the Boomers and debuted during the 2025 Asia Cup Qualifiers. He's currently playing for D1 school George Mason University in the U.S.
Then there's also point guard Rawhi Kilani, who along with Saleh has been called up to the Falcons - all while trying to hone and develop his game further by joining Club Baloncesto Las Rozas in Madrid, Spain.
Not to be forgotten, of course, are the Lebanon duo of Anthony Naba and Johnny Sawma. The former is now playing in the domestic league and has been named part of the men's team pool of Coach Ahmad Farran.
Sawma actually played in the U18 Asia Cup first in 2024 before making his U16 Asia Cup debut the following year, and could be bound to return in the U18 tilt after helping the Cedars qualify by ruling the WABA Qualifiers.
FIBA