Fotu and Ndour headline Top 10 list of FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships alumni

MIES (3x3) - From 4 to 7 June 2015, Debrecen, Hungary will host the fourth edition of the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships. Ever since its launch in 2011, the competition has become a platform for young talent to make a jump in their 3x3 and basketball career. From Astou Ndour to Isaac Fotu, we look back at the five men and five women who have shined at the event on their way to stardom.

1. Isaac Fotu (New Zealand)
At the 3x3 U18 World Championships: 2011 Gold Medallist (Men's)

Since then: 15th at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup

The then 'fro-less Kiwi propelled New Zealand to an unexpected world title on the first-ever edition of the competition and directly contributed to make 3x3 one of the most popular rising disciplines in the country.

2. Astou Ndour (Spain)
At the 3x3 U18 World Championships: 2011 Gold Medallist, 2012 Silver Medallist

Since then: 2013 FIBA Europe Young Women's Player of the Year, Euroleague (Fenerbahçe), WNBA (San Antonio Stars)

Before the Euroleague and the WNBA, the Senegalese-born Ndour reigned supreme in the paint at the 3x3 U18 World Champs, collecting two medals in back-to-back years.

3. Damien Inglis (France)
At the 3x3 U18 World Championships: 2012 Gold Medallist (Mixed), 2012 Bronze Medallist (Men's)

Since then: NBA (Milwaukee Bucks)

The super-athletic Frenchman showed in Madrid he could finish with a little "Inglis". If not for an unfortunate leg injury suffered a week before the 2013 edition, he would have joined a "Bleuets" team that struck silver in Jakarta and jammed even more the trophy cabinet.

4. Angela Salvadores (Spain)
At the 3x3 U18 World Championships: 2013 Gold Medallist (Skills Contest), 2013 Bronze Medallist (Women's)

Since then: 2014 FIBA Europe Young Women's Player of the Year, 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women MVP

In 2013, the future Duke player outclassed the competition, against girls two years older. And the medal hunt is not over: Salvadores is eligible for this year's edition in Hungary.

5. Gabriel Deck (Argentina)
At the 3x3 U18 World Championships: 2013 Gold Medallist (Men's)

Since then: 2014 FIBA 3x3 (Senior) World Championships

With his classy post moves and lethal jump shot, this Luis Scola fan led Argentina to a clean record in 2013. The following year, the former Nike Hoop Summit player was already representing his country in 3x3 at senior level in Moscow.

6. Brianna Turner (USA)
At the 3x3 U18 World Championships: 2012 and 2013 Gold Medallist (Women's)

Since then: 2015 NCAA Final Four (Notre Dame)

The Texas native is the only player in the history of the competition with two gold medals, though it was hard to recognise her after she traded her cornrows for the biggest 'fro not named Isaac Fotu between 2012 and 2013.

7. Kristupas Zemaitis (Lithuania)
At the 3x3 U18 World Championships: 2013 Semi-Finalist

Since then: 2014 Youth Olympic Games Gold Medallist (Men's), 2014 FIBA 3x3 All Stars Semi-Finalist

The blonde sharpshooter may not have won a single medal at the 3x3 U18 World Champs, still he led his team to the biggest upset of the 2013 event, knocking down the US über-favourites. Since then he became a genuine 3x3 star, hitting the gold-winning shot at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games and leading his Kaunas team to the semi-finals of the prestigious FIBA 3x3 All Stars later that year.

8. Leticia Romero (Spain)
At the 3x3 U18 World Championships: 2012 Silver Medallist (Women's)

Since then: 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women Silver Medallist

It took just two years for the Canary Islands native to make the leap from the 3x3 U18 World Champs to the (5x5) senior World Championships. But for the star Florida State University player, both events ended with a heartbreaking loss against USA.

9. Kobe Paras (Philippines)
At the 3x3 U18 World Championships: 2013 Gold Medallist (Dunk Contest)

Since then: UCLA scholarship (NCAA)

Though he was the youngest player in the 2013 edition, it took just a few days for Paras to become the biggest star of the tournament after an electrifying performance at the Honda Dunk Contest, which topped 2 million views on YouTube. The Filipino rising star has since then crossed the ocean. There is a new Kobe in California.

10. Dilixiati Dilana (China)
At the 3x3 U18 World Championships: 9th in 2012 (Women's)

Since then: 2014 Youth Olympic Games China Flag-bearer and Quarter-Finalist (Women's)

Speaking of precocious talent, the 1,93m Dilana featured on the Chinese 3x3 U18 team at the tender age of 15. Two years later, the Xinjiang native was chosen among athletes from all sports as the flag-bearer for China at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games at home, in Nanjing.

FIBA