Hurt, promise and hope - See you in 2027 in Czechia

LAUSANNE (Switzerland) - The FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 is over and now the next generation of players look ahead to the next edition of this event. The next junior global tournament will take place in Czechia in 2027. And 11 of the players who played in Lausanne could be back on the world stage in two summers.

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There were 11 players among the 16 teams who were born in 2008, meaning they are eligible to compete in this event in Czechia. We talked to a handful of them to get their thoughts about knowing they have another chance to play on this stage.

Below are the 11 players, ranked by age, the youngest player in Lausanne being Cameroon's Gregory Kemet.

Kemet is actually one of three 2008-born players for Cameroon, who were making their debut in Lausanne - the others being Franck Belibi and David Wenga.

Belibi played a major role in Cameroon impressing people with their talent level even though they managed only one win and 14th place in their first appearance in the competition. But the lessons learned give Belibi hope for the future.

"It’s exciting to know that I can come back with the experience that I have here. This is a good experience for me overall to get better and I can continue to build off this," said Belibi, who collected 14.4 points and 4.0 rebounds.

"I learned that I can compete with the best. And in a few years I think I can help us get over the top. This is just a building block. We can come back better and stronger."

Fifth-placed finishers Canada for their part had two 2008-born players - Maxime Meyer and Stefan Ilic. While Ilic really didn't show that much, Meyer was a solid contributor over stretches despite being two years younger at the center position.

"Playing against these older guys, the physicality is such an aspect of the game. So just finding myself in my body and seeing what I have to do to get to this level, those are the things I will be working on," said the 7-1 center Meyer, who contributed 6.0 points on 63% shooting, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 14 minutes per game.

It was Meyer's third time playing for Canada, having competed at the FIBA U16 AmeriCup 2023 and FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 - averaging 4.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists for eighth placed Canada last summer.

"Just thinking about where I will be in two years and the growth and development I am going to have, I am super excited about the up-coming tournaments," added Meyer.

Hosts Switzerland also had two players born two years younger than the competition - point guard Dario Cokara, who only played three games after suffering a lower leg injury, and Klark Riethauser.

The young forward Riethauser, who plays in France for the youth ranks at Chalon, played a combined 52 minutes in the final two classification games and really got to see the level. He averaged 5.0 points, 5.0 rebounds 2.0 assists and 2.5 steals in those two games. For the tournament, he contributed 3.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists.

"The lesson for me is I have to work harder every day to play at this level," said Riethauser.

Switzerland were playing in their first FIBA U19 World Cup - gaining their spot as hosts. The Swiss face a tall task to make it back-to-back appearances. The nation is playing this summer at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2025, Division B, meaning they must first finish in the top three in the Division B to be promoted to Division A. The Swiss would then in 2026 need a top-five finish at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2026 Division A to qualify for Czechia 2027.

"That would be really be historic … to actually qualify for the event. At that point in two years we would have even more experience with the young guys that are here and even bring in even more talent that is developing now," Riethauser said with wide eyes.

Mali, who finished 11th overall in Lausanne, are the only other team with two under-age players in Sekou Bagayoko and Alassane Doucoure.

Three countries had one 2008-born player: Argentina's Simon Gradin, Kenny Vado of Frane and New Zealand's Jackson Ball.

Ball actually leaves Lausanne with the hurt of once again heading home empty-handed. The point guard was part of the New Zealand team that lost to Türkiye in the Third Place Game at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024. That equaled the country's best basketball result with the fourth place from the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002.

Ball was playing alongside four other players from last summer's U17 team in Lausanne and they came up just short again - losing to Slovenia in the Third Place Game.

"We fought all the way through this tournament. We showed that we are proud Kiwis. We're freaking tough and we showed we play as a team and showed resilience," said Ball, who averaged 9.9 points, 2.4 rebound and 3.1 assists in Lausanne.

Ball did find some consolation that he could maybe give it another go at the U19 level in two years.

"That would be pretty cool. This one is going to sting a little bit. Hopefully I can build on it for next time," he added.

For those 11 players, they still have one more chance to grab a medal in two years time. Perhaps we will see them in Czechia in 2027.

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