10 players to watch at the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournaments in Syria

DAMASCUS (Syria) - The 2023 FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournaments are just around the corner and basketball fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the action, including in Damascus.

With so many talented players set to take the court, it can be tough to know who to keep an eye on. That's why we've put together a list of 10 players to watch at the event taking place in Syria. 

*All players featured are subject to availability and selection by their respective Federations for the event. Final rosters will be confirmed following the technical meetings that take place before the start of the competition.

10. Pranav Prince (IND)

Prince is a 23-year-old 2.00m small forward who was arguably India's best player at last year's FIBA Asia Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia. He averaged 9.7 points and 2.0 steals per game in Jakarta. His motor and athleticism will be crucial for India's success in the Pre-OQT.

9. Jonah Morrison (TPE)

Morrison is a versatile 2.03m big man who is one of the future cornerstones of the Chinese Taipei national team. He gives the squad much needed size and should be a good partner for Will Artino up front. Morrison averaged 6.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers.

8. Muzamil Hamooda (BRN)

21-year-old Muzamil Hamooda is one of the fastest rising stars in Bahraini basketball. At 1.99m, he is tall enough to be a power forward, but his skill set enables him to play at the perimeter. He's also an explosive scorer. During the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers, he put up 11.5 points per game while shooting 45.5 percent from beyond the arc.

7. Anton Bykov (KAZ)

The 34-year-old Bykov has been a pillar of reliability for the Steppen Wolves over the years. We're also eager to see him bounce back strong after a subpar performance in last year's FIBA Asia Cup. He tallied just 3.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in that tournament.

6. Brandon Jawato (INA)

Jawato has been an icon for Indonesian hoops, and he will surely be a vital cog in their campaign in Damascus. His numbers from last year's FIBA Asia Cup don't do him justice, and we expect he'll be much more aggressive this time around.

5. Omar Cheikh Ali (SYR)

At 2.04m, Cheikh Ali is one of the main frontcourt players for Syria. He was one of their most efficient players at the FIBA Asia Cup 2022, and we expect him to make a major impact again in Damascus. Playing at home should also make him play inspired basketball.

4. Oleg Balashov (KAZ)

If Bykov is one of Kazakhstan's dependable veterans, then Oleg Balashov represents the Steppen Wolves' future. He turned a lot of heads by being their second-leading scorer at the FIBA Asia Cup 2022, averaging 10.0 points per game while shooting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc.

3. Abdulwahab Alhamwi (SYR)

We expect Syria to lean a lot on their frontline at the Pre-OQT. This is especially since the aforementioned Cheikh Ali will be paired with 2.20m Abdulwahab Alhamwi. Even at 33 years old, Alhamwi continues to be a central figure for the Syrian team. He tallied 11.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game last year in Jakarta.

2. Marques Bolden (INA)

Bolden was the engine that enabled Indonesia to hum at the FIBA Asia Cup 2022. He averaged 21.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per contest. He also shot 54.1 percent from the floor. He'll be a major headache for Indonesia's opponentes in Syria.

1. Khalid Abdel Gabar (KSA)

Khalid Abdel Gabar is as explosive a scorer as they come. He led Saudi Arabia by putting up 16.5 points per game last year in Jakarta. He is most dangerous when attacking the basket, but he has a deadly three-point shot, too. He hit 2.5 triples per game at the FIBA Asia Cup 2022.

FIBA