MIES (Switzerland) - The FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup has seen some of the best talents on the globe in the last 40-plus years since it began in 1979. But who are the biggest 50 names to play in the first 15 editions?

It was not easy but we have put together a list of 50 great names and are breaking it down into five articles. Here is the second installment with places 40-31.

Part I with Places 50-41 

40. Yi Jianlian, China (2003) 

Yi starred at the 2003 U19 World Cup, averaging 18.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. The big man was just 19-years-old in 2004 when he played at the Olympics in Athens. It was the first of four Olympics for Yi, who also played in three FIBA Basketball World Cups and won three FIBA Asia Cups. After five seasons in the NBA, he returned to China in 2012. 

39. Willy Hernangomez, Spain (2013)

Hernangomez played a major role for Spain at the U19 World Cup in 2013, averaging 10.9 points and 5.4 rebounds. The center would be a winner on the international senior level, winning the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 and two FIBA EuroBaskets in 2015 and 2022 - the latter as Most Valuable Player. Hernangomez in addition helped Spain to bronze in the 2016 Olympics. He also has played in the NBA for seven seasons.

38. DeAndre Jordan, USA (2007)

Jordan contributed 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds to a USA side that took second place at the U19 World Cup in 2007. The big man later played for the USA senior team and won the gold medal at the 2016 Olympics, chipping in 7.4 points and 6.1 rebounds. Jordan is playing his 15th season in the NBA, making the All-NBA First Team in 2016 and twice being named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

37. Gregor Fucka, Italy (1991)

Fucka carried Italy to second place at the U19 World Cup in 1991, averaging a team-high 15.1 points. The big man helped Italy's senior national team to second place at FIBA EuroBasket 1997 and the country took the European crown in 1999, with Fucka winning the Most Valuable Player trophy. He also starred at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 1998 and the 2000 Olympics. 

36. Linas Kleiza, Lithuania (2003)

Kleiza was the leading scorer of the 2003 U19 World Cup but he could only lead Lithuania to second place.  He averaged 29.1 points per game to go with 8.9 rebounds per game. Kleiza would later play at two FIBA Basketball World Cups, taking third place in 2010, and also helped carry Lithuania to second place at FIBA EuroBasket 2013 and third place on the continent in 2007. Kleiza also played seven seasons in the NBA. 

35. Deron Williams, USA (2003)

Williams debuted on the global stage in 2003 when he averaged 8.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists in the U19 World Cup for a fifth-placed USA team. The point guard would go on to help USA to two Olympic gold medals - in 2008 and 2012. Williams played 12 seasons in the NBA, reaching the NBA Finals with Cleveland in 2017 and twice making the All-NBA Second Team and three NBA All-Star appearances.  

34. Antonello Riva, Italy (1979)

Riva was just 17 years old when he averaged 13.4 points in the first U19 World Cup in 1979. The wing would go to play for the Italy senior national team for nearly a decade, winning the FIBA EuroBasket 1983 with 18.3 points per game. Riva played at two FIBA Basketball World Cups in 1986 and 1990, finishing as the second-best scorer in the latter with 30.2 points per game. A long-time star with Cantu in Italy, Riva is the Italian league's all-time leading scorer - ahead of Oscar Schmidt - and he was named among FIBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1991.

33. Larry Johnson, USA (1987) 

Johnson averaged 9.0 points per game at the 1987 U19 World Cup, finishing second to a Yugoslavia team that featured Toni Kukoc, Vlade Divac and Dino Radja. Johnson was co-captain of the Dream Team II which won the title at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 1994. He won the NCAA crown with UNLV in 1990 and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1992. Johnson went on to play 10 years in the NBA.

32. Bogdan Bogdanovic, Serbia (2011)

Bogdanovic collected 8.9 points and 5.0 per game at the 2011 U19 World Cup, where Serbia finished second behind Lithuania. Bogdanovic debuted for the senior team on the big stage at the FIBA EuroBasket in 2013 and has played at three continental championships, finishing second in 2017 with Serbia. He also helped Serbia to second place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014 and 2016 Olympics. Bogdanovic was also the second-leading scorer and named to the All-Star Five at the 2019 World Cup in China. After starring in Europe, Bogdanovic arrived in the NBA in 2017 and has played six seasons in the league.

31. Stephon Marbury, USA (1995)

Marbury was the USA team's leading scorer with 17.5 points per game at the 1995 U19 World Cup, where USA finished seventh. The guard also played for USA at the 2004 Olympics and took home the bronze medal. Marbury is considered one of the NBA's most thrilling players. He starred in the league for 13 years before heading to China and became a legend there with three CBA league crowns. Marbury has also become a major figure off the court since retiring in 2018.  

FIBA