10 reasons to follow the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship

VALDIVIA (2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship) – A new edition of the most important youth tournament in the Americas region tips off on Tuesday in Valdivia, Chile with 10 teams looking to win one of the four qualifying spots to the 2017 FIBA U19 World Championship in Egypt.

FIBA.com gives you 10 reasons to follow the event:

1 - Future superstars

The FIBA Americas U18 has featured stars like Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving, Raulzinho Neto, Cristiano Felicio, Nicolás Laprovittola, Tristan Thompson, Kelly Olynyk, Andrew Wiggins, Trey Lyles, Julius Randle, Marcus Smart, Patricio Garino, Gabriel Deck, Justice Winslow, Myles Turner, Stanley Johnson and Dillon Brooks. It is a tournament that provides a platform for great young talented players just before they begin to put their stamp in the professional ranks and for the senior national team. With the talent involved in the 2016 edition it is expected that more names will be added to that list.

2 - Chile's dream generation

One of the main reasons as to why Valdivia is hosting the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship relies on the fact that the city (Chile’s basketball capital) is excited about the future of the team that will be playing in the tournament. This is a tall team that has three players over 2.03m (6’8”) and an explosive guard play led by Nicolas Aguirre. Their game will be against Puerto Rico, expected to be a battle for second place in Group B (assuming first place is a lock for USA) and last spot to the FIBA U19 World Championship out of the bunch.

3 - South American Bigs

Argentina and Brazil are tied with USA as the tallest teams in the tournament. That alone is good news for both teams, especially Argentina who was struggled to produce big men out of the youth teams in the last three chances. Argentina has six players over 2.01m (6’7”) in the roster for the U18. To give those kids the opportunity to get international experience is a big win already for the development program in the country.  

4 - Competition?

USA has dominated the Americas U18 Championship since 2010 and beat every opponent by an average 44.3 points per game. Sure, there have been good games against Argentina, Brazil and Canada but USA has been consistent at the top. The 2016 looks like one of their best yet. Will there be any team able to challenge the three-time defending champ?

5 - This Group A though...

This foursome of Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Dominican Republic is promising and looking to deliver some exciting games in the group phase of the competition. Just knowing there’ll be an Argentina v Brazil match-up in the second day of competition is reason enough to look forward to Group A throughout the tournament.

6 - Canada's top 3

The Canadian national team has three players in ESPN’s Top 100 prospect list from the 2017 graduating class in Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Lindell Wigginton and Oshae Brissett. It is an athletic trio sure to produce some exciting highlights in the tournament.

7 - Brazil/Pinheiros U18 team

Brazil has an interesting make-up. The team is comprised of 7 players out Pinheiros, one of the most important clubs in the country with an excellent development track. Still, 7 out of 12 players from one club in one of the biggest countries in the continent is not a good omen. Maybe chemistry (for having played together for so long) helps but they may also be a limited crop.

8 - Young veteran Allende

6'6 Leandro Allende (2016/SG) Chaminade Madonna #HoopMIA All-Star Game @leandro_luis14 https://t.co/ehDOSlDVxo pic.twitter.com/TwS5yyWtZs

— HoopMIA (@Hoop_MIA) March 23, 2016

Leandro Allende is as experienced as it comes when talking about a 17-year old. For the Puerto Rican national team he has played in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship and this U18 tournament already in the 2014 editions. Now he is joined by top prospect Ethan Thompson as Puerto Rico looks to advance to the U19 World Championship, a tournament in which they have not played since 2009.

9- Virgin Islands return to U18 stage

The Caribbean team is back in the Americas U18 Championship after missing out on the 2014 edition. Their silver medal performance in last year’s U17 Championship is enough to not rule them out of pulling upsets over Puerto Rico or Chile in the group phase of the competition. They might be trouble if underestimated in Valdivia.

10 - Stacked USA

Mohamed Bamba EYBL highlights. Best player in the country? https://t.co/4ZQXsi7tRU pic.twitter.com/lHV4vu8lc2

— Primetime (@PTHoopTeam) July 18, 2016

The three-time defending champ is once again the favorite of the competition with a complete talented roster that includes the 3rd and 4th best prospect the 2017 class in Mohamed Bamba and Michael Porter Jr. and the 7th best prospect in the 2016 class in Makelle Fultz according to ESPN’s Top 100 list. Even with the great teams USA has put forward in past editions, experts are predicting this to be maybe the best ever, which doubles down on their must-watch status during the competition.