20 Players to watch for FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022: Volume 2

MALAGA (Spain) - The opening tip of the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022 gets closer and closer and teams are announcing final rosters and playing friendly games. With anticipation soaring, this is the perfect time to look at 20 players to watch in Malaga from July 2-10.

This is not a ranking of the top 20 players in the tournament - it represents more a list of players who fans can really get excited about following in the sixth edition of the competition. And it has a hint of who we are most looking forward to watching and seeing how they perform.

This is Volume 2 with players 10 to 1.  Click here to see Volume 1 with players 20 to 11.

10: Killian Malwaya - 2005 - France

 
France are loaded with talent and Malwaya is definitely one of the top guys to watch. The wing grabbed MVP honors at the FIBA U16 European Challengers 2021 to get France to the U17 World Cup and he also helped ASVEL Villeurbanne win one of the U18 ANGT qualifying tournaments. Malwaya has a great drive to the rim and can finish at or above it thanks to his excellent athletic 6-foot-6 frame. He also has good strength to help him defend on the wing or at times protect the rim. Malwaya is able to take over playmaking duties in stretches and also can hurt teams from deep for giving him space.

9: Zaccharie Risacher - 2005 - France

 
Risacher will be a major handful for teams in Malaga as he can hurt opposing defenses in a variety of ways - driving to the basket, his excellent outside shooting and his creativity with the ball, all that with his excellent size at 6-foot 8. The son of former French international and 2000 Olympic silver medalist Stéphane Risacher, Zaccharie uses his great length to stop his opponents on defense and also is a strong rebounder.

8: Yuto Kawashima - 2005 - Japan

 
Kawashima will be an early candidate to lead the tournament scoring, just like Rui Hachimura did for Japan in 2014. But Kawashima actually has more talent around him on the Japan team than Hachimura did. Kawashima led Japan to a historic second place finish at the FIBA U16 Asian Championship 2022, taking home MVP honors for his versatile game. The 6-foot 7 forward is a deadly shooter but he also can drive to the basket and also is strong enough to score in the paint. Kawashima also does a great job rebounding the ball and can create for others at times as well. Defensively, he is not the greatest but more than serviceable - especially playing against wings.

7: Ron Holland - 2005 - USA

 
Holland is one of four returning players from the FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2021 team that took the title, leading the tournament in scoring and efficiency and ranking third in rebounds. Holland is a special player at both ends of the court thanks to his length and agility. At 6-foot-9 he is a great rebounder and also can get to the rim from the wing and loves getting out and running - finishing above the rim. Holland is getting more consistent shooting from the outside but will not be needed to score from there on this team.

6: DJ Wagner - 2005 - USA

 
Wagner is considered the number one player in his US high school class and comes from rich basketball bloodlines. His father is former NBA point guard Dajuan Wagner and his grandfather is Milt Wagner, who played briefly in the NBA and won a title with the Lakers in 1988 before playing many years professionally in Europe. DJ Wagner is a 6-foot-3 combo guard who can really score the ball. He is very skilled and can score at the rim, on floaters, pull-up jumpers or from deep. His solid athleticism and good game understanding make him a good defender.

5: Christian Nitu - 2005 - Canada

Nitu has yet to play for Canada though he represented the country at the Basketball Without Borders Americas camp. Nitu has a slender long frame at 6-foot-9 but is a force at both ends of the court. Offensively, he can handle the ball and drive to the basket, finishing around and above the rim. Nitu also is comfortable shooting from long range, with his size giving him a distinct advantage and making it nearly impossible to block. Speaking of blocks, Nitu uses his long wingspan and is an efficient shotblocker, finding good position to take on smaller attackers or big men as well as shooters from the outside.

4: Aday Mara - 2005 - Spain

 
Mara will be the anchor of the Spanish defense as his intimidating height and length will result in numerous blocks and countless others that are altered. His 7-foot-2 frame also makes him a good rebounder and Mara has more in his skillset. Offensively, he cannot really create for himself though he has some moves around the basket and is able to finish with both hands. He crashes the offensive glass and can dunk in traffic. But what makes Mara special - and what will cause defenses headaches - is his excellent passing ability. The big man, who recently took part in the Basketball Without Borders Europe camp, has great vision and really reads the defense well and can find passing lanes - also with the bounce pass.

3: Cooper Flagg - 2006 - USA

 
Flagg may be a year younger than the rest of the competition and may be on a loaded USA team, but he very well may be the most versatile player on the squad. Flagg has good size at 6-foot-7 as well as good length and he uses it wisely and efficiently as a defender - both to grab steals but more often block shots, both inside and outside. Flagg also can handle the ball very well for someone his size and he is an excellent shooter from long range. But the young talent from Maine in upper northeast United States also can drive to the basket and is a refined passer who seemingly enjoys getting others involved. Add all that up and Flagg makes you think of old Yugoslavian players like Toni Kukoc as one NBA scout offered up. And Flagg will make it hard for head coach Sharman White to not have him on the court.

2: Sergio De Larrea - 2005 - Spain

 
De Larrea is really just a joy to watch - unless you are the opposing coach and you have to try to find a way to stop him. De Larrea is a big point guard at 6-foot-5 with great vision; a flair for the flashy pass - though they are aren't irresponsible passes; he enjoys tossing up alley-oops; and seemingly has eyes in the back of his head - as he exhibited at the Basketball Without Borders Europe camp. De Larrea has excellent handles and also good drive to the basket. He is not overly athletic but he can finish at the rim - not often above the rim. De Larrea also can shoot from the outside which makes it tough to play him on the pick-and-roll. Defensively, De Larrea has a little trouble staying with quicker and smaller point guards but holds his own when switched onto wings and is smart enough to deal with a big man switch on some occasions.

1: Ian Jackson - 2005 - USA

 
Jackson is the next in line of the never ending supply of dynamic, explosive guards and wings that USA Basketball brings biennially to the U17 World Cup. Jackson - nicknamed 'Captain Jack' - is the personification of explosiveness with the ability to get to the rim at will and finish at or above it. Jackson, who helped United States win the title at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2021, also can shoot the three-pointer and his athleticism and grit help make him a lockdown defender. A native of the Bronx, New York, Jackson is ultra-competitive and supremely confident as well and all USA Basketball fans can rest assured he will be there for any battle an opposing team throws at the Americans.

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