MIAMI (United States) – During the recent national team qualifiers, whether for AmeriCup or the World Cup, we’ve witnessed the emergence of several young players who left their mark and quickly became important pieces for their respective countries. Some of them include Jean Montero (DOM), Gael Bonilla (MEX), Juan Fernández (ARG), Marcio Santos (BRA) and Phillip Wheeler (PUR). The 2025 FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers also featured a new crop of young guns who had a big impact and flash the potential to become stars in the near future. These are the Qualifiers’ rising stars:
Karim López - MEX
Position: Forward Age: 18 Height: 201 cm / 6'7"
He showed exactly why he’s projected to be a Top 10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He has plenty of athleticism and has the skillset of a triple-threat scorer. During Window 3 against Nicaragua, he produced 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in just 18 minutes of action (including several highlight reel dunks). And in the win over Canada, he had 10 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Across 5 games in the Qualifiers, he shot 61 percent from the field.
Gonzalo Corbalán - ARG
Position: Shooting guard Age: 22 Height: 193 cm / 6'4"
He was present in all 3 windows of these Qualifiers and after barely seeing the court in the first one (3 minutes per game), his role increased dramatically the rest of the way (26 minutes per game). He earned every chance he got by producing 12.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. And beyond the numbers, he raised his stock significantly by the poise he showed.
Nathan Fernandes - BRA
Position: Power forward Age: 21 Height: 207 cm / 6'9"
Despite only being called up for the last 2 windows, he only saw action in the last one, where he went off for 25 points (5-for-10 from downtown), 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks against Panama. His 27-efficiency rating made him one of the top performers of that slate. The big man, who was coming off impressive performances in BCL Americas with SESI Franca, ended up averaging 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in the Qualifiers.
Nicolás Martínez - URU
Position: Power forward Age: 21 Height: 207 cm / 6'9"
Uruguay is undergoing a changing of the guard and currently features several intriguing young players. The one who shined the most was Martínez, who looked comfortable and was very efficient. During Window 2, he made his debut with 20 points and 5 rebounds, and in Window 3 he chipped in 6 points, 6 rebounds and a block in 15 minutes against Paraguay. The power forward, who plays for Malvín in Uruguay’s domestic league, shot a torrid 77 percent from the field in the Qualifiers, including 9-for-9 on two-pointers.
Enrique Medina - VEN
Position: Center Age: 21 Height: 218 cm / 7'2"
The young center was the tallest player to see action in these Qualifiers. With the rebuilding going on in Venezuela, he’s expected to be an important part of the team in the years to come. During the last window, he was able to produce in the paint in limited minutes (6 points and 3 rebounds in the win over Argentina). Thanks to his size, he could be a difference-maker on both ends of the floor.
FIBA