SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) - From stars taking their game to the next level and veterans earning bigger roles to young guns making the leap, the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico had plenty of players who turned heads.
Here are the ballers who raised their profiles:
Jose Alvarado - Puerto Rico
Stats: 16.5 EFF, 16.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.3 SPG - 50% FG, 50% 3PT, 100% FT
Everyone knew Alvarado was good, but probably not even his biggest fans saw this coming.
After working on his outside shot and improving it to 37.7 percent with the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2023-24 NBA season, Alvarado now leaves the island as a bona fide sniper.
He ended up shooting 50 percent (12-for 24) across Puerto Rico's 4 victories, but even those numbers don't do him full justice.
After making just 1 of his first 8 attempts, Alvarado drained 11 of 16 during the weekend victories over Mexico and Lithuania, leaving opponents in shock and getting the party started for the fans at "El Choli."
Alvarado will now lead Puerto Rico in Paris, where he'll have a chance to display his newfound international stardom.
Karim Lopez - Mexico
Stats: 16.1 MIN, 5.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.7 SPG - 50% FG
Head coach Omar Quintero predicted before the tournament that Lopez would have his breakout and the 17-year-old didn't disappoint.
The power forward played 27 minutes off the bench against Côte d'Ivoire, finishing with 12 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds and a pair of steals in Mexico's only win of the event.
More importantly, he showed decisiveness every time he touched the ball and often initiated contact on offense despite his skinny frame.
Lopez and center Adrien Isaac Porras will give Mexico a productive frontcourt for years to come.
Marius Grigonis - Lithuania
Stats: 17.5 EFF, 17.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.8 APG - 51.1% FG, 46.4% 3PT
The disappointment of Lithuania missing another Olympic Games and of his own bad shooting night in the Final will likely leave Grigonis with a bad taste in his mouth, but when zooming out, his overall performance probably earned him a bigger role in the national team going forward.
The 30-year-old, fresh off a european title with Panathinaikos, emerged as his country's top perimeter option by shooting 46.4 percent from beyond the arc across 4 games.
More importantly, Grigonis was Lithuania's best player on a team that included NBA star Domantas Sabonis. He led them in scoring and efficiency while only playing 23.5 minutes per contest.
Zee Hamoda - Bahrain
Stats: 12.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG - 38.5% 2PT, 100% FT
Hamoda had to pick up a more prominent role in the absence of point guard Mustafa Rashed, and he didn't disappoint.
The 22-year-old small forward from Sacramento State averaged 12 points and 3 rebounds while playing 63 out of a maximum of 80 minutes for Bahrain. Hamoda showed a smooth handle, solid athleticism and good scoring instincts.
Lionel Kouadio - Bahrain
Stats: 16.5 EFF, 9.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 4.0 SPG, 1.5 BPG - 57.1% FG
Kouadio and teammate Vafessa Fofana led Côte d'Ivoire in efficiency in a very positive tournament for The Elephants despite their 0-2 record.
The 22-year-old shooting guard led the tournament in steals (4.0) and emerged as the Africans' best perimeter defender.
Honorable mention:
Ali Hasan - Bahrain
Stats: 13.5 MIN, 2.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 2.0 SPG - 100% FT
Hasan's breakout transcended any and all stats. In fact, if we handed out a "Vibes MVP," the big man from Bahrain would've won it unanimously.
Whether it was his physique, his relentlessness in setting screens or stalking the passing lanes, No. 34 quickly earned the love of the fans at Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot.
The admiration grew to a fever pitch in the game against Puerto Rico, where Hasan was cheered every time he touched the ball and even received loud "MVP" chants when he was sent to the line. He promptly drained both free throws, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
After the game, he made sure to show the fans in Puerto Rico some love:
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