VALENCIA (Spain) - At every FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, at least a few players go from anonymity to stardom.
Remember how Simone Fontecchio took Belgrade by storm in 2021? In his first big event with Italy, Fontecchio shot down all of the Azzurri's opponents, drilling 56.4% of his attempts from the floor while averaging 19.7 points per game.
His teammate, Achille Polonara, also had a breakout OQT in Belgrade. In his first big event since EuroBasket 2015, when he'd averaged 0.8 ppg, Polonara's average shot up to 17.3 ppg and 9.3 rpg. He was named MVP of the event.
At the OQT Spain in Valencia, we identified three breakout stars.
Valdez Edgecombe Jr - Bahamas
Birth date: July 30, 2005 1998 (18 years old) Height: 1.96 m / 6ft 5in
Edgecombe benefitted by playing alongside great Bahamas players in Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton and Eric Gordon. He was dynamic, attacking the rim and hitting jumpers and also assisting teammates. Edgecombe poured in 16.5 points per game, grabbed 5.5 rebounds, dished out 3.8 assists and averaged 2.0 steals.
The Caribbean country would not have reached the OQT Final had he not had 20 points in a win over Finland and 21 in a victory over Poland.
Mikael Jantunen - Finland
Birth date: Apr 20, 2000 (24 years old) Height: 2.04 m / 6ft 8in
Jantunen had had big games with Finland before the OQT in Valencia, like at FIBA EuroBasket 2022 when he poured in 18 points in the Quarter-Finals against Spain, and in the European Qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup. He'd scored 24 points against Estonia in the Second Round of those European Qualifiers and also had 20 against Germany.
After last year's World Cup with Finland, where he averaged 8.0 points and 5.3 rebounds, however, Jantunen took it to a different level in Spain, with 20-point games against Poland and the Bahamas. He also had 13 points and 9 rebounds against Spain. The forward, who played for fellow Finn Tuomas Iisalo at Paris Basketball this past season, was a model of consistency for the Susijengi in Valencia.
After the Finns came within a whisker of upsetting hosts Spain and reaching the Final, Jantunen was named to the All-Star Five.
Youssef Khayat - Lebanon
Birth date: Mar 11, 2003 (21 years old) Height: 2.05m / 6ft 9in
Khayat showed flashes of brilliance with Lebanon at the FIBA Asia Cup 2022, in Asian Qualifiers for last year's World Cup and in two years with the Michigan Wolverines in American college basketball, although he has transferred to Bowling Green in Kentucky in search of more playing time.
At the OQT in Valencia, Khayat had his top performance for the Cedars, averaging 12.7 points and 5 rebounds. The key? He has matured, but crucially the coach played him a lot - an average of 25.3 minutes per game. Khayat also showed off his talent at the OQT against Spain, one of the best teams in international basketball. Khayat was 3 of 5 from long range and ended up with 20 points.
FIBA