VALENCIA (Spain) - The FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Spain has been blessed with talent as the stars have shown out for their country.
The action heads onto the Semi-Finals stage on Saturday, so it's the perfect time to reflect on what has happened so far, and pick out the best player from each group with their highlights below.
Group A - Santi Aldama - Spain
Statistics:
20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, 79 percent two-point field-goal shooting
Aldama was a consistently strong performer across the two wins for Spain after following up a 17-point outing against Lebanon with a game-high mark of 24 points to help his side past Angola.
The near seven-footer ranked joint-second in scoring in the the preliminary phase as well as top-five in rebounds, whilst also shooting a highly efficient 79 percent from inside the arc and swatting away four shots in total.
Group B - Buddy Hield - Bahamas
Statistics:
20.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game, 50 percent three-point shooting
This could easily be something written about Deandre Ayton or teen sensation VJ Edgecombe, such has been their level of displays. But the nod goes to Buddy Hield for the way he has led this team from the front - the joint-leading scorer on the team with 20.5 points per game.
Hield has been a lethal threat from beyond the arc with a tournament best total of 11 triples, whilst also showing his creativity with 9 assists dished out in Bahamas' second victory against Poland.
FIBA