ISTANBUL (Türkiye) - The FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 featured some major star power from players who were expected to shine. But there were also plenty of others who many basketball fans might not have known but performed at a high level.
Abdrouramane Toure
Toure was not on the Guinea team that captured the title at the FIBA U16 AfroBasket 2023, and he was making his FIBA debut. And it turned out to be a historic one. The guard averaged a tournament-high 23.0 points, including a U17 World Cup record-tying 50-point outburst to close the event in the Classification 13-14 against China.
Toure also collected 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 blocks.
Brandon McCoy - USA
McCoy was returning from the USA team last summer at the FIBAA U16 AmeriCup 2023, and he went all in on his role as a force in the USA high pressure and high intensity defense.
McCoy ended up averaging 10.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists as well as 3.4 steals in earning the Best Defensive Player award. McCoy played only 16 minutes meaning his steals per 40 minutes were 8.2.
Miles Sadler - Canada
Sadler was making his FIBA debut as he was not on the Canada team from last summer's FIBA U16 AmeriCup 2023. The scoring point guard showed what he can do in dropping 30 points against Egypt in the group stage.
He totaled 13.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.7 steals.
Jackson Kiss - New Zealand
Kiss may not have had the highest numbers - 7.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks - but he certainly saw his stock rise in the tournament. The forward was fearless attacking the basket but also refused to give up uncontested baskets - even getting dunked upon by a couple of USA players in the Semi-Finals.
Kiss was the embodiment of the New Zealand fighting spirit.
Ignas Urbonas - Lithuania
Dovydas Buika and Arturas Butajevas gained more of the headlines and attention coming into the tournament but Urbanos showed he was the third part of a big three for the Europeans. He collected 10.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
Kaan Onat - Türkiye
Onat was one of the two clear leaders of the Türkiye team - along with Derin Can Ustun - but the guard really impressed with his play. Despite not possessing great quickness or athleticism, Onat is strong as an ox and able to fend off defenders to get to his spots and is a foul-drawing machine.
He scored 17.7 points to go with 5.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals while making 37 free throws - tied for the most in the tournament - and hitting 71.2 percent.
FIBA