LEON / IRAPUATO (Mexico) - The FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup lands on Mexican soil for its 2024 edition with a number of exciting rising stars ready to go to work.
It's time to take a look at some of the leading ballers likely to be on show as we pick out 20 leading prospects to look our for across the competition (maximum 2 per team) - starting with spots 20-11.
20. Sofia Acuna - Mexico
GUARD
Birth Date: December 8, 2007 (16 years old) Height: 1.76m (5ft 9in)
A great way to start our list is with the host nation and the all-action Acuna who will carry the hopes of Mexico largely on her broad shoulders. The guard is the heartbeat of her team and she showed this with almost 15 points and 5 assists per game last year at the FIBA U16 Women's Americas Championship.
But that was not exactly a surprise, since the guard was on fire 12 months earlier when pouring in almost 20 points per outing at the FIBA U15 Women's CentroBasket 2022. The home fans will be cheering for her to make a big impression again.
19. Malak Elhemaly - Egypt
FORWARD
Birth Date: January 15, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.81m (5ft 11in)
Egypt had a three-punch offense last year at the FIBA U16 Women's African Championship and Elhemaly deserves some of the spotlight since it was her teammates Injy Elghayesh and Kadiga Abouelghait who made the All-Star Five, while she just missed out.
That was despite leading her team in efficiency and rebounding, finishing as the second top scorer for her team and racking up a fine tournament double-double. Strong, relentless and always working, she is a real rock for her team and will be so again in Mexico.
18. Yu Chen Peng - Chinese Taipei
GUARD
Birth Date: January 11, 2008 (16 years old) Height: 1.60m (5ft 3in)
An all-action guard that did just about everything for her team at the FIBA U16 Asian Women's Championship 2023, Peng was key in Chinese Taipei's return to making the Semi-Finals of the competition. She dominated for her team and topped their efficiency, rebounding, assists and steals categories.
It was rich reward that she made the All-Star Five lineup after contributing 11.2 points, a tourney sixth-best 7.3 rebounds which underlined her appetite for defying her playmaker position, as well as a super 4.5 assists, and 4.2 steals. Quick, dynamic and always influencing the team, she is a tough defensive assignment for any opponent.
17. Milagros Morell - Argentina
FORWARD, CENTER
Birth Date: April 27, 2007 (17 years old) Height: 1.91m (6ft 3in)
Labelled as one of the best prospects for Argentina for some time, there is a lot of excitement about the potential of Morell who has the size to be a force, but now needs to develop her skill-set further to complement this. She is certainly making positive strides so far.
Starring last year at the FIBA U16 Women's Americas Championship 2023 and helping her team book their ticket to the Worlds, she dropped a tournament double-double of more than 14 point and 11 boards. That earned a place in the All-Star Five.
16. Emma Giacchetti - Italy
GUARD, FORWARD
Birth Date: March 18, 2007 (17 years old) Height: 1.78m (5ft 10in)
There is no doubt that the FIBA U16 Women's European Championship 2023 was a roller-coaster for Giacchetti. She started off barely able to make a shot in the opening games, but her quality rose to the surface as she shifted through the gears.
The winger eventually landed a spot in the All-Star Five after averaging 9.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.3 steals per game. Her points total could and should have been higher, but her ability to influence so much across the board for her team was the real story as Italy took third place.
15. Cearah Parchment - Canada
FORWARD
Birth Date: July 4, 2007 (17 years old) Height: 1.85m (6ft 1in)
Parchment rounded out the All-Star Five last year in Yucatan after propelling Canada to the Final of the FIBA U16 Women's Americas Championship. She came up huge in crunch games and harvested super double-doubles in the Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals, finishing with 10.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2.2 assists per game in the competition.
A strong baller in the paint because of her physical frame, it is also the solid shooting range and accuracy of Parchment that could see her develop into a wing player as she develops. Whatever position she ends up in, right now she is a real boom baller for Canada.
14. Pahlyss Hokianga - New Zealand
GUARD
Birth Date: October 9, 2007 (16 years old) Height: 1.66m (5ft 1in)
Having already shown her skills and potential at her own age group by impressing at the FIBA U16 Women's Asian Championship, less than 12 months later and Hokianga realized quite the dream after being fast-tracked to senior action. The 16-year-old was brought in for the Tall Ferns at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Xi'An - managing to get some brief court time.
That level of trust the coaching team has underlines the talent and more importantly the maturity of the guard who will be a force back in her own age group in this competition. Last year in Jordan she came up big at U16 level to help New Zealand stamp their pass.
13. Lilyana Fontcha - France
FORWARD, CENTER
Birth Date: June 20, 2007 (17 years old) Height: 1.92m (6ft 4in)
A powerhouse down low for France, Fontcha is going to be an absolute handful for any defender in the paint at this tournament. Last year she showcased her full range of post skills at the FIBA U16 Women's European Championship as she helped France land the title in Izmir. A good finisher around the basket, she shot more than 55 percent from the floor.
Her ability to finish either side of the hoop and her combination of size, power and feet that are reasonably quick for her position makes her a great prospect for France. Right now though, she is the anchor at both ends of the floor and a great base for a medal challenge.
12. Sara Okeke - Spain
FORWARD, CENTER
Birth Date: November 16, 2007 (16 years old) Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in)
Another young baller that can throw down a dunk, there was plenty of traction when one of her throw downs was put onto social channels earlier this year. This highlighted what an athletic and dynamic prospect Okeke is and it's an exciting prospect for Spanish fans if she can continue her evolution into a possible senior player.
Of course, there is plenty of work to do, but those coachable elements will be intensified and Okeke can certainly build on her U16 contribution last year of 7 points and 7 rebounds per game. This will be her first global outing and there will be much interest in how she does.
11. Kokona Abe - Japan
FORWARD
Birth Date: March 12, 2007 (17 years old) Height: 1.75m (5ft 9in)
A key component of Japan's run to the Final in Jordan last year, Abe was her team's best rebounder with 6.6 boards per game. She finished her campaign with 13.4 points per outing, including netting 22 in the title game against eventual champions, Australia.
Always seeming to smile and be enjoying her basketball, the forward was so efficient in most of what she did and that also contributed to an All-Star Five spot. Her perimeter threat and shooting range still needs to be raised up a little, but the signs of a senior career for the Akatsuki Five are there.
Next time we will be running down spots 10-1.
FIBA