ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - As the FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2024 in South Africa (September 1-14) nears, FIBA.basketball looks at 10 players that will take the tournament by storm.
Ikechukwu Ejike (SOUTH AFRICA)
Ikechukwu Ejike has had a great build-up towards the AfroBasket. He was crowned MVP of the South African Interprovincial Tournament in July and early in August he was part of the Basketball Without Borders camp. The milestones should build Ejike's confidence as he will be a go-to player for the host nation.
Mohammed Hussin (EGYPT)
Mohammed Hussin carries a lot of experience in the youth ranks. At 16 years old, Hussin was already a continental champion at the U18 continental edition in Madagascar two years ago. In the same year (2022), he had already participated in the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup. he was part of his country's FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup campaign in 2023.
Now 18, can Hussin lead Egypt's quest for a record seventh continental title?
Dylan Kayijuka (RWANDA)
Dylan Kayijuka was a stand-out player for his country, in the FIBA Zone 5 qualifiers in June. The East African nation finished second behind neighbours Uganda in those qualifiers behind Kayijuka's 19.2 points per game and seven rebounds per game.
Rwanda will again look to Kayijuka for top-notch performances in the U18 AfroBasket.
Tejan Rugette (UGANDA)
Tejan Rugette is a 16-year-old holding a lot of promise. Given his performance at last year's FIBA U16 African Championship (renamed U16 AfroBasket), Rugette will again become one of the stars of this year's U18 AfroBasket tournament.
His 26.6 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game, and 3.6 assists per game in the U16 AfroBasket in Tunisia signals his upside. Rugette again proved himself in the Zone 5 U18 AfroBasket qualifiers, helping Uganda secure their ticket to South Africa.
He averaged 10 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game and 6.4 assists per game in the qualifiers on home soil.
N’faba Mane (SENEGAL)
Senegalese guard N’faba Mane is well-travelled despite his young age, having played for the Cholet Basket U18 team and in Italy for Stella Azzura. Mane is now at Springdale Prep in the US.
Mane’s experience will benefit the young Lions and he is a legitimate MVP candidate.
Arnold Eyadi (CAMEROON)
Arnold Eyadi is part of an array of talent emerging from Cameroon. Eyadi was the 2023 MVP at Giants Of Africa camp in Rwanda. He was also part of the Basketball Without Borders camp last year.
Sulaimon Azeez (NIGERIA)
Sulaimon Azeez helped Nigeria secure their ticket to South Africa.
His 14 points per game, seven rebounds per game and 5.5 steals per game during FIBA Africa Zone 3 Qualifiers for the U18 AfroBasket held in Abidjan last month, were crucial to the West African nation's journey to the U18 AfroBasket.
Killyan Toure (COTE D'IVOIRE)
Killyan Toure once donned the colours of France at U16 level, he since switched to Orange of Cote d'Ivoire. Toure was instrumental in leading the West African country in the Zone 3 qualifiers. He averaged 10.5 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game and 3.3 assists per game for Cote d'Ivoire.
Omar Karem (MOROCCO)
Morocco's Omar Karem was a star of the show in the FIBA Zone 1 qualifiers for his country. While Morocco dominated the tournament, Karem's 22 points, 5.7 assists and 4.3 assists per game helped the north Africans cross over their qualifying hurdle.
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