SHENZHEN (China) - The FIBA U18 Women's Asia Cup is just around the corner but the competition itself isn't just the only thing that makes it exciting.
Fans and pundits alike are looking forward to the amount of talent set to showcase their skills, which, if ever, could become regulars in the global stage.
The following have reached such a status and the U18 Women's Asia Cup served as a launching pad of sorts. Will we see players from this year's tournament get on the same career trajectory as these names? All of us are hoping, for sure.
Han Xu
Han Xu has become a mega star, most especially when she was named part of the Google All-Star Five of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 in Australia after helping her side to a silver medal finish.
But long before her senior national team stint, the 24-year-old impressed at the youth level. She was the defensive anchor of the batch that secured the country its fourth straight gold medal in the U18 Women's Asia Cup in 2016 in Thailand.
There, the 2.05M (6'9") center averaged 11.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per contest. Han played her best game against eventual finalists Japan, where she tallied a whopping 7 blocks alongside 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Li Yueru
That China team in Bangkok actually featured the twin-tower combo of Han and Li Yueru. Standing at 2.00M (6'7"), she had a monster outing of 22 points and 23 rebounds in their dominant conquest of Japan in the Final.
Li posted solid per-game averages of 15.9 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in the event that saw the Chinese beat their foes by an average margin of 37.1 points per game.
Han and Li eventually became vital pieces of the women's team, and are currently enjoying much success in the professional ranks as well. Han has played in the WNBA with the New York Liberty while Li recently wrapped up a great season with Besiktas in FIBA EuroCup Women, making it all the way to the Final.
Perhaps, we'd see someone from Team China in the upcoming tourney that could follow these two in a similar matter, with Zhang Ziyu, who stands at 2.20 M (7'2"), set to see action.
Park Jisu
Even before playing her first U18 Women's Asia Cup in 2014, Park Jisu had already represented Korea in the in the U17 Women’s Basketball World Cups in 2012 and 2014, as well as in the U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2013.
Across the two U18 Women’s Asia Cups she played, the 1.93 M (6'4") forward averaged 12.1 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game, helping her side go back home with bronze medals in both of those campaigns.
And just like her aforementioned peers, she's been successful as a professional hooper as well. She is expected to play for Galatasary in the EuroCup Women for the upcoming season.
Himawari Akaho
Not often do we see players see action in two U18 Women's Asia Cups yet Himawari Akaho did. She played for Japan in the 2014 and 2016 editions, which saw AKATSUKI JAPAN finish with silver medals behind perennial contenders China.
Come 2018, she became part of the senior team and enjoyed tremendous success. Akaho has now won two Women's Asia Cup titles, with 2021 serving as a run so memorable for her as she earned TISSOT Most Valuable Player honors as well.
A part of Akaro's collection also includes a silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics, which was the country's first-ever basketball medal in the event.
Nyadiew Puoch
After being part of the team that took silver in the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2021, Nyadiew Puoch was included in the batch that gave Australia their first U18 Women's Asia Cup title in 2022 - and played a key role in it.
The 1.90 M (6'3") forward was among the team's most efficient players with 14.2 EFF per game behind averages of 13.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per contest.
Puoch was recently drafted in the WNBA but will remain with the Dandenong Rangers of the NBL1 South in Australia. She's already tasted gold in the pros, having won the WNBL title in 2023 by helping the Southside Flyers to the crown.
FIBA