MIES (Switzerland) - The FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 finished just like the previous six global cadet championships did - with the United States going undefeated in winning the crown. But there was loads of history made in Türkiye.
There were so many magical moments that it was hard to select just 10 top stories. But that is what we have chosen for the biggest storylines.
10 - Argentina collect first youth win over Italy in 45 years
Argentina have been regulars at youth competitions for decades and they have struggled against European teams. But Tyler Kropp, Felipe Minzer and co. picked up a historic victory in the group stage, rallying from 11 points down to beat Italy 83-79.
It was Argentina's first win over Italy in a youth competition in 45 years - since the 1979 World Championship for Junior Me in 1979.
9 - Guinea make history in debut U17 World Cup game
U17 World Cup debutants Guinea did not wait long to make history of their own as they downed China 101-92 in their first-ever game in the competition.
A summer after winning the FIBA U16 AfroBasket for the first time, Guinea showed they were not in Istanbul just to make up the numbers with Arafan Diane tallying 28 points and 13 rebounds.
8 - Abdouramane Toure becomes 2nd player to score 50 points
Speaking of Guinea, the African country saw more history on the final day of action - again versus China - as Abdouramane Toure became the second player in the history of the competition to score 50 points.
Toure poured in 50 points in a 105-101 loss to China in the Classification 13-14 game. That matched the 50 points Bosnia and Herzegovina star Dzanan Musa scored against Chinese Taipei in the Classification 9-16 at the 2016 U17 World Cup.
7 - China shock tournament title challengers France
China finished 13th in the tournament but played a role in a number of historic moments. Xiaoyong Li's team shocked the basketball world in the group stage by upsetting France 73-70 in the group stage. China came back from 13 points down to defeat a French side many considered as the top challenger to USA for the title.
China surprisingly remaine undefeated all-time against France in the competition at 3-0 .
6 - Italy, Türkiye give Europe third second-third place finish
European teams have never been able to knock off the USA at the U17 World Cup but they have become the leading continent right behind the Americans. Italy reached the Final for the first time to pick up their first U17 World Cup medal while hosts Türkiye grabbed third place for their second podium finish following second place in 2016.
It was the third time two Europeans joined USA on the podium - Türkiye and Lithuania in 2016 and Spain and France in 2022 being the others.
5 - Quinones drops 42 points, Puerto Rico eliminate France
France had a tournament to forget as they first were beaten by China in the group stage and then suffered a 91-84 loss to Puerto Rico in the Round of 16. That ruined France's hopes of getting an opportunity to battle USA for the title.
France could not stop Felipe Quinones, who poured in 42 points against the Europeans - second-place finishers in 2018 and bronze medallists from 2022.
4 - New Zealand fourth place rekindles memories of Tall Blacks' magical 2002
New Zealand were one of the pleasant surprises of the tournament as they claimed top honors in Group C - ahead of Türkiye, Argentina and Italy - and then reached the Semi-Finals for the first time.
It was the first time the Oceania side advanced to the final four of a global event since the Tall Blacks took fourth place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002. And there was a connection between the teams: Hayden Jones being the son of Phill Jones, who was a major part of 2002 squad.
3 - Cameron Boozer takes home MVP
USA dominated the competition to historic levels which also meant a number of players could have been named Most Valuable Player. But that honor went to Cameron Boozer, who led the team in scoring (20.1 points per game) and rebounds (9.9 rebounds per game).
Also possible MVP candidates from the USA team were All-Star Five selection AJ Dybantsa as well as Koa Peat and Tyran Stokes. "I think we will look at our team in five or 10 years from now and it will be one of the greatest teams for USA at the international level," said USA head coach Sharman White.
2 - Koa Peat becomes first player with two U17 World Cup titles
Koa Peat could arguably be considered the greatest player in U17 World Cup history as the American became the only player with two titles in the competition. Peat shined at the 2022 tournament in Malaga where he was named to the All-Star Five team - despite being two years younger than the rest of the competition.
Peat was a serious candidate for the selection team again this time around - as USA's second-leading scorer and ranking third in rebounds. He was named to the U17 World Cup All-Second Team.
1 - Records records and more records
The 2024 U17 World Cup might be best known for all the records the United States broke along the way. The Americans improved their all-time record in the competition to 51-0 dating back to 2010. Their average winning margin in 2024 was 64.3 points per game - obliterating their previous best of 53.7 points per game difference in 2018.
They set a new all-time single-game scoring record with 146 points; broke the Semi-Finals scoring record with 145 points; in three straight games set a new record for assists (49 being the new record); eclipsed the single-game efficiency record (225); swiped a record 33 steals; registered the biggest winning margin in Semi-Finals history (80 points); and forced the most turnovers in Semi-Finals history (37) among other new marks.
FIBA