The top 50 stars to play at the U19 WC; Places 50-41

MIES (Switzerland) - The FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup has seen some of the best talent on the globe in the last 40-plus years since it began in 1979. But who are the biggest 50 names to play in the first 15 editions? 

It was not easy but we have put together a list of 50 great names and are breaking it down into five articles. Here is the first piece with places 50-41.

50. Shane Heal, Australia (1987)

Heal would go onto to play in two FIBA Basketball World Cups and four Olympics for the Boomers. But he debuted on the global stage in 1987 in Bormio when he averaged 11.1 points, including scoring 21 points against USA.

 

49. Sofoklis Schortsanitis, Greece (2003)

Sofos became a household name in basketball circles around the world in 2006 when he was nicknamed 'Baby Shaq' and helped Greece finish second at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. But the center dominated the world already at the U19 World Cup in 2003 when he averaged 18.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game and Greece finished third.

 

48. Gheorghe Muresan, Romania (1991)

 
Muresan was a giant of a man, towering over competition at 7ft 7in (2.31m). The Romanian would end of playing 5 years in the NBA. But he also helped Romania reach the U19 World Cup for the only time in 1991 and he starred on the global stage with 24.1 points per game. With Muresan dominating the paint, Romania would finish in fifth place.

 

47. Victor Wembanyama, France (2021)

 
Just two years ago, Victor Wembanyama was still a relatively unknown prospect when he shined for France and led the country to their first Final and he averaged 14.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.7 blocks. Fast forward to 2023 and Wembanyama is considered a once-in-a-lifetime player who can dominate the NBA in the near future.

 

46. Jalen Brunson, USA (2015)

Brunson was named Most Valuable Player of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2015 as he averaged 14.0 points. 3.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists. After the U19 World Cup, Brunson won the NCAA tournament twice with Villanova in 2016 and 2018. He played four seasons with Dallas in the NBA and then moved to New York.

 

45. Aaron Gordon, USA (2013)

Gordon helped USA to the title in 2013 at the U19 World Cup, averaging team highs of 12.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and earning the Most Valuable Player award. After six full seasons in the NBA with Orlando, the super athlete moved to Denver during the 2020-21 season.

 

44. JJ Redick, USA (2003)

Redick only played a combined 11 minutes in 2 games and scored 1 point in the U19 World Cup in 2003. The sharpshooter played 15 years in the NBA as one of the best outside threats, shooting 41.5 percent on three-pointers over his career. He also became the first active NBA player to run a podcast during his playing days.  

 

43. Rui Hachimura, Japan (2017)

Hachimura helped Japan to their best-ever showing at the U19 World Cup in 2017 with 10th place. He was the second-leading scorer with 20.6 points and ranked third with 11.0 rebounds. He also was the leading scorer of the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2014 with 22.6 points per game. Despite turning just 25 early in 2023, Hachimura is the undisputed leader of the Japanese senior national team. He also has established himself in the NBA, making the All-Rookie Team in 2020 and being traded from Washington to the Los Angeles Lakers in January 2023.

 

42. RJ Barrett, Canada (2017)

 
Barrett  was the leading scorer and Most Valuable Player of the 2017 U19 World Cup as he guided Canada to their first-ever world title. Barrett led the tournament in scoring with 21.6 points per game and also had 8.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He will forever be remembered for scoring 38 points to beat USA in the Semi-Finals. Barrett has already become a leader with the Canadian senior national team though he only turns 23 in mid-2023. And he has taken a leadership role with New York in the NBA.

 

41. Marcus Smart, USA (2013)

Smart helped USA win the U19 World Cup title in 2013 as he collected 9.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.4 steals. Smart is one of the best defensive players in the world, three times making the NBA All-Defensive First Team and winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 as a leader with Boston. Smart also played for USA at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019. 

 FIBA