10 players to watch at the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Turkiye

 ISTANBUL (Turkiye) - There are plenty of stars ready to put on a show at the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament 2023 in Istanbul on  August 12-20.

With Paris Olympic hopes on the line for the eight teams involved, here are the top 10 players to put on your watchlist.

*All players featured are subject to availability and selection by their respective Federations for the event. Final rosters will be confirmed following the technical meetings that take place before the start of the competition.

10. Vyacheslav Bobrov (UKR)

Ukraine will need Bobrov to step up if they are to go on a giant-killing run. The reliable 30-year-old has been part of the national team for a decade and was a solid contributor in their campaign at last year's EuroBasket, where he averaged 18 minutes per game and shot 53% from three. 

He was even better at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers, showcasing his dangerous inside and out game.  The 6ft. 8in (2.02m) small forward can do a little bit of everything and his versatility will be particularly relied upon in Istanbul.

9. Pavlin Ivanov (BUL)

Bulgaria will need to rely on shooting guard Ivanov to carry the scoring load. The 30-year-old arrives in fine form having averaged 14.6 points per outing in Bulgaria's run at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers. 

Ivanov shot a sizzling 45.6% from deep on 6.8 attempts per game and will need to produce something similar if Bulgaria are to threaten in Istanbul.

8. Toni Perkovic (CRO)

With Croatia missing some headline ballers, there will be a golden opportunity presented for others to step up and attempt to revive this former basketball powerhouse. 

The 25-year-old Perkovic was part of Croatia's squad at last year's EuroBasket although received little playing time.  But he enjoyed the extra responsibility at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers with the shooting guard scorching hot from deep at 44% from 5 attempts per game. 

7. Tryggvi Hlinason (ISL)

We've seen the 7ft. 1in (2.15m) big man throw up monster numbers for his national team as he anchors the middle.  He was superb at the World Cup European Qualifiers to average 15 points and 10 rebounds, while leading Iceland in efficiency. Boasting impressive mobility for a player of his enormous size, the 25-year-old Hlinason has potential to be the most dominant big man in the tournament. 

6. Sebastian Forsling (SWE)

 

Making his senior debut,  Forsling - who just turned 21 earlier this month - represents a new wave of talented young Swedish players hoping to take their country to new heights.  The University of New Mexico center has shown glimpses of his potential in junior competitions marked by his soft touch around the rim and rebounding prowess. It's now time to see if he can handle the physicality of senior international play. 

5. Thijs De Ridder (BEL)

The 20-year-old is a rising star of Belgian basketball and he lived up to expectations with an utterly dominant performance at the FIBA U20 European Championship 2023, where he averaged 16.9 points and 9.6 rebounds.

He was undaunted about moving up a level to senior competition when he averaged almost a double-double at the World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers.  The 6ft. 8in (2.03m) physical marvel provides a strong presence in the paint and can have a major impact on both ends. 

4. Jesse Edwards (NED)

He's been on the radar of NBA scouts for some with the near 7-footer racking up impressive numbers with Syracuse.  The 23-year-old has yet to have a major impact for the Netherlands in senior competition, but his intoxicating skill-set suggests a breakout awaits. 

The rangy center moves sharply around the bucket and can also run the floor well for a player of his size. He's a rim protector too, so expect him to wreak havoc in the paint if he gets ample playing time. 

3. Roko Prkacin (CRO)

Croatia's next gen will have a chance to shine in Istanbul, notably 20-year-old Prkacin who has been hyped for years. The versatile 6ft. 9in (2.06m) forward had been touted as an NBA prospect before injuries halted his development. But he's fit and firing with the newly signed Dreamland Gran Canaria player averaging team highs 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers. 

 2. Cedi Osman (TUR)

The hosts are deserved favorites with their slew of NBA players set to light up Istanbul. The talismanic Osman has been at the heart of Turkiye's team for almost a decade and he remains a glue guy for them. 

After another solid season with Cleveland, Osman was traded to the San Antonio Spurs and he'll look to get away from all the noise in a welcome return home. His all-round game can ignite Turkiye, who will be expected to go all the way in front of their passionate fans. 

1. Alperen Sengun (TUR)

The stage is set for the 21-year-old to be the best player in Istanbul after he made the jump in his second NBA season. Sengun wasn't just stat padding with lowly Houston Rockets, he showed genuine signs of star potential to finish with strong averages of 14.8 points and 9 rebounds per outing.

The 6ft.9in (2.06m) big man showed development with his long-range shooting as strives to be a genuine scoring threat inside and out. In a star-studded team, Sengun looms as the most exciting player of them all. 

FIBA