MIES (Switzerland) - Tip-off to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023 is right around the corner and teams have started playing exhibition games and the excitement is really ramping up.

If that fact is not enough to be excited, here are 10 reasons to get hyped for the 16th edition of the competition.

10

What can we expect from Madagascar?

Mathias M'Madi

Madagascar is not even a blip on the basketball radar, yet the island nation off the southeastern coast of Africa will be making their U19 World Cup debut. The country has not played at the FIBA AfroBasket since 2011 and the FIBA U18 African Championship 2022 - where they finished second - was just the second time in history that they were qualified.

9

Can Canada get past Quarters for third time in four editions?

The Quarter-Finals used to be Canada's biggest hurdle - getting bounced at that stage in 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2017 - but the country has now gotten into the Semi-Finals in two of the last three editions, winning the whole thing in 2017 and taking third in 2021. Will that trend continue?

8

Hansen Yang's passing skills

Hansen Yang

Hansen Yang is just a lot of fun to watch, but perhaps the thing that stands out most is the Chinese big man's superb passing ability. The 7ft 1in (2.16m) center has great vision and touch and does a great job getting teammates involved. Don't blink when the big man has the ball or you might miss something really nice.

7

Is Risacher France's next superstar talent?

Zaccharie Risacher

France once again have a lot of talent on this team, and the basketball world is waiting to see what Zaccharie Risacher can do. The son of former France international Stephane Risacher appears to be right near the top of the ever-growing line of star talents that France has produced. He played 18 games at the highest european level this season for ASVEL Villeurbanne - mostly as a 17-year-old.

6

Who will be the next Valanciunas or Barrett?

Only two nations have won the U19 World Cup besides the United States since 2007 and both of them had a dominant superstar at the helm of their team. In 2011, Jonas Valanciunas led Lithuania to the title and RJ Barrett put on his superhero costume in 2107 for Canada. Which superstar can lead his team to U19 glory in Hungary?

5

How much magic does Almansa have for Spain this summer?

Izan Almansa

Izan Almansa had one magical summer in 2022, twice winning MVP awards after helping Spain reach the Final of the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022 and then guiding the country to the title at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2022. What magic does Almansa have for Debrecen?

4

Vide, M’Madi, Kawashima - who will top the scoring charts?

The U19 World Cup scoring title usually goes to a player who is clearly the best on their respective team. And there are three front-runners in that regard this summer: Jan Vide of Slovenia, Mathias M'Madi of Madagascar and Yuto Kawashima of Japan.

3

Reynan Santos - one of Brazil's next star?

Reynan Santos in BCLA

Brazil seem to have made the jump from one generation to the next at the senior national team level, but the U19 World Cup could feature one of the country's next big stars. Reynan Santos played in seven Basketball Champions League Americas games this season for eventual champions Sesi Franca. He is also coming to the U19 World Cup having helped the club just win the Brazilian league title.

2

Is Turkey and their returnees primed for the podium?

It seems like Turkey started their preparations for this tournament two years ago when they sent Berke Buyuktuncel, Samet Yigitoglu and Ege Yildizoglu to the 2021 U19 World Cup - as players two years younger than the competition. Now that trio will be the leaders as Turkey search for their second podium finish following third place in 2015.

1

The supreme athleticism and talent of USA.

Ian Jackson - one of USA's elite talents

United States have won more U19 World Cup crowns (8) than the rest of the world combined (7). And a big reason for that is the unbelievable talent and athleticism levels of the American players. Every two years, some of the most thrilling players from USA come to this competition and shine. And the 2023 edition of the USA team will not be any different.

FIBA