FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023 Power Rankings Volume 1

MIES (Switzerland) - The FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023 is about to tip off and that means one thing - the highly anticipated Power Rankings. Where does your team stand?

We took into account the latest squad announcements as well as the competition format of the competition and put together the rankings. The group breakdown means that some teams that are bounced in the Round of 16 could be in fact "stronger" than teams that reach the Quarter-Finals. That fact has taken into account. In other words, the Power Rankings incorporate expectations on who will reach the final eight teams and who will be dropped to Classification 9-16.

So, here we go.

16. Korea

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 29th

Minsoo Yoo

Korea fans - and maybe the players as well - will also be disappointed about being ranked last after coming into the tournament as the reigning U18 Asian champions. But this is not the same team as last summer as Korea are missing Lee Juyeong and Lee Chae Hyung. That duo accounted for 42 percent of the team's scoring, 25 percent of its rebounds, 46 percent of the assists and 61 percent of the steals from the U18 Asian tournament. That is a lot for Kang Sungwook and the rest of the team to make up. When it's all said and done, this might be the worst ranking of all the teams - Korea players, go prove the Power Rankings prove - but someone has to finish last.

15. Hungary

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 62nd

Kornel Csuti

Hosts Hungary were playing at the Division B at the FIBA U18 European Championship last summer, but they have a chance to get grab a victory in their first-ever U19 World Cup right out of the gates as they face Korea in the Group D opener. Hungary lack elite talent and will rely on hard work, team play and tough defense - not to mention some strong support from the fans in Debrecen. It remains to be seen, however, how many victories will come from that.

14. Lebanon

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 39th

Karl Chris Zamatta

Lebanon have not played in this competition since 2007 and they had a great 2022 summer, reaching and playing at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup for the first time and then also qualifying for the U19 World Cup. No team ever goes into a tournament just happy about being there and would love to reach the Quarter-Finals if not higher. But Lebanon will likely be overmatched in many games. But they do have a couple of nice players like Karl Chris Zamatta and Karim Rtail, who could lead them to a couple victories in the Classification 13-16. 

13. Egypt

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 16th

Ibrahim Zahran

Egypt will probably be disappointed about being ranked 13th - especially after they beat Madagascar in the FIBA U18 African Championship 2022. But looking at the Competition Format, Egypt would face a tough Round of 16 opponent and then a solid side in the Classification 9-16. Still, there are some good players on this Egypt side who showed they need to be taken seriously by winning the African U18 title last summer for the first time since 2014.

12. China

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 27th

Haoran Wang

It is great to have China back at the U19 World Cup and this team actually has some really interesting players. Unfortunately they were drawn into Group A as the expected punching bag for Canada, France and Spain. And if China finish last in the group, they will then most likely encounter USA in the Round of 16. After that, the Classification 9-16 will feel like easy sailing for Yang Hansen and some of China's next group of players who could make the jump long term to the senior national team level.

11. Madagascar

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 35th

Donovan Rakotonanahary

Madagascar is the most surprising team in this competition, having finished second at the FIBA U18 African Championship 2022 to make their debut at the U19 World Cup. The newcomers will probably be beaten handily by United States in the opening game in Group B, but they then get to test their real level in the next game against Lebanon before finishing the group stage against Slovenia. Mathias M'Madi and co. will probably have to face Canada, France or Spain in the Round of 16, but all of those tough tests will harden them for the Classification 9-16. And having two good players like M'Madi and Donovan Rakotonanahary could be enough to get a couple of wins.

10. Japan

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 31st

Akira Jacobs (No. 4)

Japan in this spot might be a surprise to many but there are a couple of reasons for this. First off, the Spanish coach Alejandro Martinez is an experienced playcaller - also in international basketball, having coached Spain at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup in 2012 and 2016 and then Japan in the same competition in 2022. Martinez also has a couple of pretty good talents to call upon - topped by Yuto Kawashima but also including Akira Jacobs and Taiga Okada. They could meet Argentina in the Round of 16 and it would not be a surprise if the Asians win that game and they reach the top eight for the first time.

9. Slovenia

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 10th

Gasper Kocevar

Slovenia have the advantage of not having to face USA in the knockout stage - as the Americans are in their Group B. But Slovenia will most likely have to face one of Canada, France, or Spain in the Round of 16. The scoring prowess of Jan Vide added to the determined team effort from the FIBA U18 European Championship 2022 makes Slovenia better, but that will be a tall task to overcome.

8. Argentina

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 18th

Lee Aaliya

Some might be wondering how an Argentina team that finished fourth at FIBA U18 Americas Championship 2022 can be placed in the top eight. Well, this group does have some talent with the likes of Dylan Bordon, Lee Aaliya, and Lucas Giovanetti. But just as important, the South Americans got a seemingly favorable draw. Wins in Group D over hosts Hungary and Korea could get them second place and a date with the third-place team in Group C - Brazil, Egypt, Japan, and Serbia. And just like that, Argentina would be in the Quarter-Finals - and top eight in the world - with a win in the Round of 16.

7. Serbia

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 6th

Ilija Milijasevic

Just like Spain, many Serbian fans wonder why some of the elite 2005-born players were not included on the team for Debrecen. But Ilija Milijasevic and co. will be hungry to show they can win as a team. The Serbs will undoubtedly win games with their consistent and smart play, but the elite-level players not being on board might come back to haunt them in big moments late.

6. Canada

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 7th

Michael Nwoko

Canada slumped to third place at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship 2022, losing to Brazil in the Semi-Finals. And the North Americans will be ready to make everyone forget that. The team will be led by Eljiah Fisher - another player who played at the U19 World Cup in 2021 - as well as Michael Nwoko, and the key will be hitting their outside shots and limiting the turnovers. The Canadians' athleticism will help on defense, but again, it will come down to offensive execution.

5. Brazil

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 12th

Samis Calderon

Brazil are back on the U19 world stage for the first time in a decade and they have some very exciting players who Brazil fans can dream of long-term. The Americas got to see Reynan Santos at two tournaments last summer - as well as the Basketball Champions League Americas - and now he gets to shine on the world stage. But this team is much more than just Reynan. And they will give the rest of the world some problems.

4. France

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 3rd

Romain Parmentelot

Probably just as much as USA, and France fans could be left wondering "ah, what if". Two words: Victor Wembanyama. The French are missing a lot of elite talent, but they still have a very solid group of players, led by Zaccharie Risacher, and those guys will be out to use their opportunity. But Risacher arrived very late to the team and Lamine Kebe's squad might need some time to find a rhythm. The problem is they are in a group with Spain and Canada - and China. While the talent on board is solid, they will be leaving Hungary empty-handed.

3. Turkey

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 8th

Samet Yigitoglu

Some people might be a little surprised with Turkey being this high in the Power Rankings, but this team is loaded at every position. Berke Buyuktuncel is one of three players who were in this competition two years ago and will be greatly helped by that experience. The team has depth at the point guard and the low post. Don't count out this team.

2. Spain  

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 2nd 

Ab Sediq Garuba

Many observers may be wondering why Spain didn't include more of their much-heralded 2005-born generation. But the 2004 generation won the FIBA U18 European Championship 2022 and will come to the tournament with a chip on their shoulder to show what they can do. Given that ... there are a couple of big 2005 names on the team including Izan Almansa, Sergio De Larrea, and Lucas Langarita. Spain have not reached the U19 World Cup podium since winning the whole thing in 1999. That will most likely change this summer.

1. USA

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike Boys: 1st

Asa Newell

USA have struggled in the past to bring the best of the best of the U19 generation - given players entering the NBA Draft or players heading to college for their freshmen year. But USA Basketball has really done a good job in selecting elite talent and making it clear in training camp that the guys must check their egos at the door. There is some experience on this team - both from FIBA U18 Americas Championship 2022 and FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022 - but there are also some amazing prospects who will be making their FIBA debut. This group of talent will be very fun to watch.

*Power rankings are entirely subjective and is in no way a true, accurate ranking system and any official FIBA Rankings. All comments are purely those of the author to entertain the fans.

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