The top 11 NBA prospects at the FIBA U18 European Championship
The FIBA U18 European Championship is easily the NBA's most fertile recruiting ground for international prospects, generating 66 first-round picks (44 in the A division, 12 in the B division) in a 15-year span. On hiatus since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last event featured five eventual first-rounders, including Franz Wagner and Alperen Sengun.
This year's competition in Izmir, Turkey, was well-scouted by NBA teams and college basketball coaches alike, as was its more obscure counterpart, the Division B tournament in Ploiesti, Romania, which also featured several intriguing NBA prospects.
Spain defeated Turkey in the championship game of the A division, which saw Great Britain, North Macedonia and Montenegro relegated to the B division next year. Sweden beat Denmark in the championship game of the B division, while Finland also won promotion to the As next year after taking down Iceland in the third place game.
Here's who we thought were the top 11 NBA prospects in attendance after an 11-day trip covering both events.
1. Sidy Cissoko | SG | France | Age: 18.3
Cissoko did a little bit of everything for France, averaging 21.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.6 steals per 40 minutes. He was a menace by jumping passing lanes and getting anywhere he wanted operating in the open floor. He also used his powerful frame to bounce off opponents, finish through contact and live at the free throw line.
Although his handle isn't very advanced and he can be inconsistent with his decision-making, Cissoko proved capable of dishing on the move and making touch passes to teammates in stride for easy baskets, using both hands as a passer and demonstrating nice creativity and vision overall. While streaky, he was able to step into 3-pointers and knock down open jumpers effectively, even demonstrating some potential shooting off movement with strong mechanics. And at 6-foot-7 with a huge frame, Cissoko showed the potential to defend a variety of positions as well as some instincts in making smart rotations to protect the rim and generate turnovers all tournament.
At times a little casual with his approach, cutting down on turnovers and showing better focus with his awareness and technique off the ball will be important for Cissoko to shore up his role-playing credentials with G League Ignite next season. He gets beat off the dribble more than you'd like, gambles excessively for steals and will do some head-scratching things with the ball, leading to ill-advised shots or turnovers. While his jumper looks good coming out of his hand, he only made 25% of his attempts, similar to his LEB Gold stats this past season. Cissoko converting 78% of his free throws is encouraging, but teams will want to see him demonstrate better touch as a finisher around the basket, where he lacks a degree of explosiveness.
France will surely be disappointed with their fifth-place finish, but there was plenty to be encouraged about regarding Cissoko's performance. He'll likely be more effective with better spacing principles and coaching in the G League than what he saw at this event.
2. Rayan Rupert | SF | France | Age: 18.1
Rupert moved the ball unselfishly, generating a huge number of steals, protecting the rim and crashing the glass with purpose, but he provided inconsistent scoring for a France team that struggled to put up points when needed.
Rupert led the event with 5.0 steals per 40 minutes, adding nearly one block and 7.7 rebounds. At 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan and frame that should fill out considerably, he has incredible potential defensively with the way he hounds opponents the length of the floor, swipes down for steals instinctually and generally makes it tough to dribble the ball anywhere in his vicinity. He's difficult to shoot over in closeout situations, covers ground well on the perimeter and shows excellent timing recovering for blocks at the rim when beat.
Offensively, Rupert struggled to make jumpers (3-for-20 from 3) but did show some shot-making ability rising up over opponents in mid-range spots and finishing around the basket fluidly with either hand. He's not a great ball-handler, nor does he possess great explosiveness separating from defenders with his first step or finishing over opponents, but he does a good job of playing to his strengths and moving the ball unselfishly, averaging 4.2 assists per 40 minutes at this event, similar to his numbers at other events.
Moving to the Australian NBL to play for the New Zealand Breakers, Rupert should be able to carve out a solid role for himself as a defensive stopper and willing ball-mover who hopefully can make enough outside shots to keep defenses honest. How his body fills out and how effective he can be offensively will inform how quickly he's able to make the transition to the NBA, and how high he'll be drafted when he ultimately decides to declare.
3. Miro Little | PG | Finland | Age: 18.1
Little's U18 campaign was cut short by an ankle injury that forced him to miss the final two games, but not before he put his versatility on full display as one of the most productive players in the B division.
Little stands out immediately, boasting excellent size for a point guard at around 6-foot-5 with a big frame that looks ready to step on a college court immediately. He was one of the most explosive players we saw at either the A or B division with his ability to change gears in the open floor and finish powerfully above the rim, showing impressive speed with a runway, especially attacking closeouts or using high-ball screens. Little's perimeter jumper also shows good potential, as he hit a large number of 3-pointers, mostly with his feet set, but he also demonstrated some potential off movement. He plays an unselfish style of basketball, makes an effort to pass off a live dribble and is an outstanding rebounder -- he finished top five in rebounding at this event despite being a guard.
Little still has a lot of work to do in terms of adding polish to his game: as a ball-handler in the half-court, as a finisher around the basket using his weaker left hand, pulling up off the dribble and becoming a more consistent playmaker and decision-maker as he transitions to a full-time point guard. His defense is a major work in progress, especially his technique and awareness off the ball, which was lacking at times.
Big, toolsy guards in Little's mold are not easy to come by in the U.S., especially those who play an unselfish style and have good shooting indicators. Little will benefit from outstanding coaching the next two seasons by playing at Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kansas, then at Baylor University, where he'll draw immediate NBA attention. How long he ends up in college will depend on how much nuance he can add to his pick-and-roll game and pullup shooting arsenal, as well as his ability to harness his tools into becoming a true lockdown defender.
4. Bilal Coulibaly | SG/SF | France | Age: 18.0
Coulibaly, almost completely unknown prior to this summer, had perhaps the biggest breakout of any prospect and propelled himself into NBA conversations. Coulibaly started off the U18 posting 41 points in 62 minutes over France's first three games (all blowout wins) but faded in the final four contests against stronger competition. Still, there's quite a bit to like about Coulibaly's long-term outlook, particularly from a physical standpoint, as he has ideal dimensions for a wing prospect at close to 6-foot-8 with a near 7-foot-3 wingspan, a frame that will add considerable weight in time.
Skill-wise, Coulibaly is very much a work in progress, despite attacking closeouts smoothly, finishing with long strides in the open court and showing soft touch on short-range attempts, floaters and mid-range jumpers. He looks capable of stepping into open 3-pointers but is on the streaky side as a shooter at the moment, sporting a wide base and some bad misses that indicate he has a ways to go. Coulibaly isn't a great ball-handler, looking more long and fluid than powerful and explosive as a shot-creator, and gets sped up at times against double teams. He can be a tick slow with his reaction speed, partially due to his extreme lack of experience, but he shows some flashes of being able to pass on the move.
Defensively, Coulibaly gets in a deep stance, can hound opposing ball-handlers the length of the floor, gets in passing lanes frequently and thanks to his length can contest or block shots from impressive vantage points. His lack of experience shows here too, as he's not immune to getting beat off the dribble or lost off the ball, not always having the strength to fight through screens or contain stronger players on the perimeter.
More prospect than player at the moment, Coulibaly looks to be at an extremely early stage of development physically and skill-wise, with a youthful demeanor that suggests considerable room for long-term growth relative to many of his peers. A certain degree of imagination is required to fully envision the type of player he can become, but NBA teams will have every opportunity to follow his growth this upcoming season in France, where he'll play alongside top 2023 NBA draft prospect Victor Wembanyama.
5. Izan Almansa | PF/C | Spain | Age: 17.0
No international prospect had a better summer than Almansa, as he became the first player to win MVP awards at both the FIBA U17 World Cup and U18 European Championship. Spain took home a gold medal in Izmir (after winning silver in Malaga), with Almansa putting up outstanding numbers: 15.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks in just 25 minutes per game, despite playing up a year on the competition.
A year at Overtime Elite helped Almansa make serious strides, as he's transformed his body and looked a step ahead of the competition with his processing speed and feel for the game, being simply too strong and quick for European opponents.
An unorthodox player, Almansa spent a lot of time in Izmir in the mid and low post, operating out of dribble handoffs, and in short rolls, where his excellent footwork, body control and ability to finish with soft touch using both hands made him a huge mismatch. He's extremely creative inside the paint, mixing in flip shots, spin-moves, up-and-unders and reverse layups to pair with his non-stop aggressiveness and physicality. That most notably translates to his work on the glass, where Almansa was a force all summer, grabbing 17.7 rebounds per 40 minutes.
Almansa's incredible touch around the basket has yet to translate outside the paint, as he converted just 39% of his free throws in FIBA events this summer, while not hitting a single jump shot. Considering he's not particularly long or strong for a center, at 6-foot-10, 216 pounds with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, NBA teams will want to see him improve this part of his game as his career progresses, especially since he's not the most vertically explosive leaper. His improvable skill level was noticed more vividly at the FIBA U17s, where he posted his two worst games of the summer against France and the U.S., the most athletic teams he faced in either competition.
Defensively, Almansa's instincts and motor were noticeable, especially as a drop defender, where he showed excellent timing. He covers ground well, has a good feel for getting to the right spots and plays extremely hard, but he has some questions regarding which position he's best suited guarding long-term, as he's not immune to lapses both on and off the ball.
With two years until becoming draft eligible, the question is no longer whether Almansa will play in the NBA, but more how high he'll be picked and what exactly his role is. Non-shooting big men in his mold without elite physical tools have a higher barrier to entry in today's NBA than in the past, but Almansa's feel for the game, intensity and productivity will work in his favor. After a somewhat non-descript first season at OTE, where he was the youngest player in the program at 16 years old, it will be interesting to see how Almansa's monster summer will translate to U.S. competition, and how he'll continue to expand his game.
6. Elliot Cadeau | PG | Sweden | Age: 17.9
Cadeau was rightfully named MVP of the B division after leading Sweden to the championship and posting 36 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in the final, one of the most impressive performances we saw.
He was inconsistent early on, looking casual with his decision-making and not showing much intensity defensively. However, he was on another level in the semifinals and finals, proving to be the clear-cut best player at the event.
Cadeau's lack of size will always be the biggest thing holding him back from an NBA standpoint. He stands just 6-foot-1 with average length but has a strong frame and impressive explosiveness, getting anywhere he wants on the floor at this level and bringing real physicality around the rim. He's an outstanding ball-handler who can use or reject screens with a powerful first step and seeks out contact incessantly in the lane. He posted more turnovers than assists but showed flashes of timing, vision and creativity off a live dribble that indicates the game comes very easily for him. He's somewhat of a home run hitter who isn't always able to see over the top of bigger defenders, but can really create for teammates when he's locked in.
Cadeau's jumper has never been considered a major strength, but he's starting to make strides in this area, hitting 41% of his 3-pointers on nearly four attempts per game. He shoots a set shot with a bit of a slow release but has made jumpers virtually everywhere he's played -- even from NBA range -- and is a career 75% free throw shooter in 60 games in our database.
Cadeau's average tools may hinder him most on the defensive end, where his intensity level fluctuates at times, especially off the ball. He looked to be just walking around on this end early in the event, looking disinterested in getting in a stance, but found an extra gear in the medal rounds and showed he can make a major impact when dialed in, diving on the floor for loose balls and coming up with nine steals in the final two games.
Smaller guards in Cadeau's mold haven't seen much success in the NBA draft over the past few years, as the league looks to be moving away from non-switchable defenders (see Kennedy Chandler). Cadeau is also at least a year old for his class; he'll turn 20 two months prior to the first game of his college career. It's easy to see why he's considered a top-10 player in his high school class, but he has some questions at the college level before being considered a sure-fire one-and-done first-rounder.
7. Martin Kalu | SG | Germany | Age: 17.5
Coming off a difficult season in which he missed six months due to various injuries, Kalu wasn't able to see much action in Izmir, playing just 43 minutes in two games before being shut down with an injury.
The MVP of the U16 European Challengers, Kalu wowed onlookers last summer by averaging 27 points and 7.5 rebounds in 29 minutes per game, and he showed glimpses of his impressive talent at the U18s that make him one of the best young international prospects.
Kalu doesn't appear to have grown much from last summer, standing around 6-foot-5 with a strong frame and long arms. Despite not being in great shape, Kalu still moves at a different speed than most European prospects, changing speeds effortlessly and getting to spots on the floor by operating smoothly off hesitation moves. His ball-handling is very much a work in progress, as he plays a somewhat sped-up brand of basketball, not having much of a left hand and struggling to play through contact around the basket. He tends to settle for the first shot he can find, usually a tough pull-up, something that fell for him at a great clip last summer.
This time around, Kalu was just 6-for-22 from the field with three assists and 10 turnovers. Despite his struggles, it wasn't hard to tell how talented Kalu is as a shot-maker and scorer despite missing nearly an entire year of action and clearly lacking experience and rhythm playing up a year on the competition.
Defensively, Kalu has a long way to go; as his intensity level fluctuates, he gets lost off the ball more than you'd like to see, he takes bad angles chasing opponents around screens and he is often a hair late with his reactions. Signed to a long-term deal with Bayern Munich, Kalu is slated to spend next season with their first team after recovering from his ankle injury sometime in the next few weeks. Despite the difficult year he just endured and his poor showing at this event, he'll be a player NBA scouts will be monitoring closely over the next two years before he becomes draft-eligible in 2024.
8. Alex Samodurov | PF | Greece | Age: 17.3
An ankle injury suffered 90 seconds into Samodurov's third game cut short his experience at the U18 European Championship, but he still did enough in his 55 minutes on the floor to show why he's such a highly regarded prospect in Europe, despite playing up a year on the competition.
Looking young even relative to his age, Samodurov has excellent size and length for a power forward at 6-foot-11 with a frame that should fill out nicely in time. He moves extremely well for a big man, is quick off his feet for dunks, rebounds and blocks and shows the mobility to slide his feet and turn his hips impressively, giving him significant potential on the defensive end.
Already comfortable stepping out and shooting 3-pointers, showing long strides attacking closeouts and the ability to handle the ball and make touch passes along the perimeter, the game comes easily for Samodurov. He sniffs out passing-lane steals, blocks shots with either hand, is switchable on the perimeter and recovers well to the rim after getting beat on the perimeter, looking a step ahead of the competition with his processing speed.
Getting stronger and tougher will be major priorities for Samodurov, who plays the game in a nonchalant style that isn't rare to see from talented big men his age. He struggles to play through contact at the moment and had a very difficult time with the physicality of the Serbian frontcourt he encountered in his second game.
It was difficult to draw too many conclusions from his brief appearance in Izmir, but there's clearly a reason why EuroLeague team Panathinaikos signed him to a six-year contract this summer on their senior team. The spotty track record of Greek teams and their development of domestic prospects isn't encouraging in regards to Samodurov's projection, but he may have the talent to eventually find his way to the NBA.
9. Jordi Rodriguez | SG | Spain | Age: 18.2
Despite standing 6-foot-7, Rodriguez led Spain, who won the championship, in assists (and turnovers), while finishing second in scoring.
Rodriguez is thin and frail but excels at creating shots for himself and teammates, showing excellent vision and creativity in attacking closeouts and operating out of pick-and-rolls with pocket passes and well-timed lobs. He was Spain's best late-clock option throughout its run to the finals, never shying away from the moment even though his jumper wasn't falling as often as usual. What Rodriguez lacks in strength and explosiveness, he makes up for with pace, footwork, confidence and smarts, playing the game at his own unique speed and coming up with quite a few highlight-reel plays in the process.
To play with the type of moxy Rodriguez wants to operate with, he'll need to improve his frame significantly and do a much better job of playing through contact in the lane, as he made just three half-court field goals in the paint in seven games. He'll also need to become more consistent from the perimeter, as despite making several timely baskets from deep vantage points running off screens, ducking behind handoffs, pulling up off crossovers and making side-step 3-pointers, he only converted 26% of his overall attempts from beyond the arc, a much lower mark than his career 34% clip going into the event, partially a product of his shot-selection and the role he was asked to shoulder.
Defensively, Rodriguez is always going to be at a disadvantage with his lack of length and skinny frame, generating a paltry five steals and zero blocks in 174 minutes of action in Izmir. He gets overpowered in the lane, struggles to get over screens and doesn't always get a hand up on shooters on the perimeter, having quite a few questions to answer on this end of the floor from an NBA standpoint.
Rodriguez signed a five-year deal this summer with Joventut, the team he grew up with since childhood, and will likely be slowly integrated into their first team in the coming years, allowing him to make a case for himself as an NBA draft pick. With his dynamic shot-making and how easily the game comes for him, it's not out of the question for him to hear his name called if his frame and defense continue to evolve.
10. Berke Buyuktuncel | PF | Turkey | Age: 17.9
Buyuktuncel was the best player on a Turkish squad that lost to Spain in the championship game, leading the home team in scoring and rebounding. That makes sense considering the amount of experience he possesses at the senior and national team level already -- he made his professional debut as a 16-year-old in their first division.
Buyuktuncel's appeal as a NBA prospect revolves around the versatility he brings as a skilled and intelligent 6-foot-9 wing/forward who can make open 3-pointers, attack closeouts, push the ball and finish explosively in transition, punish mismatches in the post and pass on the move with impressive creativity.
Buyuktuncel's perimeter shooting has long been considered a weakness, as he's a career 31% 3-point shooter and 66% from the free throw line, but he took a big step forward at this event, converting 42% of his shots from beyond the arc, even showing some flashes shooting off movement. His mechanics and lack of consistency in previous settings indicate he still has work to do, but it was good to see the ball go through the net, considering all the other things he does well.
Defensively, Buyuktuncel is competitive and smart but has some questions to answer from an NBA perspective covering ground on the perimeter, as he's not incredibly fleet of foot in space and could stand to improve his body to become more impactful in this area.
If Buyuktuncel can continue to make strides with his shooting and defense, he's likely to get looks from NBA scouts, as he checks several boxes for teams with his skill level and feel for the game.
11. Tobias Jensen | PG | Denmark | Age: 18.2
Jensen, a 6-foot-6 guard with elite vision and creativity who can make every pass imaginable operating out of the pick-and-roll, was a pleasant surprise in the B division. He led Denmark to the championship game despite struggling with scoring efficiency due to shouldering a huge offensive load.
Jensen converted just 29% of his 3-pointers, largely due to the extremely high difficulty of attempts as his team's lone shot-creator. The footwork and touch he displays getting into pull-ups off hang dribbles, executing difficult sidesteps and ducking behind handoffs from NBA range suggest serious shot-making ability long-term, especially if he can raise his release point.
Jensen's thin frame and aversion to contact makes him fairly limited as a finisher around the basket (41% on 2s) and getting to the free throw line (just 15 total attempts in seven games), as he's clearly at his best throwing darts off a live dribble with either hand using both sides of the floor. The fact that he can accelerate out of a ball screen with an extra gear bodes well for him long-term, but he will have to get much tougher operating in the lane and cut down on turnovers.
Defensively, Jensen was more or less a sieve at this event, mostly just standing around off the ball, rarely bending his knees and having real difficulty getting over screens or containing opponents off the bounce. It may be years until Jensen has the strength to hold his own at the pro level.
Jensen is developing in Germany at Orange Academy for at least the next two years, and it will be interesting to see what type of role he can carve out in the first division for Ulm. He's at his best as a big playmaker who makes others better operating out of ball screens, but he may not be reliable enough on either end of the floor in the short-term to be trusted against grown men. His rare vision and creativity may ultimately end up earning him NBA looks, but he has a long way to go until then.
Honorable mention:
Tunde Fasasi | 6'8 | SF/PF | Sweden | 18.1 years old
Almar Atlason | 6'9 | PF | Iceland | 17.6 years old
Melvyn Ajinca | 6'7 | SG | France | 18.1 years old
Motiejus Krivas | 7'1 | C | Lithuania | 17.6 years old
Paulius Murauskas | 6'9 | PF | Lithuania | 18.4 years old
Samet Yigitoglu | 7'1 | C | Turkey | 18.4 years old
Daryl Doualla | 6'5 | SG | France | 18.1 years old
Lazar Djokovic | 6'10 | PF | Serbia | 18.3 years old
Timotej Malovec | 6'9 | SF | Slovakia | 18.2 years old
Andrija Jelavic | 6'9 | PF | Croatia | 18.2 years old
Noam Yaacov | 6'1 | PG | Israel | 17.8 years old
Rafa Villar | 6'4 | PG | Spain | 18.0 years old
The top 11 NBA prospects at the FIBA U18 European Championship
The FIBA U18 European Championship is easily the NBA's most fertile recruiting ground for international prospects, generating 66 first-round picks (44 in the A division, 12 in the B division) in a 15-year span. On hiatus since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last event featured five eventual first-rounders, including Franz Wagner and Alperen Sengun.
This year's competition in Izmir, Turkey, was well-scouted by NBA teams and college basketball coaches alike, as was its more obscure counterpart, the Division B tournament in Ploiesti, Romania, which also featured several intriguing NBA prospects.
Spain defeated Turkey in the championship game of the A division, which saw Great Britain, North Macedonia and Montenegro relegated to the B division next year. Sweden beat Denmark in the championship game of the B division, while Finland also won promotion to the As next year after taking down Iceland in the third place game.
Here's who we thought were the top 11 NBA prospects in attendance after an 11-day trip covering both events.
1. Sidy Cissoko | SG | France | Age: 18.3
Cissoko did a little bit of everything for France, averaging 21.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.6 steals per 40 minutes. He was a menace by jumping passing lanes and getting anywhere he wanted operating in the open floor. He also used his powerful frame to bounce off opponents, finish through contact and live at the free throw line.
Although his handle isn't very advanced and he can be inconsistent with his decision-making, Cissoko proved capable of dishing on the move and making touch passes to teammates in stride for easy baskets, using both hands as a passer and demonstrating nice creativity and vision overall. While streaky, he was able to step into 3-pointers and knock down open jumpers effectively, even demonstrating some potential shooting off movement with strong mechanics. And at 6-foot-7 with a huge frame, Cissoko showed the potential to defend a variety of positions as well as some instincts in making smart rotations to protect the rim and generate turnovers all tournament.
At times a little casual with his approach, cutting down on turnovers and showing better focus with his awareness and technique off the ball will be important for Cissoko to shore up his role-playing credentials with G League Ignite next season. He gets beat off the dribble more than you'd like, gambles excessively for steals and will do some head-scratching things with the ball, leading to ill-advised shots or turnovers. While his jumper looks good coming out of his hand, he only made 25% of his attempts, similar to his LEB Gold stats this past season. Cissoko converting 78% of his free throws is encouraging, but teams will want to see him demonstrate better touch as a finisher around the basket, where he lacks a degree of explosiveness.
France will surely be disappointed with their fifth-place finish, but there was plenty to be encouraged about regarding Cissoko's performance. He'll likely be more effective with better spacing principles and coaching in the G League than what he saw at this event.
2. Rayan Rupert | SF | France | Age: 18.1
Rupert moved the ball unselfishly, generating a huge number of steals, protecting the rim and crashing the glass with purpose, but he provided inconsistent scoring for a France team that struggled to put up points when needed.
Rupert led the event with 5.0 steals per 40 minutes, adding nearly one block and 7.7 rebounds. At 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan and frame that should fill out considerably, he has incredible potential defensively with the way he hounds opponents the length of the floor, swipes down for steals instinctually and generally makes it tough to dribble the ball anywhere in his vicinity. He's difficult to shoot over in closeout situations, covers ground well on the perimeter and shows excellent timing recovering for blocks at the rim when beat.
Offensively, Rupert struggled to make jumpers (3-for-20 from 3) but did show some shot-making ability rising up over opponents in mid-range spots and finishing around the basket fluidly with either hand. He's not a great ball-handler, nor does he possess great explosiveness separating from defenders with his first step or finishing over opponents, but he does a good job of playing to his strengths and moving the ball unselfishly, averaging 4.2 assists per 40 minutes at this event, similar to his numbers at other events.
Moving to the Australian NBL to play for the New Zealand Breakers, Rupert should be able to carve out a solid role for himself as a defensive stopper and willing ball-mover who hopefully can make enough outside shots to keep defenses honest. How his body fills out and how effective he can be offensively will inform how quickly he's able to make the transition to the NBA, and how high he'll be drafted when he ultimately decides to declare.
3. Miro Little | PG | Finland | Age: 18.1
Little's U18 campaign was cut short by an ankle injury that forced him to miss the final two games, but not before he put his versatility on full display as one of the most productive players in the B division.
Little stands out immediately, boasting excellent size for a point guard at around 6-foot-5 with a big frame that looks ready to step on a college court immediately. He was one of the most explosive players we saw at either the A or B division with his ability to change gears in the open floor and finish powerfully above the rim, showing impressive speed with a runway, especially attacking closeouts or using high-ball screens. Little's perimeter jumper also shows good potential, as he hit a large number of 3-pointers, mostly with his feet set, but he also demonstrated some potential off movement. He plays an unselfish style of basketball, makes an effort to pass off a live dribble and is an outstanding rebounder -- he finished top five in rebounding at this event despite being a guard.
Little still has a lot of work to do in terms of adding polish to his game: as a ball-handler in the half-court, as a finisher around the basket using his weaker left hand, pulling up off the dribble and becoming a more consistent playmaker and decision-maker as he transitions to a full-time point guard. His defense is a major work in progress, especially his technique and awareness off the ball, which was lacking at times.
Big, toolsy guards in Little's mold are not easy to come by in the U.S., especially those who play an unselfish style and have good shooting indicators. Little will benefit from outstanding coaching the next two seasons by playing at Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kansas, then at Baylor University, where he'll draw immediate NBA attention. How long he ends up in college will depend on how much nuance he can add to his pick-and-roll game and pullup shooting arsenal, as well as his ability to harness his tools into becoming a true lockdown defender.
4. Bilal Coulibaly | SG/SF | France | Age: 18.0
Coulibaly, almost completely unknown prior to this summer, had perhaps the biggest breakout of any prospect and propelled himself into NBA conversations. Coulibaly started off the U18 posting 41 points in 62 minutes over France's first three games (all blowout wins) but faded in the final four contests against stronger competition. Still, there's quite a bit to like about Coulibaly's long-term outlook, particularly from a physical standpoint, as he has ideal dimensions for a wing prospect at close to 6-foot-8 with a near 7-foot-3 wingspan, a frame that will add considerable weight in time.
Skill-wise, Coulibaly is very much a work in progress, despite attacking closeouts smoothly, finishing with long strides in the open court and showing soft touch on short-range attempts, floaters and mid-range jumpers. He looks capable of stepping into open 3-pointers but is on the streaky side as a shooter at the moment, sporting a wide base and some bad misses that indicate he has a ways to go. Coulibaly isn't a great ball-handler, looking more long and fluid than powerful and explosive as a shot-creator, and gets sped up at times against double teams. He can be a tick slow with his reaction speed, partially due to his extreme lack of experience, but he shows some flashes of being able to pass on the move.
Defensively, Coulibaly gets in a deep stance, can hound opposing ball-handlers the length of the floor, gets in passing lanes frequently and thanks to his length can contest or block shots from impressive vantage points. His lack of experience shows here too, as he's not immune to getting beat off the dribble or lost off the ball, not always having the strength to fight through screens or contain stronger players on the perimeter.
More prospect than player at the moment, Coulibaly looks to be at an extremely early stage of development physically and skill-wise, with a youthful demeanor that suggests considerable room for long-term growth relative to many of his peers. A certain degree of imagination is required to fully envision the type of player he can become, but NBA teams will have every opportunity to follow his growth this upcoming season in France, where he'll play alongside top 2023 NBA draft prospect Victor Wembanyama.
5. Izan Almansa | PF/C | Spain | Age: 17.0
No international prospect had a better summer than Almansa, as he became the first player to win MVP awards at both the FIBA U17 World Cup and U18 European Championship. Spain took home a gold medal in Izmir (after winning silver in Malaga), with Almansa putting up outstanding numbers: 15.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks in just 25 minutes per game, despite playing up a year on the competition.
A year at Overtime Elite helped Almansa make serious strides, as he's transformed his body and looked a step ahead of the competition with his processing speed and feel for the game, being simply too strong and quick for European opponents.
An unorthodox player, Almansa spent a lot of time in Izmir in the mid and low post, operating out of dribble handoffs, and in short rolls, where his excellent footwork, body control and ability to finish with soft touch using both hands made him a huge mismatch. He's extremely creative inside the paint, mixing in flip shots, spin-moves, up-and-unders and reverse layups to pair with his non-stop aggressiveness and physicality. That most notably translates to his work on the glass, where Almansa was a force all summer, grabbing 17.7 rebounds per 40 minutes.
Almansa's incredible touch around the basket has yet to translate outside the paint, as he converted just 39% of his free throws in FIBA events this summer, while not hitting a single jump shot. Considering he's not particularly long or strong for a center, at 6-foot-10, 216 pounds with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, NBA teams will want to see him improve this part of his game as his career progresses, especially since he's not the most vertically explosive leaper. His improvable skill level was noticed more vividly at the FIBA U17s, where he posted his two worst games of the summer against France and the U.S., the most athletic teams he faced in either competition.
Defensively, Almansa's instincts and motor were noticeable, especially as a drop defender, where he showed excellent timing. He covers ground well, has a good feel for getting to the right spots and plays extremely hard, but he has some questions regarding which position he's best suited guarding long-term, as he's not immune to lapses both on and off the ball.
With two years until becoming draft eligible, the question is no longer whether Almansa will play in the NBA, but more how high he'll be picked and what exactly his role is. Non-shooting big men in his mold without elite physical tools have a higher barrier to entry in today's NBA than in the past, but Almansa's feel for the game, intensity and productivity will work in his favor. After a somewhat non-descript first season at OTE, where he was the youngest player in the program at 16 years old, it will be interesting to see how Almansa's monster summer will translate to U.S. competition, and how he'll continue to expand his game.
6. Elliot Cadeau | PG | Sweden | Age: 17.9
Cadeau was rightfully named MVP of the B division after leading Sweden to the championship and posting 36 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in the final, one of the most impressive performances we saw.
He was inconsistent early on, looking casual with his decision-making and not showing much intensity defensively. However, he was on another level in the semifinals and finals, proving to be the clear-cut best player at the event.
Cadeau's lack of size will always be the biggest thing holding him back from an NBA standpoint. He stands just 6-foot-1 with average length but has a strong frame and impressive explosiveness, getting anywhere he wants on the floor at this level and bringing real physicality around the rim. He's an outstanding ball-handler who can use or reject screens with a powerful first step and seeks out contact incessantly in the lane. He posted more turnovers than assists but showed flashes of timing, vision and creativity off a live dribble that indicates the game comes very easily for him. He's somewhat of a home run hitter who isn't always able to see over the top of bigger defenders, but can really create for teammates when he's locked in.
Cadeau's jumper has never been considered a major strength, but he's starting to make strides in this area, hitting 41% of his 3-pointers on nearly four attempts per game. He shoots a set shot with a bit of a slow release but has made jumpers virtually everywhere he's played -- even from NBA range -- and is a career 75% free throw shooter in 60 games in our database.
Cadeau's average tools may hinder him most on the defensive end, where his intensity level fluctuates at times, especially off the ball. He looked to be just walking around on this end early in the event, looking disinterested in getting in a stance, but found an extra gear in the medal rounds and showed he can make a major impact when dialed in, diving on the floor for loose balls and coming up with nine steals in the final two games.
Smaller guards in Cadeau's mold haven't seen much success in the NBA draft over the past few years, as the league looks to be moving away from non-switchable defenders (see Kennedy Chandler). Cadeau is also at least a year old for his class; he'll turn 20 two months prior to the first game of his college career. It's easy to see why he's considered a top-10 player in his high school class, but he has some questions at the college level before being considered a sure-fire one-and-done first-rounder.
7. Martin Kalu | SG | Germany | Age: 17.5
Coming off a difficult season in which he missed six months due to various injuries, Kalu wasn't able to see much action in Izmir, playing just 43 minutes in two games before being shut down with an injury.
The MVP of the U16 European Challengers, Kalu wowed onlookers last summer by averaging 27 points and 7.5 rebounds in 29 minutes per game, and he showed glimpses of his impressive talent at the U18s that make him one of the best young international prospects.
Kalu doesn't appear to have grown much from last summer, standing around 6-foot-5 with a strong frame and long arms. Despite not being in great shape, Kalu still moves at a different speed than most European prospects, changing speeds effortlessly and getting to spots on the floor by operating smoothly off hesitation moves. His ball-handling is very much a work in progress, as he plays a somewhat sped-up brand of basketball, not having much of a left hand and struggling to play through contact around the basket. He tends to settle for the first shot he can find, usually a tough pull-up, something that fell for him at a great clip last summer.
This time around, Kalu was just 6-for-22 from the field with three assists and 10 turnovers. Despite his struggles, it wasn't hard to tell how talented Kalu is as a shot-maker and scorer despite missing nearly an entire year of action and clearly lacking experience and rhythm playing up a year on the competition.
Defensively, Kalu has a long way to go; as his intensity level fluctuates, he gets lost off the ball more than you'd like to see, he takes bad angles chasing opponents around screens and he is often a hair late with his reactions. Signed to a long-term deal with Bayern Munich, Kalu is slated to spend next season with their first team after recovering from his ankle injury sometime in the next few weeks. Despite the difficult year he just endured and his poor showing at this event, he'll be a player NBA scouts will be monitoring closely over the next two years before he becomes draft-eligible in 2024.
8. Alex Samodurov | PF | Greece | Age: 17.3
An ankle injury suffered 90 seconds into Samodurov's third game cut short his experience at the U18 European Championship, but he still did enough in his 55 minutes on the floor to show why he's such a highly regarded prospect in Europe, despite playing up a year on the competition.
Looking young even relative to his age, Samodurov has excellent size and length for a power forward at 6-foot-11 with a frame that should fill out nicely in time. He moves extremely well for a big man, is quick off his feet for dunks, rebounds and blocks and shows the mobility to slide his feet and turn his hips impressively, giving him significant potential on the defensive end.
Already comfortable stepping out and shooting 3-pointers, showing long strides attacking closeouts and the ability to handle the ball and make touch passes along the perimeter, the game comes easily for Samodurov. He sniffs out passing-lane steals, blocks shots with either hand, is switchable on the perimeter and recovers well to the rim after getting beat on the perimeter, looking a step ahead of the competition with his processing speed.
Getting stronger and tougher will be major priorities for Samodurov, who plays the game in a nonchalant style that isn't rare to see from talented big men his age. He struggles to play through contact at the moment and had a very difficult time with the physicality of the Serbian frontcourt he encountered in his second game.
It was difficult to draw too many conclusions from his brief appearance in Izmir, but there's clearly a reason why EuroLeague team Panathinaikos signed him to a six-year contract this summer on their senior team. The spotty track record of Greek teams and their development of domestic prospects isn't encouraging in regards to Samodurov's projection, but he may have the talent to eventually find his way to the NBA.
9. Jordi Rodriguez | SG | Spain | Age: 18.2
Despite standing 6-foot-7, Rodriguez led Spain, who won the championship, in assists (and turnovers), while finishing second in scoring.
Rodriguez is thin and frail but excels at creating shots for himself and teammates, showing excellent vision and creativity in attacking closeouts and operating out of pick-and-rolls with pocket passes and well-timed lobs. He was Spain's best late-clock option throughout its run to the finals, never shying away from the moment even though his jumper wasn't falling as often as usual. What Rodriguez lacks in strength and explosiveness, he makes up for with pace, footwork, confidence and smarts, playing the game at his own unique speed and coming up with quite a few highlight-reel plays in the process.
To play with the type of moxy Rodriguez wants to operate with, he'll need to improve his frame significantly and do a much better job of playing through contact in the lane, as he made just three half-court field goals in the paint in seven games. He'll also need to become more consistent from the perimeter, as despite making several timely baskets from deep vantage points running off screens, ducking behind handoffs, pulling up off crossovers and making side-step 3-pointers, he only converted 26% of his overall attempts from beyond the arc, a much lower mark than his career 34% clip going into the event, partially a product of his shot-selection and the role he was asked to shoulder.
Defensively, Rodriguez is always going to be at a disadvantage with his lack of length and skinny frame, generating a paltry five steals and zero blocks in 174 minutes of action in Izmir. He gets overpowered in the lane, struggles to get over screens and doesn't always get a hand up on shooters on the perimeter, having quite a few questions to answer on this end of the floor from an NBA standpoint.
Rodriguez signed a five-year deal this summer with Joventut, the team he grew up with since childhood, and will likely be slowly integrated into their first team in the coming years, allowing him to make a case for himself as an NBA draft pick. With his dynamic shot-making and how easily the game comes for him, it's not out of the question for him to hear his name called if his frame and defense continue to evolve.
10. Berke Buyuktuncel | PF | Turkey | Age: 17.9
Buyuktuncel was the best player on a Turkish squad that lost to Spain in the championship game, leading the home team in scoring and rebounding. That makes sense considering the amount of experience he possesses at the senior and national team level already -- he made his professional debut as a 16-year-old in their first division.
Buyuktuncel's appeal as a NBA prospect revolves around the versatility he brings as a skilled and intelligent 6-foot-9 wing/forward who can make open 3-pointers, attack closeouts, push the ball and finish explosively in transition, punish mismatches in the post and pass on the move with impressive creativity.
Buyuktuncel's perimeter shooting has long been considered a weakness, as he's a career 31% 3-point shooter and 66% from the free throw line, but he took a big step forward at this event, converting 42% of his shots from beyond the arc, even showing some flashes shooting off movement. His mechanics and lack of consistency in previous settings indicate he still has work to do, but it was good to see the ball go through the net, considering all the other things he does well.
Defensively, Buyuktuncel is competitive and smart but has some questions to answer from an NBA perspective covering ground on the perimeter, as he's not incredibly fleet of foot in space and could stand to improve his body to become more impactful in this area.
If Buyuktuncel can continue to make strides with his shooting and defense, he's likely to get looks from NBA scouts, as he checks several boxes for teams with his skill level and feel for the game.
11. Tobias Jensen | PG | Denmark | Age: 18.2
Jensen, a 6-foot-6 guard with elite vision and creativity who can make every pass imaginable operating out of the pick-and-roll, was a pleasant surprise in the B division. He led Denmark to the championship game despite struggling with scoring efficiency due to shouldering a huge offensive load.
Jensen converted just 29% of his 3-pointers, largely due to the extremely high difficulty of attempts as his team's lone shot-creator. The footwork and touch he displays getting into pull-ups off hang dribbles, executing difficult sidesteps and ducking behind handoffs from NBA range suggest serious shot-making ability long-term, especially if he can raise his release point.
Jensen's thin frame and aversion to contact makes him fairly limited as a finisher around the basket (41% on 2s) and getting to the free throw line (just 15 total attempts in seven games), as he's clearly at his best throwing darts off a live dribble with either hand using both sides of the floor. The fact that he can accelerate out of a ball screen with an extra gear bodes well for him long-term, but he will have to get much tougher operating in the lane and cut down on turnovers.
Defensively, Jensen was more or less a sieve at this event, mostly just standing around off the ball, rarely bending his knees and having real difficulty getting over screens or containing opponents off the bounce. It may be years until Jensen has the strength to hold his own at the pro level.
Jensen is developing in Germany at Orange Academy for at least the next two years, and it will be interesting to see what type of role he can carve out in the first division for Ulm. He's at his best as a big playmaker who makes others better operating out of ball screens, but he may not be reliable enough on either end of the floor in the short-term to be trusted against grown men. His rare vision and creativity may ultimately end up earning him NBA looks, but he has a long way to go until then.
Honorable mention:
Tunde Fasasi | 6'8 | SF/PF | Sweden | 18.1 years old
Almar Atlason | 6'9 | PF | Iceland | 17.6 years old
Melvyn Ajinca | 6'7 | SG | France | 18.1 years old
Motiejus Krivas | 7'1 | C | Lithuania | 17.6 years old
Paulius Murauskas | 6'9 | PF | Lithuania | 18.4 years old
Samet Yigitoglu | 7'1 | C | Turkey | 18.4 years old
Daryl Doualla | 6'5 | SG | France | 18.1 years old
Lazar Djokovic | 6'10 | PF | Serbia | 18.3 years old
Timotej Malovec | 6'9 | SF | Slovakia | 18.2 years old
Andrija Jelavic | 6'9 | PF | Croatia | 18.2 years old
Noam Yaacov | 6'1 | PG | Israel | 17.8 years old
Rafa Villar | 6'4 | PG | Spain | 18.0 years old
