PORTLAND, Ore. – The next generation of globetrotters was on display Friday night at the 22ndNike Hoop Summit in the Moda Center.
If you are an NBA fan, several players from the World Select Team are budding talents that scouts are scrutinizing as the NBA draft approaches.
The Hoop Summit, is an annual game pits the World Team against the USA Basketball Team, composed of elite, American high school from the Class of 2019.
When the current NBA tipped off in November, 118 Hoop Summit alumni were active, including 80 former U.S. players and 38 former World Select Team members.
Some of the World Hoop Summit alumni playing for NBA teams include: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Clippers); DeAndre Ayton (Suns); Alexis Ajinca (Pelicans); Nicolas Batum (Hornets); Davis Bertans (San Antonio Spurs); Bismarck Biyombo (Hornets); Clint Capela (Rockets); Cheick Diallo (Pelicans); Joel Embiid (76ers); Dante Exum (Utah Jazz), Serge Ibaka (Raptors); Nikola Jokic (Nuggets); Cory Joseph (Pacers); Enes Kanter (Trailblazers); Skal Labissiere (Trailblazers); Trey Lyles (Nuggets); Thon Maker (Pistons); Tony Parker (Hornets); Dario Saric (Timberwolves); Dennis Schröder (Thunder); Ben Simmons (76ers); Karl Towns Jr. (Timberwolves) and Andrew Wiggins (Timberwolves).
This year’s roster is talented, featuring length. The team represented 12 countries and six continents. The Americans used a 24-15 fourth-quarter showing to post a 93-87 victory over the World Team.
Here’s a thumbnail on each player from the World Select roster.
Precious Achiuwa , 6-9, Montverde (Fla.) Academy: Finishes well at the rim and is capable of a double-double any night. Best days are on the horizon after seasoning at the college level for two years. The athletic Nigerian by way of The Bronx is still undecided with Kansas, North Carolina, Connecticut, Memphis and Georgia still in the race for his signature. Achiuwa scored 15 points in the game.
Matthew Alexander-Moncrieffe, 6-6, Orangeville (Ontario, Canada) Prep: The slender Canadian can fill it up from the wing and is combo 2/3. Good in transition and very good playmaking skills. Shooting and handle are his biggest needs.
Kofi Cockburn, 7-0, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.): Cockburn is committed to Illinois and his family roots are Jamaican. He previously attended Christ the King High School in Middle Village, Queens, New York. He’s a thick post that is hard to move down low. Cockburn would need to develop a perimeter game (a.k.a. stretch-5) to become a force at high levels.
Andre Curbelo, 6-1, Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.): Curbelo is a crafty point from Puerto Rico with a year of high school eligibility remaining. He can attack the rim, excels in transition and is a facilitator. Has great handle and top decision-maker with the ball. Helped LuHi win the New York State Federation Class AA title last month.
N’Faly Dante, 6-11, Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.): Another world player from the Class of 2020. He’s from Mali and has several high programs chasing. Dante is a rim protector and athletic on the defensive end. Offensive skills are still developing. He’s a surefire future McDonald’s All American in 2020.
Josh Green, 6-6, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.): He’s from Sydney, Australia and singed with Arizona. Green is a big wing guard and favors playing in an up-tempo offense. He loves shooting the 3. Both parents played professionally in Australia but now reside in the Phoenix area. Last week, he helped IMG win the GEICO Nationals in New York as his team finished No.1 in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 final rankings.
Haowen Guo, 6-8, Bayi Military, Zhejiany, China: Guo can fill up a stat sheet with points, rebounds and assists. He’s long, lean and wiry. Must adapt to the up-tempo but isn’t shy pulling the trigger from three-point range. A relative unknown in the United States but is a future Chinese Olympian.
Marcos Louzada Silva, 6-6, SESI/Franca, Sao Paolo, Brazil: Silva is shoot-first combo guard that can beat you from the three-ball range and will attack the rim while taking on the bigs in the post. Silva is a decent passer and defender and according to NBA scouts here, he is projected as a second round pick in the NBA draft.
Nico Mannion, 6-3, Pinnacle (Phoenix, Ariz.): Nico played with a chip on his shoulder at the Hoops Summit. He was bypassed by USA Basketball a few years ago and wanted to prove he belongs. He qualified for the game as his mother is from Italy. He signed with in-state Arizona Wildcats. He’s an athletic playmaker and pushes the ball in transition. Solid defender. His father played professionally and at the University of Utah. Led Pinnacle to an Arizona state championship in February and an elite point guard from the Class of 2019. He scored a game-high 28 points with five assists in the game.
Joshua Obiesie, 6-6, IBAM/s. Oliver Wurzburg (Germany): The German is opening eyes and is playing himself into the NBA draft albeit in the second round. His game is rounding into shape. He’s a decent combo-guard with scoring and passing skills that are developing. Quick hands on defense and is disruptive. Scoring needs to be more consistent.
Marko Pecarski, 6-10, KK Partizan (Belgrade, Serbia):The 19-year-old Serb big man is a load at 6-10, 238 pounds. His father played professionally in Spain, where Marko was born. He’s a top scorer and rebounder for the gold-medal winning U18 Serbian National Team. Like most Europeans, Marko can stretch the defense and knock down the three and post up. He’s a future NBA player.
Oscar Tshiebwe, 6-9, Kennedy Catholic (Hermitage, Pa.): Tshiebwe is a powerful 4 or 5 from the Democratic Republic of Congo and signed with West Virginia. He has the combination of strength and athleticism. Motor never stop running. In the post, he’s nearly automatic and will thrive in transition. Last month, he helped Kennedy Catholic capture the Pennsylvania Class AAAAAA state championship.
Senior Writer and national analyst for Blue Media and compiles the Blue Star Elite 25 national boys and girls high school basketball and football rankings during the season. Lawlor, an award-winning writer, is a voting committee member and advisor for several national high school events, including the McDonald’s All-American Games. He previously wrote for USA TODAY and ESPN.com, where he was the national preps writer, while compiling the national rankings in four sports.