We’re approaching the five year anniversary this summer, of one of the most interesting All-Star Five line-ups I have seen at a FIBA youth tournament – namely the quintet of players who made the cut at the U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2014 in Pilsen.

Only the third ever edition of the event, it is universally remembered by most people for one of the best solo performances in FIBA women’s youth basketball history, which happened in the title game. And, as I use this chance to reflect on the progress of the All-Star Five since they received their individual accolades, there is indeed no better place to start than with a Spanish sensation.

Angela Salvadores – Spain

While in recent times it has become more popular for players of beaten Finalists to be crowned MVP, I vividly remember the hurried discussions about whether it was appropriate back then. It was a no-brainer of course and in the end, the correct choice was made and Salvadores took the MVP award. What else could have been the outcome after she almost single-handedly took down reigning champions USA with an epic 40-point display that I will remember forever. Despite her efforts, USA escaped with a narrow victory. Still, the world was at the feet of Salvadores and yet if you had told me that five years later she was nowhere near the Spanish senior team, I would not have believed you. After the well-documented farce at Duke in an NCAA career that was ended before it truly got started, Salvadores now finds herself playing in her own domestic league at an arguably mediocre level. In her defense, she competed last year in the EuroLeague Women Final, helping the famous Sopron Basket make history by getting there for the first time. She played some genuinely important cameo roles in the latter stages of the competition, showing glimpses of that talent we all knew and loved. It remains to be seen what will now happen. Time is still on her side, but clearly the career path has been bumpy and not how it was meant to be. I hear varying opinions about what has went wrong and while there are often common threads about the player, I can only state that I live in hope she gets back into EuroLeague Women soon, while one day she also gets that call to the senior Spanish team. But clearly, some things need to be fully ironed out first. I cross my fingers they are.

Joyner Holmes – USA

I won’t spend too much time on the forward as I think most people Stateside will be all too familiar with the plight of Holmes with the highly-talented Longhorn having to endure injury and suspensions while with Texas. She was so impressive in Pilsen – showing all of those powerhouse attributes on the wing that helped retain the USA’s crown. Although two years later, she got to see the other side of things as this time she was pipped in the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup Final as USA famously crashed against a Maria Vadeeva and Raisa Musina inspired Russia in Udine, Italy. When it comes to her time in the NCAA, she continues to reflect on that semester-long suspension and painful ankle injury that frustratingly limited her court time and College career. Currently building momentum with almost 10 points and 7 rebounds per game this season, plus a nice defensive effort of almost 4 steals per outing, will Joyner at least get to sign off her Junior year at Texas on a high in March? We will be watching closely!

Debora Dubei – Hungary

Retaining strong links to two of her fellow All-Star Five members, Dubei has made a successful transition to the senior Hungary team and even played at the last edition of the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket two years ago. She is now odds-on to return to the event this year. Those who remember her displays for Hungary and who have seen her since will have been left impressed with her stylish and graceful skills. Lean, long and with efficient shooting ability, she dropped almost 16 points per game in Pilsen and followed it up with three more double-digit scoring returns at her subsequent trio of FIBA youth events. In a quirk of fate, Dubei found herself playing at the highest level alongside Angela Salvadores in the EuroLeague Women Final last year. They were team-mates at Sopron Basket and she remains there today, busily carving out a steady, if unspectacular pro-career.

Virag Kiss – Hungary

Perhaps there was just something about this All-Star Five, because in addition to the less than straightforward paths followed by Salvadores and Joyner, Hungarian center Kiss actually quit basketball altogether just over 12 months after the tournament had concluded. That was a pity because I rated her incredibly highly – potential WNBA draft highly in fact (at that stage anyway). So, it was an immense relief when after a couple of years away from the sport, she returned to wearing a Hungary vest in 2018. I got to see her play at the #FIBAU20Europe in Sopron, rather ironically, where I had watched Salvadores and Dubei in EuroLeague Women Final Four only a few months earlier. This past season, Kiss has played in EuroCup Women with KSC Szerkszard, alongside the likes of Abby Bishop of Australia and other big emerging Hungarian talents like Agnes Studer and Livia Gereben. All three are now hoping they will get the thumbs up to appear at their first ever FIBA Women’s EuroBasket Final Round this summer.

Katie-Lou Samuelson

Still her one and only outing at global level in FIBA competitions (outside of 3×3 youth Olympics), Samuelson gave observers of youth basketball in Pilsen an insight into her talent – skills that those Stateside were already more than aware of. Not only from her high school efforts, but also having starred the previous year at the FIBA Americas U16 tournament. Now cemented as one of the best shooters in the history of the Huskies, you all know what she has achieved and what may be about to come. Not least, a pending WNBA draft which hints she could be top 5 to 10 – or thereabouts – something that also means a WNBA rookie season and then, surely a move to Asia or Europe to start a sparkling club career overseas. Meanwhile on the inevitable theme of her siblings (impossible not to mention that when it comes to the Samuelsons), her sister Karlie has obviously played for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA and having also opted to represent Great Britain at senior level, is looking forward to a first ever outing at the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket Final Round in late June.

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