In terms of developing and possibly making a jump in their pro careers, here’s a list of players I’ll be keeping an eye on during the World Cup:
USA- Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Ingram, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Paolo Banchero, Austin Reaves, Tyrese Haliburton, and Walker Kessler
Germany- Franz Wagner, Isaac Bonga, and Moe Wagner
Italy- Simone Fontecchio, Gabriele Procida, and Matteo Spagnolo
Spain- Santi Aldama, Usman Garuba, and Juan Nunez
Lithuania- Ignas Brazdeikis, Rokas Jokubaitis, and Deividas Sirvydis
Slovenia- Luka Doncic, Mike Tobey, and Klemen Prepelic
Finland- Lauri Markkanen
South Sudan- Carlik Jones, Wenyen Gabriel, and Marial Shayok
Egypt- Patrick Gardner & Ehab Saleh
Serbia- Nikola Jovic, Filip Petrusev, and Nikola Milutinov
Greece- Georgios Papagiannis & Nikos Rogkavopoulos
Puerto Rico- Tremont Waters, George Conditt IV, Ethan Thompson, and Aleem Ford
Montenegro- Marko Simonovic
Brazil- Bruno Caboclo, Gui Santos, and Yago Mateus
Lebanon- Omari Spellman
Georgia- Goga Bitadze & Sandro Mamukelashvili
Jordan- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Australia- Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels, Xavier Cooks, Dante Exum, Josh Green, Matisse Thybulle, Jack White, and Duop Reath
Philippines- Kai Sotto
Angola- Bruno Fernando
France- Guerschon Yabusele & Elie Okobo
Canada- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, Lu Dort, Dillon Brooks, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Dominican Republic- Karl-Anthony Towns, Lester Quinones, Jean Montero, and Andres Feliz
Japan- Yuta Watanabe & Josh Hawkinson
Latvia- Davis Bertans, Anžejs Pasečņiks, Rodions Kurucs, Arturs Zagars, and Rolands Smits
Quick note: Turkey didn’t qualify for the World Cup, but Alperen Sengen & Omer Yurtseven looked improved during the Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament.
