PORTLAND — More than 100 NBA scouts and executives packed Coach K Gym on Nike's campus last week for the Nike Hoop Summit, just to watch practices and scrimmages with 12 of the nation's top players. In addition, 12 international athletes from 12 countries, including Qatar, also attended. Lithuania, Ghana, Bahamas. To cap off the festivities, 24 players played a FIBA-arbitrated game Saturday night at the Moda Center, home of the Portland Trail Blazers.
The game between Team USA and Team World felt like more than just a high school all-star game with players competing from the jump. It was a two-point game in the first half, and both teams remained close until the middle of the fourth quarter. Team USA put him up by 10 points, but Team World had no answer and Team USA pulled away and he won 98-75. Several future NBA stars shared the court and it was an even game over three quarters.
The USA team was led by Duke's Cooper Flagg, who ran into foul trouble early in the first half but really came back to life in the second half, making threes, taking shots off the dribble and catching lobs. . Flagg contributed to the victory with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assists. Also leading the team for USA was 6-foot-9 wing Asa Newell. The Georgia product played well in and out of the paint, scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
“It means so much more to wear this jersey and represent your country,” Flagg said after the game. “The World Team has a lot of talent and we've been hearing all week that they're better than us, so this game definitely meant more than that.”
This team was the most talented world team in recent memory, with AJ Divanza, a five-time major collegiate player and the No. 1 player in the high school junior class, leading all players with 21 points. Ta. French point guard Nolan Traore was a solid floor general all game, getting to the rim with ease and posting 18 points and four assists. Baylor's VJ Edgecomb was also solid in the backcourt, adding 17 points and five rebounds in the loss.
“Every country has a Hooper,” Edgecombe told Yahoo Sports. “It's becoming more universal, and now we're getting talent from all over, not just U.S. buddies. [Hield] and deandre [Ayton] He paved the way for guys like me from the Bahamas, and I want to do the same for the little kids who watch me play.”
There's no question that the NBA is becoming a more global game. Many of the NBA's top stars are international: Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Luka Doncic (Slovenia), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada), Victor Wenbanyama (France), etc. is. Several overseas players are expected to be ranked high in this year's draft, with Alex Sarr (France), Zachary Lizacher (France), and Nikola Topic (Serbia) all likely to be selected by lottery.
DiVanza, a 6-8 guard who represented Jamaica and the Republic of Congo, is one of the top players in high school regardless of class. He played his junior year at Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) and has been a player on the radar of NBA scouts for the past two years, playing in two divisions in Nike's EYBL last year and being on the team. has always been the No. 1 option on offense. court. Divanza and Cameron Boozer are trending toward the top of the 2026 NBA Draft.
“[Dybantsa’s] “His scoring instincts are unparalleled at the high school level and his 3-point shooting is showing improvement,” one NBA scout told Yahoo Sports, “with so many executives here this week. There's a reason for that, and it's not just Cooper.” [Flagg] and ace [Bailey]. ”
Traore, a 6-3 guard from France, is the World Team's best point guard and part of France's next talented group, following Wenban Yama and Washington Wizards guard Bilal Koulibaly.
“The next generation of French players is going to be really great,” Traore told Yahoo Sports. “It's becoming more and more competitive, the talent is very good, young players are coming up and we'll see what Victor does.” [Wembanyama] and Bilal [Coulibaly] I'm playing in the NBA. ”
Hamad Moussa, a 6-6 guard from Qatar, first caught the attention of NBA scouts with his three-ball shooting and prowess on perimeter defense during Basketball Without Borders during All-Star Weekend. His time on the World Team court was special, as his father, Yashin, played in the game 24 years ago.
Yassin Moussa competed in the Nike Hoop Summit in 2000, and tonight he got to watch his son Hamad play for the World Team in the same game 24 years later. A special moment for his family and the country of Qatar. pic.twitter.com/AV1ZHlmpyr
— Kristen Peek (@krystenpeek) April 14, 2024
“It's really special to be able to play in this game. This has always been a goal of mine, especially since my dad played in 2000,” Musa told Yahoo Sports. “Just being from Qatar means a lot and I get a lot of messages from people who support me from my home country. There aren’t that many players that come out of Qatar, so I want to represent my home country and encourage other kids to play at this level. It means a lot just to show that I can play there.”
The gap between U.S. and foreign talent is becoming smaller and smaller. Saturday night's game will be an early look at what's coming to the NBA from around the world, and basketball fans should be excited about the young talent coming from outside the United States.
