MALAGA, Spain — The FIBA U17 World Cup — on hiatus since 2018 due to the COVID pandemic — returned earlier this month and crowned the U.S. as champions for the sixth straight time since the event’s inception. Head coach Sharman White’s American team was dominant, winning every game by 40 points on average, and bringing its win total to 44-0 by moving the ball joyously, turning opponents over incessantly and being the best 3-point shooting team at the event.
Spain, which featured its best generation of talent since Pau Gasol, Felipe Reyes and Juan Carlos Navarro beat the U.S. in the FIBA U18 World Championship in 1999, proved a worthy adversary in the gold-medal game, leading 47-40 midway through the third quarter before eventually bowing out 79-67.
The tournament proved to be an emphatic introduction to 15-year-old Cooper Flagg — possibly the best player ever to come out of the state of Maine — on the world stage. The 6-foot-8 Flagg made a strong case as the best prospect in high school basketball and a potential No. 1 pick candidate down the road. (For a sense of how important this event can be in projecting future greatness, take a look at some of the participants we covered at the 2018 FIBA U17s.)
Unlike most young phenoms, Flagg made his biggest impact on the defensive end, where he posted an absurd 5.8 blocks and 5.0 steals per 40 minutes, not to mention more than 20 rebounds — or one for every two minutes he was on the floor. Besides playing with an insatiable energy level, Flagg displays uncanny basketball instincts with the spatial awareness, processing speed and timing he shows rotating for blocks, staying in front of guards on switches, and always being the first off the ground for loose balls. Considering the level of competition he had played up to this point, several NBA executives in attendance said they were shocked by Flagg’s temperament, knowledge of the game and ability to make an impact without needing a single play called for him, something that bodes incredibly well for his long-term outlook.
Cooper Flagg brings home the gold for USA Basketball in the FIBA U17 World Cup with a crazy stat line of 8 steals, 4 blocks, 17 rebounds, 10 points and 2 assists to take down Spain. Incredible tournament for the 15-year old showing his exceptional basketball instincts. pic.twitter.com/3WLezaW7gA
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) July 10, 2022
While Flagg’s offensive game is still evolving, he’s a heady passer, an excellent cutter and made 43% of his 3-pointers (and 73% of his free throws) at the event, although he still has work to do to smooth out his shooting mechanics and become a more polished shot creator and finisher inside the arc, having converted just 41% of his 2-point attempts at the event.
Measured at 6-8 with a 6-11 wingspan, and a strong frame that hasn’t reached physical maturity, it wouldn’t be surprising if Flagg continues to grow, which would help answer some questions about which position he will end up playing long-term. Regardless, Flagg, who is moving to famed Montverde Academy in Florida with his twin brother next season, was the story of the event.
After what had been an outstanding spring and summer entering the FIBA event — he led the Nike EYBL in scoring and was hands down the best player at USA Basketball’s April minicamp — it was a bit surprising to see D.J. Wagner, the No. 1-ranked player in the 2023 high school class, fade into the background for big parts of the competition in Spain. In fact, Wagner looked fairly ordinary while playing a different role than what we had seen to this point in his career.
Wagner, who measured 6-3, was shaded to his weaker left hand, struggled to operate in traffic at his size and couldn’t get his jumper to fall with any kind of regularity. He hit just 4 of 21 attempts from beyond the arc and was a mixed bag with his shot selection and decision-making in the half court. Defensively, Wagner lacks physicality in a major way, gambling or getting lost off the ball and at times struggling to guard without fouling in the half court. He’s still growing into his thin frame and doesn’t have great length to compensate, putting him on the smaller end of the spectrum of NBA point guards and leaving him less margin for error physically.
Wagner’s exceptional scoring instincts and natural talent still shined through quite a bit with his ability to get to spots on the floor, finish skillfully inside the arc and find teammates on the move in the open floor. He surprises you at times with his powerful ability to change gears going left or right and even playing above the rim with a head of steam. The fact that he has natural shot-making prowess stepping into rhythm 3s from well beyond the arc or knocking down pull-up jumpers bodes well for his evolution as a scorer down the road. Still, Wagner’s playmaking, finishing, perimeter shooting and defense all have a ways to go to solidify him as the No. 1 player in the class.
The event could prove to be a great learning experience for Wagner in how to play alongside other great players while not being the focal point of an offense, something he had never experienced to this point. It’s important to note that Wagner is young for his class, having just turned 17 in May, and could still be growing physically. He’ll have a chance to bounce back this week at Peach Jam, where his New Jersey Scholars team has gone 11-1 when Wagner has been in uniform. Louisville and Kentucky fans anxiously await Wagner’s college decision in what is shaping up as one of the most interesting recruiting battles we’ve seen in recent years.
‘Next 10’ top prospects at the U17s
1. Ron Holland | SF/PF | USA | 17.0 years old
Holland was the glue who held Team USA together and the engine behind the USA’s 7-0 gold-medal run. He provided defensive versatility, intelligent facilitation in the half court and transition, nonstop energy crashing the glass, easy baskets leaking out in transition and in the U.S. full-court press, and surprisingly confident shot-making all tournament long. NBA scouts pointed to Holland as the player with the highest floor of any participant at the tournament. He can fill a coveted need with his intensity, unselfish passing and ability to defend point guards through centers, especially if his 3-point shot (8-for-19 in seven games) continues to fall with consistency, something that hasn’t been the case in other settings.
Drawing comparisons to Scottie Barnes given his role, everything Holland does is with tremendous purpose, but he does have some room to improve with his skill level. He’s not a natural shot creator in the half court, has hit under 60% of his free throw attempts in EYBL and FIBA events this year, and can get a little wild with his decision-making at times, something that comes with the territory of his style of play. Not blessed with extraordinary tools physically, measuring 6-7 in shoes with a 6-10 1/2 wingspan, Holland is the type of player who will be nitpicked ad nauseam, but ultimately looks like a Draymond Green-style winning player whom scouts should learn to appreciate due to the myriad ways he impacts the game.
2. Hugo Gonzales | SF | Spain | 16.4 years old
Gonzales made a case to be considered the best non-U.S. prospect at the event despite not posting eye-popping numbers in Malaga. He has an outstanding physical profile for a 16-year-old, with excellent size for a wing at 6-7, long arms, a muscular frame that should continue to fill out and impressive explosiveness. Best of all, he doesn’t look anywhere close to being a finished product. Gonzales plays the game with a nasty streak that NBA scouts love seeing from elite international prospects, as he was clearly not afraid at any given moment, especially in the gold-medal game against the U.S. He brings a toughness and swagger on both ends of the floor that is rare to see from a player his age, often driving right into the teeth of defenses and finishing above the rim impressively.
Gonzales’ jump shot and ballhandling aren’t very refined at this stage of his development, but he shows plenty of competence in both areas while also playing an intelligent, under-control style as a ball mover that bodes well for his future development. While he made only 28% of his 3-pointers at this event, the confidence and versatility he demonstrates as a shot-maker are encouraging, despite his not having the most polished footwork or mechanics. Defensively, Gonzales plays with an edge, showing no issues getting into a deep stance on the perimeter, switching onto guards, containing on the bounce, blocking jumpers or meeting opponents at the summit rotating to the rim. He’s a multi-effort player with good awareness off the ball who should develop into a highly versatile threat on this end of the floor.
Since he’s still three years away from being NBA draft-eligible, it’s premature to pinpoint precisely what caliber prospect Gonzales is, but it would be very surprising if he didn’t emerge as one of the best international players in his class considering everything he has shown and how much room he has to grow.
3. Aday Mara | C | Spain | 17.2 years old
Mara was arguably the most productive player at the tournament, averaging 28.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.1 blocks, 3.5 assists and 1.9 steals per 40 minutes and shooting an excellent 70% from the field. He towered over most opponents at 7-3, while being an absolute force around the rim on both ends thanks to his massive standing reach, barely needing to jump to dunk.
Mara is exceptionally skilled for a player his age, making outstanding passes all over the floor all tournament long with long outlets, touch passes out of the mid- and low post and zipping bullets from the perimeter operating out of dribble handoffs. He rolls to the rim out of ball screens with purpose, showing outstanding hands, footwork and touch finishing with both hands around the basket, often after executing complicated sequences pivoting around and using the glass with reverse moves, and is highly effective with his back to the basket. While he shot only 55% from the free throw line, the touch Mara displays knocking down midrange and turnaround jumpers suggests good things to come down the road in terms of his ability to expand his shooting range beyond the arc as his career moves on.
Defensively, Mara is mostly a drop defender who stays around the basket and utilizes his excellent timing and reach to protect the rim effectively, usually keeping his blocks inbounds. Like all 7-footers, he’s going to face questions regarding his ability to cover ground on the perimeter and stay in front of smaller players when on an island, a skill at which he mostly struggled at this event. His mobility and instincts indicate he is far from dead in the water in this area, though. Gaining experience and operating with a greater deal of intensity and physicality should go a long way in helping him improve in this aspect as his career moves on.
Towering centers in Mara’s mold aren’t as en vogue today as they once were, but there are enough modern elements to his game with the passing and generally high skill level he displays to make him a serious NBA prospect as his career moves on.
4. Zaccharie Risacher | SF | France | 17.2 years old
Possibly the most hyped player in his age group in Europe, Risacher had a somewhat quiet showing in Malaga. He disappeared during some key moments for France but remains a tantalizing prospect who features several key ingredients for which NBA teams actively scour the globe. He’s a 6-8 wing who can handle, pass and shoot, has instincts and length defensively, and is clearly oozing with fluidity, skill and feel. NBA scouts will gladly play the long game with Risacher and hope his toughness and aggressiveness improve over time.
Risacher wows you at times with deep range and diverse shot-making versatility, his ability to create for teammates off a live dribble, and the elegance and creativity he demonstrates as a finisher around the rim. His lack of assertiveness, tendency to avoid contact on both ends and average explosiveness will hopefully improve as his thin frame evolves, because there weren’t many players in Malaga with a higher long-term ceiling.
5. Ian Jackson | SG/SF | USA | 17.4 years old
Jackson led the U.S. in scoring despite finishing eighth in minutes played, though he wasn’t much of a factor in the gold-medal game, playing just seven minutes. At 6-6 with a wiry frame, explosive finishing ability in the open floor, and picture-perfect mechanics with his feet set, Jackson ticks several boxes NBA teams look for at the wing position. He made 45% of his 3-pointers at the event, racked up rebounds and steals in bunches, and played with good energy throughout. Just an average ball handler, Jackson attempted only two free throws in 123 minutes, didn’t make a single jumper pulling up off the dribble, and had some sped-up or spacey moments at times on both ends of the floor in the half court. He’ll need to improve on those elements long-term while adding strength to his thin frame.
6. Sean Stewart | PF | USA | 17.3 years old
Stewart perhaps isn’t a glamorous prospect, with a stumpy, somewhat maxed-out frame, limited length and very little perimeter shooting for a player listed at 6-8. But there’s a reason he played more minutes than any player on Team USA in the gold-medal game, and it’s easy to envision him finding success in some capacity eventually in the NBA.
Stewart is a savvy, competitive player who brings quite a bit of versatility on both ends of the floor. He’s often the first to loose balls, posting an excellent 2.8 blocks, 2.5 steals and 15.4 rebounds per-40, embracing physicality around the basket and bringing a no-nonsense style on both ends of the floor. While he doesn’t look like the most explosive player at first glance, there’s a reason Stewart is leading the Nike EYBL in dunks and rebounds, as he’s extremely quick off his feet and plays the game with a nasty streak.
The fact that he has made only two 3-pointers in 20 FIBA and EYBL games this season certainly isn’t ideal relative to his height, but the touch Stewart shows in midrange spots and around the basket indicates there are reasons to be bullish on his ability to expand his shooting range as his career moves on. Coming from a family of athletes (his father, Michael, played parts of eight seasons in the NBA), the Duke commit has rocketed up recruiting rankings this past spring and is clearly on an upward trajectory.
7. Karter Knox | SG/SF | USA | 17.1 years old
Knox was USA Basketball’s second-most prolific scorer at the event, finishing with a robust 27 points per 40 minutes while coming off the bench. He has an excellent physical profile with good size (6-4) for a wing, a strong frame, a 6-9 wingspan and nice vertical explosiveness. Wearing a size 17 shoe, there’s a good chance that Knox will continue to grow, something that wouldn’t be surprising considering his brother, Detroit Pistons forward Kevin Knox, stands over 6-9.
Knox had one of the purest shooting strokes of any prospect at the event, with compact, repeatable mechanics, excellent footwork and floppy wrist action on his follow-through, shooting a very easy ball both on the hop and pulling up off the dribble. His ballhandling is still a work in progress, but Knox shows flashes of live-dribble passing ability and was the author of several impressive above-the-rim finishes in the open floor, posting eight dunks in seven games after leading the Nike EYBL 16U division in that category.
Defensively, Knox plays with good energy and can be effective thanks to his size and length, but is still figuring out how to make the most of his tools on a consistent basis. He’s a somewhat upright mover with awareness that comes and goes off the ball — he gets blown by off the dribble more than you’d like to see. With two more years in high school still ahead of him, Knox has some things to iron out on both ends of the floor but looks to have the makings of an excellent long-term prospect.
8. Alexandre Sarr | C | France | 17.2 years old
Sarr got off to a slow start after being in COVID protocols just before the start of the event, but got better as the tournament moved on. He finished as the best per-minute scorer at 29 points per 40, while shooting an impressive 67% for 2, 44% for 3 and 83% from the free throw line. Sarr appears to have made significant progress in most facets of his game since making the surprising decision to leave Real Madrid for Overtime Elite last summer, a move that looks to be paying off thus far.
It’s hard to find many 7-footers who move as fluidly and gracefully as Sarr does. He covers ground exceptionally on the defensive end, rotating seamlessly from beyond the arc to the basket to protect the rim with tremendous timing, and even blocking 3-pointers on occasion thanks to the terrific quickness he shows getting off his feet. He had several impressive possessions in Malaga switching onto guards on the perimeter, turning his hips and containing off the bounce, helping him average an outstanding 3.4 blocks and 2.4 steals per 40 minutes, pace adjusted.
Offensively, Sarr has natural footwork, touch and body control that can’t really be taught, making him an acrobatic, creative, explosive finisher operating in the lane. He attacks closeouts driving left or right, threw in several 3-pointers that looked great coming out of his hand, is a much-improved passer and shows the ability to push the ball fluidly while handling off the defensive glass. Weighing around 210 pounds, Sarr doesn’t absorb contact very well, has a ways to go as a screener and is a disappointingly poor defensive rebounder due to his lack of physicality — things scouts will want to see him improve upon in the next few years before becoming draft-eligible. He’s nowhere near a finished product at this stage, but that’s what makes him so intriguing in many ways from a long-term perspective.
9. Boogie Fland | PG | USA | 16.0 years old
One of the youngest players at the event, Fland was far from Team USA’s most productive player, playing only seven minutes in the gold-medal game on his 16th birthday, but still offered plenty of flashes of long-term talent to make him worth monitoring — he’s still three years away from being NBA draft-eligible. Fland has a promising physical profile at 6-3 with an intriguing frame that should fill out nicely in time, and intriguing movement on both ends of the floor. Somewhat of a feast-or-famine type of player at this stage in terms of his decision-making and consistency, Fland nevertheless shows an intriguing combination of shot-making prowess, playmaking, defensive versatility and ability to operate at different speeds that gives him a pretty high floor.
While he can appear sped-up at times, Fland looked very creative driving and dishing and finding teammates on the move using both sides of the floor, leading the U17s with the 11.3 assists per 40 he averaged, while turning the ball over only three times in 89 minutes. He also has made shots at a high level all spring and summer long in both the FIBA and EYBL settings, converting 38% of his 3-pointers, many of which came off the dribble and from deep vantage points, even though he’s clearly very streaky at this point in his career. Getting stronger and improving as a ball handler and finisher will be major keys for his development, but there’s a lot to like about what he showed in small doses in Malaga considering he played almost the entire tournament as a 15-year-old and looks to have significant room for growth still.
10. Noah Penda | SF/PF | France | 17.5 years old
Penda played a fairly minor role off the bench for France, but he stood out with the impressive two-way versatility he displays, averaging 5.6 steals and 4.8 assists per 40 minutes while emerging as his team’s best shot creator. He’s powerfully built at 6-7 with big hands and a solid wingspan, despite possessing a somewhat doughy frame and not looking like the most traditionally explosive player on first glance, clearly needing to improve his conditioning level.
Penda’s basketball instincts and overall feel for the game are what give him a chance to eventually emerge as an NBA player. He’s highly effective attacking slower-footed defenders from the midpost or getting himself downhill out of isolation from the perimeter. In the lane, he uses subtle changes of speed and his strong frame to absorb contact impressively, showing tremendous footwork, creativity, body control and touch with either hand around the rim. He’s also a willing ball mover who makes touch passes all over the floor, finds teammates with well-timed outlets or bounce passes on the move, and generally has a knack for being in the right spots on both ends of the court, helping him emerge as an excellent offensive rebounder everywhere he has played despite his average explosiveness.
Those same instincts made him a nonstop presence getting in passing lanes at this event, as he’s hyper aware of his surroundings off the ball despite not being the most quick-footed one-on-one defender and being somewhat undersized for a power forward. He has some work to do with his consistency on this end of the floor, and he has been fairly foul-prone almost everywhere he has played, gambling excessively, getting blown by off the dribble and not always showing the best technique.
The evolution of Penda’s perimeter shooting, and specifically his hitchy release, will play a major role in what type of NBA prospect he’s able to become in time. He’s a career 25% 3-point shooter and has converted just 54% of his attempts from the free throw line — certainly not ideal for a player his size.
Having already graduated high school, Penda will be moving from INSEP Academy to the French second division next season to play for Vichy-Clermont. Players in Penda’s mold are increasingly en vogue in today’s NBA, provided his perimeter shooting continues to evolve.
Honorable mention
Ilane Fibleuil | SG | France | 17.0 years old
Illan Pietrus | PG/SG | France | 17.0 years old
Killian Malwaya | SG/SF | France | 16.9 years old
Sergio De Larrea | PG | Spain | 16.6 years old
Jeremy Fears | PG | USA | 17.2 years old
Malick Diallo | PF/C | Mali | 17.1 years old
Ladji Coulibaly | C | Mali | 16.0 years old
Koa Peat | PF | USA | 15.4 years old
Lucas Langarita | SG | Spain | 17.5 years old
Izan Almansa | PG | USA | 17.0 years old
Ognjen Stankovic | PG/SG | Serbia | 17.3 years old
Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and international teams.