FIBA U19 World Cup | Bear Insider

sluggo

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8:20p, 6/29/25

For any of you who like me like to watch the next generation of players the FIBA U19 World Cup is streaming free on youtube. Below is a link to today's game against France. Their first game against Australia can also be found.

The US team is not quite as strong as the one that won the U17 WC last year by an average of 55 points, and the competition is much stronger. But it does include:
AJ Dybantsa- The #1 player of the high school class of 25 as ranked by most
Koa Peat- A great scorer going to Arizona who reminds me a bit of a young Carmelo Anthony
Mikel Brown Jr.- A very good point guard with unlimited range, shades of a young Dame Lilliard, who is going to Louisville
Tyran Stokes- The #1 player of the high school class of 26 who looks like he will be a star

And to make a Cal connection, JJ Mandaquit, who Cal recruited for a few minutes but who followed Dybantsa to BYU. He looks like he will be very good in college but does not look like an NBA athlete yet.

The quality of the games are very high. Is it exciting to see these incredibly talented US players having strong fundamentals and playing great pressure defense. Both are changes from a few years back. Their opponents are mostly pros in their own countries or coming to the US to play in a power conference.

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brevity

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In reply to sluggo • 9:02a, 6/30/25

sluggo said:
And to make a Cal connection, JJ Mandaquit, who Cal recruited for a few minutes but who followed Dybantsa to BYU.

JJ Mandaquit was recruited at BYU -- his official visit to Provo was the same weekend as AJ Dybantsa's last fall -- but he ended up committing to Washington.

According to Verbal Commits, California has active offers to 2026 prospects Brandon McCoy Jr and Tyran Stokes, both on the U19 team.

Of the 2025 prospects on the U19 team now committed to other schools as incoming freshmen, Cal made offers to Dybantsa and Mandaquit, as well as Nikolas Khamenia and Koa Peat.

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sluggo

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In reply to brevity • 9:20a, 6/30/25

brevity said:
sluggo said:
And to make a Cal connection, JJ Mandaquit, who Cal recruited for a few minutes but who followed Dybantsa to BYU.

JJ Mandaquit was recruited at BYU -- his official visit to Provo was the same weekend as AJ Dybantsa's last fall -- but he ended up committing to Washington.

According to Verbal Commits, California has active offers to 2026 prospects Brandon McCoy Jr and Tyran Stokes, both on the U19 team.

Of the 2025 prospects on the U19 team now committed to other schools as incoming freshmen, Cal made offers to Dybantsa and Mandaquit, as well as Nikolas Khamenia and Koa Peat.

Thanks for the correction and the extra color. As he followed Dybantsa to his high school team in Utah and visited together I just assumed he was going to BYU. I forgot he committed to UW. My bad.

Stokes as the #1 player in his class would be a miraculous pull. I will look for McCoy at the next game, he is not one of the top players on the team, but everyone is good.

Khamenia is going to Duke. He is a forward with a nice outside shot. Would have loved to get him. I think Peat will be a lottery pick next year, maybe even top 5, although it is going to be a very good draft so maybe not. He would have been a program changer.

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sluggo

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4:15p, 6/30/25

Just for fun here is a mock draft from ESPN for next year. Of interest:
2. AJ Dybantsa. Right now Darrin Peterson, a more standard wing, is slated for #1 in this mock, but Dybantsa is a 6'9'' wing with great athleticism, and I think his size makes him more valuable. The pressure might be getting to him a little, his play is not as good as last year.
5. Mikel Brown Jr.
13. Khamenia
18. Peat. I think he will go a lot higher.
45. Stojakovic. Maybe if he learns to shoot, which I doubt.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45585873/2026-nba-mock-draft-four-players-no-1-pick-options-peterson-dybantsa-boozer-ament

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sluggo

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10:27p, 7/5/25

In case anyone wants to watch the finals, it is Sunday at 11am pacific on youtube. Or anytime after as it will be archived on youtube. The USA plays Germany.

So far only Canada has been a challenge. The US is averaging over 110 points per game. Mikel Brown Jr. has been the star. AJ Dybantsa has not been shooting like he wants to be the #1 pick. Brandon McCoy, who I was told Cal has recruited, is the last man on the team. But he is still very good. He is a defensive first two guard who is a great athlete but not a great shooter. He plays like GPII in the body of GPI. But as a top 10 player in his class who has offers from everyone, I am not counting on him to be a Bear.