The 2025 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup, being held in Lausanne, Switzerland, from Jun 28 to Jul 6, is a global biennial stage on which youngsters show what they are made of. Team USA, with eight gold medals on its shelf, opened its campaign on Saturday with an 88-73 victory over Australia.
Five current college players and incoming freshmen are turning heads at the international event: Koa Peat, Daniel Jacobsen, AJ Dybantsa, Morez Johnson Jr., and Nikolas Khamenia. Their standout performances hint at brighter futures.
Rising Stars Showcase Skills at FIBA 2025 U19 World Cup
AJ Dybantsa
Dybantsa is the consensus No.1 recruit in the class of 2025. In the opening game against Australia, he scored a total of 18 points, two assists, and three rebounds. He stands at 6’9” and is a versatile scorer and defender, making him a nightmare for defenders. He committed to BYU last December, pegging him as a game changer for the Cougars.
Koa Peat
Peat is one of the top 10 recruits in 2025. He posted a total of 17 points and 10 rebounds on 6-of-11 shooting on Saturday. At 6’8” and 210 pounds, his physicality and versatility work well with Arizona’s up-tempo system, where he’ll enroll as a freshman in 2025. His FIBA show further underscores why many projected him as a starter, one who will be capable of impacting both ends of the court.
GET 🆙 AJ ! @AJ_Dybantsa #USABMU19 x #FIBAU19 pic.twitter.com/6ZnlGDxFN8
— USABJNT (@usabjnt) June 28, 2025
Morez Johnson Jr.
Johnson Jr. is a 6’9” forward who transferred from Illinois to Michigan in April this year. As a freshman at Illinois, he averaged 7.0 points and 6.7 rebounds across 30 games, starting eight of them. His performance at the ongoing FIBA 2025 World Cup may earn him a starting role at Michigan.
Daniel Jacobsen
Jacobsen is a 7’4” freshman center at Purdue, with a rare combination of size and skill. He contributed immensely to Team USA’s opening win. Under coach Matt Painter, he is positioned for a breakout sophomore year. His participation in the U19 World Cup demonstrates his recovery and readiness to compete at a high level.
Nikolas Khamenia
Khamenia, a 6’8” forward committed to Duke, is set to join in the fall of 2025, with an expectation on his shoulder to contribute immediately, leveraging his 38% three-point shooting from high school and ability to guard wings and forwards. He is a player with a high basketball IQ and is a valuable asset for Team USA.
The ongoing FIBA U19 World Cup is a proving ground for these stars, and they are making the most of the moment. Their performances will set the stage for their transformative careers.
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