BasketBlog: Around the World (MW)

 

Welcome to my BasketBlog, Around the World. 

I have been very fortunate in my personal basketball journey to not only play the game growing up and at the collegiate level, but to travel the world observing and evaluating basketball. This blog will display my unique experience and perspective as someone who has studied the game worldwide. The game has truly grown to be a global game #WorldWideHoops. 


May 29, 2022: Summer International Event Info
 

The summer of 2022 sees a return to a full slate of international events around the globe. Premier Basketball Report is excited to provide basketball fans and college coaches a one-stop-shop for info concerning all the events. This page will be updated through out the summer as more info is released.

Premier Basketball Report's International and Global subscribers will be receiving rosters, event previews with players-to-know and travel suggestions along with post-event reports added to the database. To check out subscriptions, click on PB Report.

BWB Europe Camp

Milan, Italy

June 1-4

Players
Dominika Paurova (Czech Republic), Valentyna Kadlecova (Czech Republic), Elsa Lemmila (Finland), Dominique Malonga (France), Leila Lacan (France), Paula Huber-Saffer (Germany), Annika Soltau (Germany), Sofia Stamataki (Greece), Petra Toman (Hungary), Romi Elbaz (Israel), Adele Cancelli (Italy), Alice Cappellotto (Italy), Ginevra Cedolini (Italy), Raina Tomasicka (Latvia), Brigita Rimkeviciute (Lithuania), Mihaela Aleksovska (North Macedonia), Agata Makurat (Poland), Mihaela Panait (Romania), Marija Avlijas (Serbia), Elena Buenavida (Spain), Ariadna Termis (Spain), Olivia Forster (UK), Katie Januszewska (UK), Carys Olivia Roy (UK)

The camp can be followed on Facebook at NBA Italia, Twitter @NbaItalia, Instagram @NBAEurope and on YoutTube at NBA Europe.

AON U19 Nationals

Rangiora, New Zealand

June 4-7

CLICK HERE for event info

CLICK HERE for Livestream (Select games on day 3 and 4)

CLICK HERE for Full Draw

Teams

Pool A: Waikato, Manawatu, Otago, Counties Manawatu, North Canterbury

Pool B: Canterbury, Harbour, Wellington, Auckland, Waitakere West

 

New Zealand steadily produces collegiate players at all levels. The players who are participating in AON U19 are in the 2022 and 2023 recruiting classes.

 

FIBA U18 Women’s Americas Championship

Buenos Aires, Argentina

June 13-19

CLICK HERE for event page & Draw

CLICK HERE for Livestream

Teams

Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Puerto Rico, USA

 

This eight team tournament is historically dominated by USA and Canada. Argentina, Mexico and Puerto Rico players typically qualify for the NCAA but Brazil, Colombia, and El Salvador need to attend a Juco.

 

FIBA U16 Asian Championship

Amman, Jordan

June 24-30

CLICK HERE for event age & Draw

CLICK HERE for Livestream

Teams

Division A: Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand

Division B: Fiji, Hong Kong, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Samoa, Sri Lanka

 

For this event there is an “A” and “B” division. The top eight qualifying teams compete in the “A” division with the top four teams competing in the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup. Traditionally this has been a five team race between Australia, China, Japan, Korea and New Zealand to represent Asia in U17 World Cup. Whoever qualifies will have a quick turnaround to get to Hungary for the World Cup.

 

Centrobasket U15 Women’s Championship

Gurabo, Puerto Rico

June 26-30

Teams

Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

 

The top three finishing teams will qualify for the 2023 FIBA U16 Women’s Americas Championship.

 

Australian U16 Junior Championship

Perth, Australia

Juny 3-10

CLICK HERE for event page

CLICK HERE for Schedule & Draw (released on Monday, June 6th)

CLICK HERE for Livestream

Teams

Australia Capitol Territory, New South Wales Country, New South Wales Metro, Northern Territory, Queensland North, Queensland South, South Australia Country, South Australia Metro, Tasmania, Victory Country, Victory Metro, Western Australia Country, Western Australia Metro

 

After Covid-19 limited the teams who could attend 2021 Australia U16 Junior Championship, this years championship will be back to full force. Prior to Covid, Victoria Metro won the last four and a total of 31 total Norma Connelly Trophies. This year’s U16 Junior Championship is in one of my favorite towns in the world, Perth, Australia. Depending on the state, the players in this event are in the 2025, 2026, and 2027 recruiting classes.

 

FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship

Sopron, Hungary

July 8-16

CLICK HERE for event page

CLICK HERE for Livestream

Teams

Group A: France, Hungary, Netherlands, Czech Republic

Group B: Italy, Belgium, Sweden, Finland

Group C: Spain, Poland, Lithuania, Bulgaria

Group D: Serbia, Portugal, Latvia, Ireland

 

FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship - B

Skopje, North Macedonia

July 9-17

CLICK HERE for event page

CLICK HERE for Livestream

Teams

Group A: Turkey, Ukraine, Greece, Switzerland, Albania

Group B: Germany, Israel, Iceland, Armenia, Georgia

Group C: Croatia, Romania, Kosovo, Montenegro,

Group D: North Macedonia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway

 

The FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship gives college coaches a chance to evaluate European prospects who decide late to come to the USA. The U20 teams are commonly made up of collegiate or professional players but every year there are diamonds in the rough that can be found at these events. All of the U20 games will be Live streamed which is a hug benefit since these events are during the early July eval period and FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup.

 

FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup

Debrecen, Hungary

July 9-17

CLICK HERE for event page

CLICK HERE for Livestream

Teams

Argentina, Asia 1, Asia 2, Asia 3, Asia 4 (Top 4 finishers from FIBA U16 Women’s Championship held in June), Belgium, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Mali, Mexico, Slovenia, Spain, USA

 

After the 2020 FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup was canceled due to Covid, the world-wide basketball community is excited about the return of the global U17 championship. Twelve of the sixteen teams are set with Slovenia and Belgium, who replaced Russia, being surprise qualifiers from Europe. Teams will be loaded with talent as this will be their opportunity to make a name for themselves on the global stage.

 

AON U17 Nationals

Hamilton, New Zealand

July 13-16

CLICK HERE for event page

CLICK HERE for Livestream (Select games on day 3 and 4)

CLICK HERE for Draw (Released on Wednesday, June 22)

Teams

Released with draw

 

The players who are participating in AON U17 are in the 2024 and 2025 recruiting classes.

 

AON U15 Nationals

Auckland, New Zealand

July 20-23

CLICK HERE for event page

CLICK HERE for Livestream (Select games on day 3 and 4)

CLICK HERE for Draw (Released on Wednesday, June 22)

Teams

Released with draw

 

The players who are participating in AON U15 are in the 2026 and 2027 recruiting classes.
 

CentroBasket U17 Women’s Championship

Managua, NCA

July 27-31

Teams

Bahamas, Barbados, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico

 

FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship - B

Sofia. Bulgaria

July 30- August 7

CLICK HERE for event page

CLICK HERE for Livestream

Teams

Group A: Portugal, Great Britain, Luxembourg, North Macedonia

Group B: Slovenia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Estonia

Group C: Croatia, Netherlands, Slovakia, Iceland, Norway

Group D: Serbia, Ireland, Romania, Austria, Denmark

 

If you are looking for European prospects to recruit in the next two years then the U18 European Championships are the place to look. The B Division has more teams participating than A. Though this division doesn’t have the number of BCS prospects as the A Division, there are quality prospects for all levels.

 

Canada Basketball 15U & 17U National Championship

Sherbrooke, Quebec

August 1-6

CLICK HERE for event page

CLICK HERE for Schedule

CLICK HERE for Livestream

Teams

Team Alberta, Team British Columbia, Team Manitoba, Team New Brunswick, Team Newfoundland & Labrador, Team Nova Scotia, Team Ontario, Team Prince Edward Island, Team Quebec, Team Saskatchewan

 

Each Canadian state gathers their top talent to represent the state at the National Championship. Ontario and Quebec have historically finished in the top half of the standings. If you recruit Canada, this is a must attend or watch event.

 

FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship

Heraklion, Greece

August 6-14

CLICK HERE for event page

CLICK HERE for Livestream

Teams

Group A: Spain, Italy, Poland, Turkey

Group B: Czech Republic, Belgium, Latvia, Greece

Group C: Hungary, Sweden, Lithuania, Finland

Group D: France, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel

 

This event is loaded with BCS caliber prospects!!! If you head over to Greece, you can spent a couple days in Greece or Europe since the championship runs into the August Recruiting Shutdown.

 

FIBA 3X3 U17 Europe Cup Qualifier

Szolnok, Hungary & Voiron, Isere, France

August 6-7

CLICK HERE for event page

CLICK HERE for Livestream

Teams

Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine

 

National 3x3 teams from European countries will decend upon Hungary and France in the hopes of finishing in top twelve to qualify for the 2022 U17 3x3 Europe Cup on September 2-4 in Athens, Greece.

 

FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship - B

Podgorica, MNE

August 18-27

CLICK HERE for event page

CLICK HERE for Livestream

Teams

Group A: Serbia, Netherlands, Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia

Group B: Turkey, Norway, Bulgaria, Austria, Montenegro

Group C: Sweden, Ukraine, Israel, Switzerland, Iceland

Group D: Poland, Romania, Great Britain, Slovakia, Luxembourg

 

FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship

Matosinhos, Portugal

August 19-27

CLICK HERE for event page

CLICK HERE for Livestream

Teams

Group A: Italy, Hungary, Croatia, Finland

Group B: Spain, Germany, Lithuania, Slovenia

Group C: Latvia, Belgium, Portugal, Norway

Group D: France, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece

 

The FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship gives basketball fans and college coaches their first glimpse of the up and coming European Talent.

 

FIBA 3X3 U18 World Cup

Debrecen, Hungary

August 23-28

CLICK HERE for event page

CLICK HERE for Livestream

Teams

Brazil, Chile, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Spain, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan

 

The USA took home both championships from eh 2021 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup. Will they be able to repeat in 2022??

March 25, 2021: Premier Basketball Report's Global Scout Mark Williams visits with 2021 Alexia Dizeko from Switzerland. They discuss an average day in her life, her basketball development, her club season, representing Angola on the international stage, and her recruitment to a United State university.

March 18, 2021:
  2021 Charlotte Carvalho from Senegal joins Premier Basketball Report Global Scout Mark Williams to discuss life in Senegal, being a student at the S.E.E.D. Project, attending NBA's Basketball Without Borders and NBA Academy Global Camp during 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend, and her dream to play basketball at a United State University.

The S.E.E.D. Project - www.seedproject.org

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February 17, 2021:

 

As the world is combating covid-19, any chance to play, coach or watch a basketball game is a tremendous blessing.  For basketball enthusiasts in Australia, they were fortunate to see the 2020 Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) played over the last two months. The WNBL took a page out of the NBA playbook and hosted a bubble in Townsville, Queensland. The league originated in 1981 and is comprised of eight teams from across Australia which play host to many of the top Australian players along with some American imports. The 2020 season culminated with the Southside Flyers taking the Townsville Fire. FIBA broadcasted the game on their Facebook page, below is a link:

https://fb.watch/2zQMVRscJD/

Many players want to play professionally but have never watched an overseas game. I highly encourage you to watch the championship game. A couple of notes from playing overseas:

• The game is more physical. Throughout the game players got tangled up in ball screens and battling for boards. When players drive to the basket and there is contact the ref did not bail them out by calling the foul.
• The game is called different. Defenders are allowed to be more physical on the perimeter, moving screens aren’t really called, and players have a "zero step" off the catch and drive. (The zero step refers to the step taken when gaining control of the ball. When dribbling, the zero step gathering happens as the ball is gathered in 2 hands or let it rest in 1 hand; similarly when moving and catching a ball. This is a recent update interpretation by FIBA officials.) 
• The game is faster. Yes, the players are better athletes at the professional level, but that is not what I am referring to. The international game plays with a 24-second shot clock so the decision making of every player on the court has to be faster. All five players have to be able to play from transition into an action, which commonly is a ball screen action.

Potential Future WNBA Players

• Shyla Heal - Townsville Fire
• Zitina Aokusa - Townsville Fire

Coming to an NCAA Court soon

• Paige Price (Bendigo Spirit) - Indiana University
• Piper Dunlop (Bendigo Spirit) - 2022
• Taylah Burrows (Perth Lynx) - 2022
• Kitty Henderson (Sydney Uni Flames) - Columbia University
• Jade Melbourne (UC Capitals) - Arizona State