The FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup has served as a prestigious platform for elite young basketball talent for over four decades, with its inception dating back to 1979. It has consistently been a stage where future global superstars first made their mark. While the excitement for upcoming tournaments, such as the event in Lausanne (with developing rosters accessible via the Roster Tracker), continues to build, it is also an opportune moment to celebrate the legends from the competition's initial 16 editions. The U19 World Cup has been the site of numerous historic moments, including the United States securing their seventh title in 2019, a tournament where Mali also achieved a remarkable milestone for African basketball, and Canada's historic RJ Barrett-led victory in Egypt in 2017. This series of articles delves into the archives to present a curated list of the top 50 players who have graced the U19 World Cup. This first installment focuses on players ranked from 50th down to 41st, exploring their contributions to the tournament and their subsequent impactful careers.

50. Gheorghe Muresan, Romania, 1991: Muresan, a towering figure at 7ft 7in (2.31m), dominated the competition. The Romanian center went on to play for five years in the NBA. He was instrumental in Romania achieving its only U19 World Cup appearance in 1991, where he starred by averaging 24.1 points per game, leading Romania to a fifth-place finish.

49. Chet Holmgren, USA, 2021: Holmgren was named Most Valuable Player of the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup, showcasing his versatile skills with averages of 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.7 blocks. Following a standout season at Gonzaga, he was the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. After missing his initial season due to injury, Holmgren was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2024 and played a key role in Oklahoma City reaching the NBA Finals in 2025.

48. JJ Redick, USA, 2003: Although Redick had limited playing time in the 2003 U19 World Cup, appearing in only two games for a combined 11 minutes and scoring one point, he carved out a distinguished 15-year career in the NBA. Known as one of the league's premier outside shooters, he maintained a 41.5 percent three-point shooting accuracy. Redick also pioneered athlete-hosted podcasts during his playing days and transitioned to coaching, becoming the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2024-25 season after retiring as a player in 2021.

47. Marcus Smart, USA, 2013: Instrumental in leading the USA to victory at the U19 World Cup title in 2013, Marcus Smart showcased his all-around game by averaging 9.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.4 steals. Recognized as one of the world's elite defensive players, Smart has earned three NBA All-Defensive First Team selections and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 while with Boston. Having just completed his 11th NBA season, Smart also represented the USA at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

46. Yi Jianlian, China, 2003: A long-standing pillar for the Chinese national team, Yi Jianlian made a significant impact at the 2003 U19 World Cup, averaging an impressive 18.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. At just 19 years old, he competed in the 2004 Athens Olympics, the first of his four Olympic appearances. Yi also participated in three FIBA Basketball World Cups and won three FIBA Asia Cups. After a five-season stint in the NBA, he returned to China in 2012, playing with Guangdong until 2023.

45. Rui Hachimura, Japan, 2017: Hachimura led Japan to its best-ever 10th-place finish at the U19 World Cup in 2017. He was a standout performer, ranking as the tournament's second-leading scorer with 20.6 points and third in rebounding with 11.0 rebounds per game. His scoring prowess was also evident at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2014, where he led all players with 22.6 points per game. Hachimura is the undisputed leader of Japan's senior national team and has established himself in the NBA, earning All-Rookie Team honors in 2020 and being traded from Washington to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023.

44. Willy Hernangomez, Spain, 2013: Willy Hernangomez was a key contributor for Spain during the 2013 U19 World Cup, where he averaged 10.9 points and 5.4 rebounds. The center later achieved significant success at the senior international level, winning the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2019 and two FIBA EuroBasket titles in 2015 and 2022, earning Most Valuable Player honors at the latter. Hernangomez also helped Spain secure an Olympic bronze medal in 2016. He played seven seasons in the NBA before returning to Europe in 2023.

43. DeAndre Jordan, USA, 2007: Jordan contributed 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds for the USA team that secured second place at the U19 World Cup in 2007. The formidable big man later represented the USA senior team, winning an Olympic gold medal in 2016 with averages of 7.4 points and 6.1 rebounds. Jordan is currently in his 17th NBA season, with career highlights including an All-NBA First Team selection in 2016 and two NBA All-Defensive First Team nods. He was part of the Denver Nuggets team that won the 2023 NBA title.

42. Gregor Fucka, Italy, 1991: A distinguished veteran of Italy's senior national team, Gregor Fucka was pivotal in guiding Italy to a second-place finish at the U19 World Cup in 1991, leading his team with an average of 15.1 points. The versatile big man enjoyed a decorated international career, helping Italy secure second place at FIBA EuroBasket 1997 and achieve the European crown in 1999, where he was named Most Valuable Player. Fucka also starred for Italy at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 1998 and the 2000 Olympics.

41. Linas Kleiza, Lithuania, 2003: Linas Kleiza was the dominant top scorer of the 2003 U19 World Cup, averaging an exceptional 29.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, leading Lithuania to a commendable second-place finish. This achievement mirrored his later success with the Lithuanian senior national team, which also secured second place at FIBA EuroBasket 2013. Kleiza played key roles in Lithuania's third-place finish at the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Cup and their continental third-place in 2007. His career also included seven seasons in the NBA.

Disclaimer: This content is not an official ranking from FIBA. It is created solely to enhance the experience of the fans following the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025. This content is updated from the series published in 2023.