The FIBA Under-19 World Cup gets underway this week, bringing together the best junior players from around the world to compete on the global stage.
This year's edition will be held in Switzerland with reigning champion Spain looking to defend their crown after they defeated France in the final in 2023.
The 2025 edition will feature plenty of talented youngsters with NBA futures, including projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft AJ Aybantsa, who will play college ball at BYU next season, along with Australian Dash Daniels, brother of NBA guard Dyson, who will play in the NBL next season ahead of the draft.
WATCH: FIBA Under-19 World Cup via Courtside 1891 on DAZN
Since the tournament's inception in 1979, a host of players have gone on to make the leap to the NBA, with the Under-19 World Cup, for many their first taste of international basketball.
Let's take a look back at some of the league's biggest names that have left their mark on the Under-19 World Cup.
Stephen Curry (USA), 2007
Curry suited up for Team USA alongside fellow NBA stars Patrick Beverley, Michael Beasley, and DeAndre Jordan
The four-time champion averaged 9.4 points through the tournament as USA finished in second place, losing to hosts Serbia.
Nikola Jokic (Serbia) 2013
The 3-time NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year wasn't exactly the star of the show for Serbia, serving as more of a sole player, recording just 16.9 minutes a game, averaging 7.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.
Serbia would go on to make the final of the tournament before losing to a Team USA, headlined by Aaron Gordon, Jahlil Okafor, Montrezl Harrell, and Marcus Smart.
Aaron Gordon (USA) 2013
Gordon led Team USA to the title, averaging team-highs in scoring and rebounding with 12.6 points and 6.2 boards per game.
His standout performances earned him the Most Valuable Player award of the tournament.
RJ Barrett (Canada) 2017
Barrett was a flat out star for Team Canada throughout the junior levels and the Under 19 tournament was no different.
The Toronto Raptors wing led the tournament in scoring with 21.6 points per game, adding 8.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists, as Canada earned their first-ever world championship.
Barrett, who was 17 at the time, went on to be named Most Valuable Player of the tournament and most notably, went off against Team USA in the semi-finals, scoring 38 points.
Chet Holmgren (USA) 2021
Before he was an NBA champion with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Chet Holmgren was lifting trophies with the USA Under-19 team in Latvia.
USA defeated France in the final in a much-anticipated showdown between Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama, the first meeting of what is set to become a long NBA rivalry.
Holmgren was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, averaging 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.7 blocks on 62.0 percent shooting from the field and 53.8 percent from the 3-point line in just 21 minutes per game.
USA defeats France 83-81 to win the FIBA U19 World Championship. Incredible game minus the refs. Victor Wembanyama finished w/22 points, 8 rebounds, 8 blocks, 5 fouls in 27 minutes. 10 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds for Chet Holmgren. Victor looked like the best prospect on earth. pic.twitter.com/PphqdjqAyf
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) July 11, 2021
Victor Wembanyama (France) 2021
While Holmgren took home the awards that year, the 2021 Under-19 World Cup was a coming-out party for Wembanyama, who led France to the final.
The San Antonio Spurs star averaged 14.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and a whopping 5.7 blocks, but it wasn't enough to lift France to gold..
Tyrese Haliburton (USA) 2019
Tyrese Haliburton was steering the ship at point guard for a Team USA squad which boasted a ton of future NBA stars including Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley and Jalen Suggs.
Haliburton led the team in assists with 6.9 dimes a game to go with 7.9 points as the USA returned to the top of the podium following a third-place finish two years earlier.
Jalen Brunson (USA) 2015
Brunson led a Team USA, which also featured Jayson Tatum, to the gold medal, defeating Croatia in the final.
The New York Knicks point guard was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, averaging 14.0 points. 3.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists.