Rising stars show their class and style

Five years ago, Oso Ighodaro — currently a Phoenix Suns rookie — delivered one of the most dominant performances in Arizona high school basketball history, leading his team to a state championship with a jaw-dropping 32-point, 11-rebound, 10-block masterpiece.

Yet, despite his elite talent, the game-changing star lamented how rare it was for high school players like him to compete internationally and test themselves against unknown opponents from different basketball cultures.

This past week, 23 boys' and girls' teams from across 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific region lived out what Ighodaro could only dream of back then — traveling to Singapore for the inaugural NBA Rising Stars Invitational, which is the association's first-ever regional high school basketball tournament.

The Kallang Tennis Hub transformed into a melting pot of young talent, where players of different ethnicities, languages and physiques competed on the same hardwood. Energized by the Los Angeles Lakers' Laker Girls dance team and Miami Heat mascot Burnie, local fans enjoyed several days of NBA-caliber entertainment, albeit from players with fresher faces.

The tournament ran from June 25-29, featuring round-robin group play and concluding with semifinals and championship games.

Off the court, high school players including those from Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines and Singapore participated in skill development sessions, cultural exchange programs and community outreach initiatives.

The event also featured a stellar lineup of VIP guests, including NBA legend Yao Ming, three-time NBA All-Star Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings, two-time WNBA champion Lauren Jackson and Phoenix Suns players Ryan Dunn and Ighodaro.

Throughout the tournament, the basketball stars actively engaged with the young participants through various on — and offcourt activities.

"The hope is that these players can learn from their peers, learn from the NBA coaches or the WNBA talent that we bring in. These players and coaches can offer guidance and tips on how to improve their game and, most importantly, how to have fun," said Sheila Rasu, NBA Asia's head of marketing and communications.

She emphasized the commitment to uncovering more basketball talent in Asia, elevating the region's competitive level and empowering players to excel. She added that the NBA's aim is to motivate young athletes to pursue opportunities beyond their home countries.

For Kartika Hatta Mahanani, an 18-yearold player from Indonesia, meeting Yao Ming was one of the highlights of her trip to Singapore. Through interactions with NBA pros, she learned how to react more quickly and be more aggressive on the court, while still enjoying the game.

This wasn't her first time competing overseas — last June, she represented her country in the FIBA U18 Women's Asia Cup 2024 held in Shenzhen, China.

"But this is the first time I've represented my school, SMAK Penabur Cirebon, at an international event, which is very exciting," she said. Her goal is to wear the national jersey and win a championship for her country in any international tournament.

Her teammate, Fransisca Cleopatra Setiawan, was competing abroad for the first time, and admitted that even sitting on the bench made her so nervous, she was drenched in sweat.

"The games here are super intense. They always push themselves hard throughout the game," she said.

Unlike Mahanani, who wants to make basketball her life, Setiawan doesn't see basketball as her future career, but believes playing the sport is a great way to unwind.

"When life gets hard, just playing basketball for a moment helps clear my mind and refresh my thoughts," she added.

Australia sent the boys' team from Berwick College and the girls' team from Flinders Christian Community College to the invitational tournament. Both teams secured their place on the international stage after winning the Under-17 Division 1 Championship titles at the 2024 Australian School Championships on the Gold Coast.

"It's a dream opportunity that reflects not just their ability, but their commitment to growth, teamwork and leadership. They're honored to represent Australia on the world stage," said Natalie Chatfield, basketball academy team manager at Flinders Christian Community College.

The team fought its way to the semifinals but lost to Onyang Girls' High School from the Republic of Korea.

"It's a really cool experience. I'm really grateful to be involved," said Flinders' Georgia Baensch.

"I can't believe we made it to the semis. Those girls are really good, and it was really hard to defend them."

Reflecting on lessons from the match, she added: "The key was sticking with my team — we played as a team, but never dropped our heads, which we almost did in that game. But, we stuck through it, so that was good.

"Probably the most important thing was just working as a team and staying positive."

China's Tsinghua University High School sent both its boys' and girls' teams to compete in the invitational tournament.

Point guard Wu Shaohao from the boys' team emphasized that the competition provides valuable learning opportunities, as facing diverse opponents helps players identify and work on areas that need improvement.

The team's coach Wang Zeqi broke down their tournament experience, noting how each opponent presented its own unique challenges.

He particularly recalled the semifinal against Australia's Berwick College as "an absolute battle in the paint, with extremely physical play".

He contrasted this with matches against Japanese and Korean teams, where he noted "their perimeter shooting was more precise", and that their ball movement saw Tsinghua's "height advantage actually become a disadvantage".

"This tournament provided exceptional developmental value for our players," Coach Wang stated.

"The technical and mental challenges they faced while competing against teams with fundamentally different approaches to the game were invaluable for their growth."