HESI U17 TOP 30: The Best Hoopers in the MENA (20-16)

The Middle East and North Africa region has a lot of unseen high-quality hoopers. Here we will give you the top 20-16 basketball players in the MENA Region according to their Regional, Continental and International competitions with their respective teams

#20 Mahrz Karabi

Mahrz is one of the most athletic players on this list. He is very strong, agile and is not scared to get physical. He is very good at grabbing both offensive rebounds and is adept at stealing the ball. Mahrz can work on his shot selection he will need to prove that he knows when is a good time to shoot and when is not.

#19 Abdullah Abusaab

Abusaab got a dog mentality. The Jordanian floor general plays with lots of heart. He was very essential at conducting the offence for Jordan and on the defensive side by grabbing 2.8 SPG. Abusaab has beautiful shot mechanics and a good shot IQ knowing when to shoot and when not to. Abusaab is currently competing in the United States and is looking to impress coaches soon.

#18 Mohamed Ndao

The youngest player on this list only 15 years old Mohamed Ndao might have the highest ceiling if developed right. Ndao is a lank 6’4″ forward that can handle the ball, finish around the rim, has a good stroke from behind the arc, is adept at drawing fouls, and he’s very skilled at stealing the ball averaging the fourth most steals in the 2022 U16 Asian Championships. Ndao is a defined must for coaches looking to improve their prep or AAU program since he has a very high upside.

#17 Ali Al Muwasi

Ali played all 40 mins of basketball in all 5 games, never relenting or getting tired. Ali has a lot of upsides and he can score inside and from beyond the arc. At times he does have questionable shot choices, but he never gives up on a play. Surprisingly for his size, he is a good ball-handler that can get to his spots with ease. He is a great rebounder fighting for every missed ball on both ends. Ali has a clean shooting form and is best off the catch and shoot. Despite Iraq missing out on qualifying, Ali is their golden boy and all eyes should be on him moving forward.

#16 Youssef El Ghayesh

Youssef is an integral part of the junior Pharaoh’s lineup and usually is the primary ballhandler when on the floor. Youssef’s ability to knock down shots and facilitate the offence is one of the best on this list. He’s calm and unfazed able to make the right play most of the time. He’s also a skilled on-ball defender annoying ballhandlers and tipping balls loose.