HESI U17 TOP 30: The Best Hoopers in the MENA (15-11)

The Middle East and North Africa region has a lot of unseen high-quality hoopers. Here we will give you the top 15-11 basketball players in the MENA Region according to their Regional, Continental and International competitions with their respective teams.

#15 Omar Talaat Abdelmeguid

#
9
Name
Omar Talaat Abdelmeguied
Nationality
egyEgypt
Position
Power Forward, Stretch Four
Player Ratings
87
Class
2025
Height
6'6"
Current Team
U16 Egypt National Team
Past Teams
El Ettehad
Leagues
Egyptian Nationals, FIBA
Seasons
2021
Birthday
January 1, 2005
Age
18

The stretch four out of Egypt is one of the best shooters on the list and one of the best big men shooters can grow to more of a scoring threat if he can be consistent when attacking off the dribble. Omar has a tough spot behind prolific scoring forwards on the Egyptian team. Nonetheless, he doesn’t fall short and becomes an integral part of the Pharaohs because of his ability to knock down shots from deep consistently.

Egyptian Nationals

SeasonTeamFG%3P%PPGRPGAPGSPGBPGEFFFT%
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FIBA

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#14 Zakaryia Khodja

#
4
Name
Zakariya Khodja
Nationality
algAlgeria
Position
Point Guard, Scorer
Player Ratings
82
Class
2025
Height
6'0
Current Team
Algeria National Team
Past Teams
US Menaceur
Leagues
U16 Africa Championship
Seasons
2021
Birthday
May 10, 2005
Age
18

Zakaryia is one of the better scorers on this list. Zakariya helped Algeria achieve the third medal for the Algerian side in their history. Zakaryia is adept at creating contact and drawing fouls on his drives. He is a very adept ballhandler and floor general usually trying to facilitate before deciding to look for a bucket. His defence is one of the best on this list and leading the U16 African Championships in steals with 3.7 SPG. Despite his skills, he does lack shooting abilities only shooting 5.3% from behind the arc. If he works on this and can improve it he will be able to be one of the best guards in the MENA region.

U16 Africa Championship

SeasonTeamFG%3P%PPGRPGAPGSPGBPGEFFFT%
2021Algeria National Team36.85.315.42.973.7012.658
Total-000000000

#13 Hassan Amer

#
14
Name
Hassan Amer
Nationality
egyEgypt
Position
Scoring Guard, Shooter
Player Ratings
89
Class
2025
Height
6'2"
Current Team
U16 Egypt National Team
Past Teams
Alexandria Sporting Club
Leagues
Egyptian Nationals, FIBA
Seasons
2021
Birthday
November 11, 2005
Age
18

Hassan is one of those types of players that can do everything but score and affect the game positively. With that being said Hassan is a prolific scorer. Hassan can score at all 3 levels. He can score off the ball or on the ball. The beautiful thing about Hassan is that if he doesn’t do what he’s best at, scoring, he will try and affect the game in different ways. He will aggressively attack the glass for rebounds, play pest defence, and dive on loose balls. Hassan is loved by coaches because of his low ego and willingness to do about anything on the floor and on top of that he’s very good at putting the ball in the hoop.

Egyptian Nationals

SeasonTeamFG%3P%PPGRPGAPGSPGBPGEFFFT%
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FIBA

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#12 Hussein El Marghy

#
13
Name
Hussein El Maraghy
Nationality
egyEgypt
Position
Center, European Style Big
Player Ratings
88
Class
2025
Height
6'8"
Current Team
U16 Egypt National Team
Past Teams
Gezira
Leagues
Egyptian Nationals, FIBA
Seasons
2021
Birthday
August 3, 2005
Age
18

The big man out of Egypt has a major upside with little downside. He is 6’8″ but moves like a guard. Hussein is very efficient at playing in the post or attacking off the dribble. He’s great at spot-up shooting and picks and popping. His big figure allows him to be able to body players on box-outs and secure rebounds, and despite not being athletic, Hussein is a very shot blocker. Once Hussein can get his body right he’ll be very dangerous.

Egyptian Nationals

SeasonTeamFG%3P%PPGRPGAPGSPGBPGEFFFT%
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FIBA

SeasonTeamFG%3P%PPGRPGAPGSPGBPGEFFFT%
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#11 Sarem Jaafari

#
13
Name
Sarem Jafari
Nationality
irnIran
Position
Combo Forward, Shot Blocker
Player Ratings
90
Class
2025
Height
6'8"
Current Team
Iran National Team U16
Leagues
WABA U16 Championships
Seasons
2022
Birthday
May 13, 2022
Age
1

Sarem is a good scorer, he’s able to score from anywhere on the court. His shot is so smooth and his ability to pull up from any position on the floor will get you shocked. Sarem is a good rebounder averaging 9.6 RPG in the FIBA U16 Asian Championships. On top of that, he is a prolific rim protector and ball deflector testing offensive players at the rim and off the ball. Once Sarem can get consistent with his scoring he will be a scary piece on any team he is on.

WABA U16 Championships

SeasonTeamFG%3P%PPGRPGAPGSPGBPGEFFFT%
2022Iran National Team U1645.94642.812.75.31.71.30.300
Total-45.946114.28612.75.31.71.30.300

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