History was made at the Domo de la Feria in Mexico on Sunday, as Canada toppled the United States 67-65 to claim the country’s first-ever gold medal in the FIBA U18 men’s AmeriCup.
The result was a stunner considering the U.S. has been nearly untouchable in the event since its founding in 1990. America entered the competition having won 11 of 13 titles, including seven in a row. In the last AmeriCup (2024), the U.S. faced Argentina in the championship game and coasted to a 40-point win, while Canada earned bronze with an 89-67 victory over the Dominican Republic.
Those deeply embedded in Canada’s hoops scene aren’t as surprised by the outcome of this year’s tournament. The country has been producing elite talent for a long time now, from reigning two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker to Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray. The youth national program is loaded with promising recruits, most of whom have not received the recognition they deserve.
“I’m not shocked at all, especially with this particular group,” says Tariq Sbiet, the founder and CEO of North Pole Hoops (NPH), a Canadian basketball media and scouting company that runs showcases, camps and leagues throughout the country. “The big X-factor change that happened — and kudos to Canada basketball leadership for making the adjustment — was they brought in the right coaching staff, in particular head coach Charles Hantoumakos.”
Hantoumakos, a native of Toronto who also serves as an assistant at the University of the Pacific, assembled a roster full of under-the-radar future Division I players. Below is a breakdown of some of the standouts from his team, as well as a pair of notable performers from the U.S. squad.
Deng Ngor, 6-foot-8 forward, Fort Erie International Academy, Class of 2027 (Canada)
A two-way wing with great size, versatility and athleticism, Ngor is the No. 1 Canadian prospect in the Class of 2027, per NPH’s rankings. His defining trait, according to Sbiet, is “his motor.” Ngor has also improved significantly as a shooter since joining Fort Erie, a powerhouse program in Ontario.
With Canada trailing the U.S. 63-62 and under two minutes remaining, Ngor scored five straight points — a corner three and a transition slam — to help his team secure the thrilling victory. The 18-year-old finished with 15 points (on 5-of-8 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 from behind the arc) and 3 steals.
“All he’s done is win,” Sbiet says. “He won a provincial championship. He won a national championship with Team Alberta. He led that squad to the first-ever championship for Alberta. Now he’s part of the first-ever FIBA U18 AmeriCup championship for Canada. So this guy’s doing stuff that’s never been done before in Canadian basketball, which is saying a lot these days with all the guys that we’ve had in the draft over the years.”
Ngor has received offers from numerous high-majors, including Virginia, Ohio State, Auburn, Marquette, Georgia Tech, West Virginia and Florida State. He’s expected to pick up many more in the coming weeks after his performance in Mexico.
Javion Tyndale, 5-foot-8 point guard, Montverde Academy, Class of 2027 (Canada)
Tyndale was the engine of Canada’s championship run, earning tournament MVP honors. The highly skilled floor general put up a game-high 19 points and 8 assists in the Final.
Despite standing just 5-foot-8, Tyndale fearlessly attacks the rim and makes use of a crafty layup package. He continues to develop as a three-point shooter and playmaker. On the 2026 Nike EYBL circuit, the 17-year-old is averaging 20.4 points (10th in the league), 3.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals for UPlay Canada. He recently added Providence to a long list of scholarship offers that also includes West Virginia, UNLV, St. Bonaventure, Ohio and Bowling Green.
“He’s the definition of heart over height,” Sbiet says. “I’ve been fortunate enough to know his circle of people, including his uncle David Tyndale. I know how passionate (David) is. He’s an elite skill development coach. He trains Dylan Brooks and works with all sorts of NBA players. So Javion has been built for this. And he showed it (at the AmeriCup).”
Big Ten Roster Reshuffle Part 1: The Current State of Every Team’s Lineup
Can the Big Ten claim back-to-back national titles? Here’s a detailed breakdown of where each program stands after another chaotic offseason.
Lyris Robinson, 6-foot-5 wing, Bella Vista Prep, Class of 2027 (Canada)
Along with Tyndale, Robinson — the son of former Canadian national team player and Division I coach Jerome Robinson — was named to the AmeriCup All-Star Five. With his athleticism, positional size and outside shooting ability, Lyris has as high a ceiling as any prospect from Canada. Heading into his senior year at Bella Vista Prep in Arizona, he’s ranked No. 75 in the Class of 2027 (per the 247Sports Composite) and is juggling offers from Creighton, Oregon, California, TCU, Mississippi State and more high-majors.
Robinson led Canada in scoring at the AmeriCup, averaging 14.0 points on 47.8-percent shooting. He dropped 10 in the gold medal game, including a clutch three-pointer with 3:25 left to give Canada a 62-61 edge.
“He’s very athletic,” Sbiet says. “Both him and Deng are great two-way players who can defend multiple positions on the perimeter. They’re tough. Deng’s a bit further along physically right now, but once Lyris fills out — which will be a big part of this offseason — he’s going to have a scary senior year.”
Maxime Meyer, 7-foot-1 center, IMG Academy, Class of 2026, Committed to Duke (Canada)
Meyer may not be as highly ranked or widely known as the other players in Duke’s 2026 recruiting class, but the four-star prospect originally from Toronto has the potential to become a big-time contributor at the next level.
At 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Meyer is already a juggernaut on defense. He led Canada in rebounds (9.8 per game), steals (2.2 per game) and blocks (1.2 per game) at the AmeriCup. In the Final, he had five steals and three blocks, anchoring a defense that held the U.S. to just 65 points on 38-percent shooting. Offensively, Meyer is a solid lob threat who’s also comfortable putting the ball on the floor.
The 18-year-old still needs to add muscle to contend with the bigs in the ACC. He’ll begin his college career among a loaded frontcourt at Duke, where he should develop rapidly.
Adan Diggs, 6-foot-5 guard, Millennium, Class of 2027 (USA)
One of the youngest players on the United States’ roster, the 17-year-old Diggs reclassified from 2028 to 2027 and is still ranked No. 4 in the country, per the 247Sports Composite. The dynamic guard averaged 10.4 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 46.8 percent from the field during the AmeriCup. A special offensive talent, Diggs possesses smooth handles, great positional size and three-level scoring ability. He also uses his exceptional athleticism to make plays on defense and contribute on the glass.
Playing with Vegas Elite on the 2026 Nike EYBL circuit, Diggs is averaging 19.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 steals. He’s being courted by most of the nation’s top schools and has taken unofficial visits to USC and UCLA so far.
Quentin Coleman, 6-foot-4 wing, Principia, Class of 2026, Committed to Illinois (USA)
Known for his elite shooting, Coleman was cold from behind the arc during the AmeriCup but still found ways to be impactful, averaging 11.2 points and a tournament-high 11.4 rebounds. The Illinois-bound five-star registered three double-doubles and pulled down a staggering 15 boards in a group phase win over Argentina. While 0 for 4 from three in the gold medal game, he pitched in 8 points and 10 boards (5 offensive).
A hard-nosed wing with a relentless motor, Coleman led Principia to back-to-back Missouri Class 3 state championships and won a 17U Peach Jam title with Bradley Beal Elite in 2025. He was ranked No. 17 overall in the Class of 2026, per the 247Sports Composite, and committed to the Illini in April.
Meet your guide
