The World Tour: ANGT Paris

A look at three top international prospects for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 NBA Drafts.

The fourth and final ANGT qualifier took place last weekend in Paris, with Next Generation Team Paris taking the title. It was the first time that the all-star squad, comprised of a number of players from teams that didn’t get an invite to the tournament, was able to win a qualifier.

While this qualifier didn’t offer much in terms of 2025 draft prospects, there were three prospects who will be eligible for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 drafts, who came into the tournament with a lot of hype and did not disappoint during the competition.

In our sixth World Tour, I’ll be sharing my notes on Karim Lopez, Hugo Yimga Moukouri, and Nathan Soliman: three players who, despite still being early in their careers, are on a solid trajectory when it comes to their NBA projections.

Karim Lopez - Joventut Badalona

6'7.5" Wing | 17 years old | Nationality: Mexico | #1 in Eurospects 2007 Generation Rankings

Notes:

• Good measurements for a wing standing at 6'7.5" with long arms.

• Has developed into a deadly shooter off-the-catch who can convert jumpers from deep range. Compact and quick release. Shot 41.2% from three-point range on 4.2 attempts per game.

• Versatile shooter off-the-dribble who is able to convert jumpers on ISOs and pick-and-rolls. Shows a good level of touch off-movement and the requisite footwork and ball-handling ability to create space for his jumpers.

• Capable passer who takes advantage of his gravity as a scorer to find open teammates. Makes the simple reads and deliveries in the half-court. Able to lead the break and make decisions in transition.

• Capable ball-handler for his size. Has an impressive level of body control which allows him to drive comfortably through traffic. Plays with a good level of pace. Shows some counters as a ball-handler in traffic.

• Able to finish at the rim against contact thanks to his length and elite level of touch, even if he can get thrown off-balance due to his skinny frame.

• Versatile defender who creates events at a good rate with his length. Shows a good level of awareness and anticipation as a secondary rim protector, routinely blocks shots from the weakside. Averaged 2.0 blocks and 1.2 steals per game at the tournament.

• Struggled a bit to create separation against perimeter defenders, more fluid/smooth than explosive as a ball-handler. Displayed a shoot-first, drive-second mentality.

Overall: Karim Lopez is an extremely interesting prospect due to his dribble/pass/shoot abilities, his versatile defense, and his optimal size and length for a wing. Even if he didn’t have the statistically dominant performance that some might have expected from him, the Mexican wing showed tremendous improvement as a shooter in Paris. If Lopez’s ascendant trajectory continues and he keeps improving, it's easy to envision him hearing his name called in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft.

Hugo Yimga Moukouri - PFYM INSEP Paris

6'8" Forward | 15.8 years old | Nationality: France | #2 in the 2008 Eurohopes Rankings 

Notes:

• Really good physical tools for a wing, listed at 6'8" with a strong frame for his age.

• Impressive athlete. Has really good open court speed and vertical pop for his size. Elevates quickly, with barely any time to load up.

• A threat as a transition target due to his combination of size, strength and mobility.

• Impressive finisher around the basket in cuts, transition, and catch-and-finish opportunities. Impressively unfazed by contact considering his age. Has really good touch in traffic.

• Not the most orthodox mechanics (slow and a bit segmented, with his elbows flaring out), but has shown potential as a shooter off-movement. Can hit jumpers off-the-dribble showing a good level of touch, especially from inside the three-point line.  Shot 40% from beyond the arc on 2.5 attempts per game.

• Versatile defender who can make an impact both in the paint and at the three-point line. Moves well laterally for his size, which allows him to put pressure on opposing ball-handlers. Uses his size, standing reach and strength well to rebound, defend post-ups, and contest shots around the basket.

Overall: Hugo Yimga Moukouri came into the tournament as one of the most hyped prospects on the back of a breakout performance at last year's FIBA U16 EuroBasket, where he was one of the best players for France despite playing one year up in age. While there wasn't a particular area in which he performed at an elite level, the French forward showed a good level of versatility and two-way impact in Paris which, combined with his physical tools and athleticism, makes him an early standout in the 2008 generation.

Nathan Soliman - PFYM INSEP Paris

6'8" Forward | 14.8 years old | Nationality: France | #1 in the 2009 Eurohopes Rankings

Notes:

• Good physical tools for a forward, standing at 6'8" with long arms and legs.

• Good touch around the basket. Able to finish cuts and pick-and-roll plays in traffic, with his combination of size, length, and touch in tough shots. Converts shots that require an advanced level of hangtime.

• Was able to utilize his size, length and lateral mobility to contain opponents in the perimeter. Not afraid to step out and pressure ball-handlers when defending ball screens. Creates defensive events at a good rate with his length, able to block shots around the basket.

• Played mostly off the ball, but was fairly efficient in that role. Just 1 turnover through 4 games. Shot 3-for-5 from three-point range.

Overall: Scouts based in France have been raving about Nathan Soliman for the past few years and the French forward certainly looked the part in Paris. While he didn't make a ton of impact in terms of on-ball creation, Soliman played extremely well within his role as an interior finisher and versatile defender, while mixing in some moments of three-point shooting. While this wouldn't be especially auspicious for a 17 or 18-year-old prospect in this setting, it's extremely hard for someone playing three years up in age to look like they belong on the floor. That's exactly what Soliman did, and it's an extremely encouraging sign for someone who hasn't even turned 15 yet.