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Myron Medcalf
multiple authors
On February 15, the NBA will debut a new All-Star Game format featuring three teams in a mini “USA vs. the World” tournament. The rosters are loaded with stars: USA teams include future Hall of Famers, and the World Team features some of the top international talent in the NBA.
Based on that All-Star tweak, we’ve decided to put together our own “USA vs. the World” teams in college basketball.
The NBA’s international team features players from around the world — and Karl-Anthony Towns, who was born in New Jersey but whose late mother was from the Dominican Republic. He has expressed his desire to honor her one day by playing for the Dominican national team in the Olympics.
We have used the same criteria to add players to our World Team. They are either born in another country, have played for another country’s national team, or have parents from another country and may one day be eligible to represent that country, even if they were born in the US.
Each team has five starters, eight reserves and two substitute players.
Who are you picking in this match? Team USA or Team World?
team world
Starters
Yes Christian Anderson, texas tech (Germany)
The Texas Tech star (19.6 ppg, 7.5 apg, 44% from beyond the arc) is the son of a German father and most recently played for Germany’s 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup team. In that event, he averaged 17.3 ppg, leading the country to a silver medal. He could be an All-American this season and represent Germany once again at the 2028 Olympic Summer Games.
g/f AJ DiBantsa, BYU (Jamaica)
The potential No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft was born and raised in Boston, and has won three gold medals with Team USA in FIBA competition. He also has ties to Jamaica, where his mother was born. Dyabantsa recently launched a relief effort to help the country recover after Hurricane Melissa. If he wants, he may even have a way to represent his mother’s homeland in international competition one day.
F Nate Ament, tennessee (Rwanda)
A 6-foot-10 projected lottery pick, Ament is averaging 25.4 ppg and has connected on 50% of his 3-point attempts in Tennessee’s last five games. The volume during that span is 4-1. He’s on this list because of his basketball skills, but also because of his connection to his mother’s home country, Rwanda, where he also organized a basketball camp and charitable effort last summer.
F Yaxel Lendeborg, michigan (Dominican Republic)
Lendeborg is the leader of a Wolverines squad that is ranked first in KenPom. He has made 67% of his shots inside the arc this season. On and off the court, he has strong ties to the Dominican Republic, which both his mother and father represented in national competition. Lendeborg has expressed his desire to follow in his footsteps and play for his country in future competitions.
C zubi ejiofor, st johns (Nigeria)
He was born in Texas, but the Big East Preseason Player of the Year moved to Nigeria with his family before returning to the United States in the sixth grade — and coincidentally discovered his love of basketball. Ejiofor, who had 21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and three steals in his team’s win over UConn on Friday, has helped St. John’s win 10 consecutive games.
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Yes aden holloway, alabama (Canada)
In 2023, Holloway scored 15 points at the Nike Hoop Summit, where he represented Canada. His relation with the country? The Alabama guard’s mother was born in Calgary and raised in Toronto. This season, he is averaging 17.2 PPG and connecting on 44% of his shots from beyond the arc.
F Thijs De Ridder, Virginia (Belgium)
The extraordinary newcomer helped Belgium finish fourth at the FIBA U20 European Championship in 2023. At Virginia, De Ridder averaged 16.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG and shot 37% from 3, helping make the Cavaliers an ACC contender in Ryan Odom’s first season as head coach.
C Reuben Chinyelu, Florida (Nigeria)
According to Synergy Sports, he has been instrumental in Florida’s turnaround in the second half this season, making 69% of his shots around the rim and holding opposing players to a 40% clip in the same category.
Yes Ebuka Okorie, stanford (Nigeria)
The freshman scored 40 points in Saturday’s win over Georgia Tech and has now scored at least 25 points in 11 games. He currently ranks sixth in the nation in scoring (22.4 ppg). His family is from Nigeria and he has also done non-profit work there.
F alex condonFlorida (Australia)
The Australian forward withdrew from the NBA Draft in the offseason for a chance to win another national title. He has positioned the Gators to do just that with a strong start to his junior season, averaging 13.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.7 apg and 1.5 bpg.
F flory bidunga, kansas (Democratic Republic of Congo)
The Kansas big man has held the Jayhawks together through a turbulent season filled with injuries and adversity. Hailing from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he averages an impressive 14.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg and 2.6 bpg.
C henry vissar, North Carolina (Estonia)
Vissar’s clutch 3 in the final minutes of UNC’s win over Duke on Saturday was his biggest moment in a season filled with highlights. The Estonian center is averaging 16.8 ppg and 9.0 rpg for the Tar Heels after transferring from Arizona.
Yes Chad Baker-Mazara, usc (Dominican Republic)
The Dominican forward is on the midseason top-10 watch list for the Julius Erving Award (nation’s top small forward) after averaging 18.3 ppg and connecting on 37% of his attempts from the 3-point line for USC. He lived in the Caribbean country until moving to the United States for high school.
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Yes Tounde Yessoufou, boiler (Benin)
Averaging 17.7 ppg and 2.1 spg for the struggling Bears, the 6-5 wing is a projected first-round pick in the upcoming draft and could become the first NBA player from Benin, a country of 14 million.
F Rienk Mast, nebraska (Netherlands)
Nebraska’s undefeated streak ended on January 27 against Michigan, with Mast missing the matchup due to injury. But when on the field, Nederland’s 6-10 forward is averaging 14.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 3.0 apg for the Cornhuskers, who are chasing their first conference title in more than 70 years.
team usa
Starters
Yes Kingston Flemings, houston
Kelvin Sampson rarely trusts young players to lead his teams. But Flemings, who is averaging 17.1 ppg, 37% from 3 and 5.9 apg, has earned that responsibility in a stellar freshman season. On Saturday against BYU, he pitched in the second half to help his team win their fourth consecutive game. With that, the Cougars are now one game behind Arizona in the Big 12 title race.
Yes darrin petersonkansas
The narrative around Peterson has changed between injury concerns (11 missed games) and talk that he is not only the potential No. 1 draft pick, but possibly the best player in America. He made the case with his numbers: 20.5 ppg, 42% from beyond the arc, 55% inside the arc, 79% from the charity stripe.
F Caleb WilsonNorth Carolina
UNC’s freshman superstar put his stamp on his season with his 23-point effort in a thrilling 71-68 win over rival Duke on Saturday. The 6-10 big man had been playing at a high level before, but his effort in the sport’s biggest rivalry may have helped him secure a spot on one of the AP All-America teams at the end of the season.
0:27
Joe Lunardi: ‘Beware the Tar Heels’
Joe Lunardi breaks down UNC’s recent wins and what they’ll need to do to keep climbing the bracket.
Last season, former Duke superstar Cooper Flagg had one of the greatest freshman seasons in recent college basketball history. Boozer (23.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 38% from 3) is having a great year in several categories. He has also been the front-runner for national player of the year all season – without any real competition.
F joshua jefferson, iowa state
The Iowa State standout anchors a team that is chasing a top-three seed in the NCAA Tournament. Jefferson (17.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 5.1 apg, 1.5 spg, 41% from beyond the arc) is one of the most versatile offensive players in the country and an excellent defender. At 6-9 years old, he is one of America’s toughest competitors.
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Yes Braden Smith, Purdue
The only returning AP first-team All-American entered the season as the favorite to win the Wooden Award. He ranks second in the country in assists (8.7 apg), which is proving to be a better season than a year ago (43% from 3).
Yes Darius Acuff Jr.., arkansas
The Arkansas point guard is the latest ball handler for John Calipari to have All-American aspirations. He is an excellent shooter (42% from 3) and playmaker (6.3 apg). He’s also reliable (3-1 assist-to-turnover ratio). Acuff is a complete guard and could lead the Razorbacks to make some noise in the NCAA Tournament.
F Keyshawn Hall, golden brown color
A year after the Tigers reached the Final Four under his father, first-year head coach Steven Pearl could lead a new roster to the NCAA Tournament. Hall (21.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 40% from the 3-point line), a transfer from UCF, is the catalyst for the 12th-best team in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
Yes Keaton Wagler, Illinois
He was a four-star prospect in the class of 2025 after winning a high school state title in Kansas last year. He has become a strong contender for Big Ten Player of the Year after leading Illinois to the top of the league standings despite missing the pennant. kylan boswell Due to wrist injury.
F milan momsiloviciowa state
Momsilovic was named to the Julius Erving Award midseason top-10 list after a strong start to the 2025–26 season. Not only is he averaging 18.7 PPG, but he is also the nation’s top 3-point shooter by a good margin (53.3%).
F thomas hoffFlorida
Hoff decided to return to college this season to improve his NBA draft stock. This seems to be the right move. He is averaging 17.8 ppg and 6.4 rpg, including scoring 22 points in an 86-67 win over Texas A&M on Saturday — a win that moved the Gators into first place in the SEC.
F JT Toppintexas tech
The Texas Tech star has grown rapidly in recent years. He was an undrafted freshman at New Mexico before receiving Mountain West Freshman of the Year honors. He earned second-team AP All-America nod last season. As a junior, he averaged 21.8 ppg and 10.6 rpg, and could receive more awards this season.
Yes lebron fillon jr., Alabama
Philon’s 25-point effort on Saturday helped the Crimson Tide defeat rival Auburn. However, this was not an unusual performance from one of the SEC’s top players. The combo guard has played 11 games with at least 17 points and five assists this season.
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The Gonzaga star has improved every season, and this campaign, his offensive rating is one of the best in the country. The 6-9 forward has made 60% of his shots inside the arc and 37% from outside. He is also a key part of one of Mark Few’s best defensive teams.
Caraban can end its fourth season in Storrs with a third national title. He’s averaging 13.5 PPG and 42% from 3 and continues to be a steady leader on a stacked Huskies roster featuring several players who can step up on any given night.
