Bright Lights. Unlimited Dreams.

globallyknowninc

Sep 19

14 min read

Updated: Sep 20

By Aryn McClure, International Scout.

A week of basketball. A week of possibility.

The possibility that after years of dedication, discipline and sacrifice, young athletes across the Asia - Pacific are finally being seen, recognized and celebrated on a bigger stage.

The NBA Rising Stars Invitational is built on a simple belief: you are enough, and your dreams are never too far fetched - a showcase bringing together 24 teams from 13 countries to spotlight the untapped talent, culture shifters, and generational players shaping the Asia Pacific region.

But beyond the games, NBA RSI offered something else - a glimpse into a region of women’s basketball that deserves far more attention.

Gardens by the Bay, (via eatlivetravel Singapore)

Singapore might be one of the best places I’ve ever visited. The culture. The people. The food. The Michelin starred dinners. The safety. The way innovation and tradition coexist so effortlessly. It’s a country that feels like it’s always building toward the future, yet never loses sight of the communities that make it special. When I arrived it was for basketball, but I left remembering so much more than the games.

NBA RSI was more than a basketball showcase featuring the top athletes in the Asia Pacific region. It was a platform for possibility.

Throughout the arena, there was a shared belief that these athletes' dreams aren’t just possible - they’re within reach. Every game, conversation, and opportunity reminded these young girls that the world is bigger than where they come from.

Sometimes all a dream needs is someone to believe in it first.

-Aryn McClure

Watching Lauren Jackson, Jeremy Lin, and Rui Hachimura invest in these athletes throughout the week made that even more evident. Their presence reinforced what the week represented: access, belief and the power of being seen.

NBA RSI (via NBA RSI Youtube)

The biggest takeaway wasn’t just in inspiration. It was talent.

NBA RSI opened the door to an entire region of untapped women’s basketball talent. For college coaches, if your recruiting budget doesn’t extend beyond the American AAU circuit, consider building relationships with international scouts. There are generational athletes, culture changers, and championship level contributors waiting to be discovered.

If you need proof, here are the players I believe every college coach should have on their recruiting board this period, you can find many of these girls competing in Asia Cup and World games this September and October:

DOMINANT SCORING FORWARD

Buba is the epitome of a scoring forward, combining size, length, athleticism, and physicality to create immediate impact. Named the NBA RSI Tournament MVP, she can step out and knock down the three when open, while also showing the ability to turn and face from the high post. Her strongest impact comes around the basket, where her mobility, physicality, and ability to reposition make her difficult to contain.

PHYSICAL TWO WAY IMPACT

Buba is a relentless rebounder who tracks the ball well and consistently creates second chance opportunities. Defensively, she is a tenacious shot blocker who uses her length and athleticism to impact the paint. Her physicality and motor, combined with her sportsmanship and kindness, have made her a cultural lift for Seika Girls and Japanese basketball.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Continued development of her mid range scoring package and high post turn and face game will expand her offensive versatility. Adding a consistent jab step counter and more perimeter shooting will allow her to create advantages outside the paint and become even harder to guard. Buba's combination of size, athleticism, physicality, and scoring ability gives her the potential to make an immediate impact at the next level.

Buba Aisha Ezzine → WATCH HER ACTION → https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaH8FU1xoKz/?igsi=NGpiZ2Z4b3p4OW8w

VERSATILE WING

Vanessa is a versatile do everything player who impacts the game on both ends of the floor. She can pick up full court, play the passing lanes and defend 1-4. Offensively, she’s a coach's dream - a long wing with the ability to play inside, consistently shoot from the perimeter and attack with strong footwork and physicality.

SWITCHABLE GAME CHANGER

Tavete’s ability to read the game allows her to spread the floor, defend multiple positions and maintain her ground against physical post players. She thrives off competition and brings a relentless motor to every possession. What separates Vanessa is her grit - even when her team is down 20, she continues to compete and has the ability to change the momentum of a game.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Continued development as a perimeter creator and consistent three point threat will further expand her offensive value. Her defensive versatility, basketball IQ, competitiveness and her ability to impact winning make her the type of player who can immediately impact a roster.

Vanessa Tavete → WATCH HER IN ACTION → https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ_1Ivqjyit/?igsi=YjhqZDQ4YXp0MmJw

SCORING GUARD

Yuxi is a versatile guard with the size and skill to play multiple positions. She handles the ball well, pushes pace in transition, and consistently finds open teammates while creating advantages early. She has smooth footwork, excellent pace and control, and can knock down the corner three when playing off the ball.

GUARD/POST HYBRID

Yuxi's versatility extends into the mid to low post, where she can use her size and skill to create mismatches. Her ability to play inside while maintaining perimeter range makes her difficult to match up with and allows her to impact the game from multiple positions.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Continued development as a perimeter creator and three point shooter will expand her offensive versatility. Her combination of size, ball handling, pace, and ability to play both inside and outside gives her the potential to be an impactful guard/post hybrid at the next level.

Yuxi Hun → WATCH HER IN ACTION → https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaCVG67D2sG/

CRAFTY GUARD

Heng is a crafty guard who consistently makes the right read with the ball in her hands. She has a strong feel as a passer, particularly with her left hand, and shows excellent vision coming off pick and roll actions. Her ability to see plays develop and deliver timely passes allows her to create advantages without needing to dominate the ball.

SNEAKY TWO WAY IMPACT

Defensively, Heng has a knack for making plays that disrupt the offense without always being the most obvious defender on the floor. Her anticipation and instincts allow her to generate unexpected stops and create transition opportunities. Combined with her passing feel and pick and roll vision, she brings a subtle but valuable two way presence.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Continued development as a perimeter scorer and three point shooter will make her playmaking even more difficult to defend. Her feel, creativity, left hand passing, and pick and roll vision give her the potential to develop into a high IQ lead guard at the next level.

Heng Su — WATCH HER IN ACTION → Yangming vs Seika Girls

Jeeyun Jung | #8 | Guard | Gwangju Speer Girls High School | Korea

CRAFT & FINESSE GUARD

Jeeyun is a crafty downhill guard with a strong frame and an advanced feel for pace. She consistently gets to the rim through excellent footwork, change of pace, and body control, using subtle fakes and misdirection to keep defenders off balance. Her ability to play with finesse through contact allows her to create scoring opportunities without relying solely on speed.

DOWNHILL CREATOR

Jeeyun's strength is her ability to manipulate defenders on the way to the basket. She uses hesitation, footwork, and body angles to create separation, showing a mature understanding of how to get two feet in the paint. Her combination of physicality and finesse makes her a difficult guard to contain once she turns the corner.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Continued development as a perimeter shooter and creator out of ball screens will make her downhill game even more dangerous. Her strong frame, footwork, pace, and body control give her the foundation to become a versatile attacking guard at the next level.

Jeeyun Jung — WATCH HER IN ACTION → Gwangju vs Yangming

TWO WAY CONNECTOR

Xin is a tough, versatile guard/forward who impacts the game through her downhill ability, defensive versatility, and feel for winning plays. She can attack gaps and push pace as a secondary ball handler while maintaining control and consistently making the right play. Defensively, she is capable of guarding larger players and brings value as a key matchup defender. She has a knack for showing up in clutch moments and making timely plays on both ends.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Continued development as a perimeter shooter and primary creator will expand her offensive value. Her versatility, defensive toughness, decision making, and ability to impact winning possessions give her the foundation to be a valuable two way piece at the next level.

Xin Chen → WATCH HER IN ACTION → https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EQwBiFtYzyU

VERSATILE GUARD/POST

Tiedore is a physically imposing guard/post with the versatility to impact multiple positions. She can stretch the floor with the three, create from the mid range, and operate efficiently in pick and roll actions. In transition, she plays with pace and attacks through contact, while her turn and face game, lethal jab step, and finishing ability make her a difficult matchup. She plays well with her twin sister, Tesloch who is a high impact guard as well.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Adding more counters and secondary moves - particularly off the catch, jab, and turn and face will open her offensive package and make her more difficult to scout. Continued growth as a three point threat and P&R creator could position Tiedore as a high-impact guard/post hybrid at the next level.

Tiedore Pouch — WATCH HER IN ACTION → Rowville vs UST

Yenoseo Lim | #6 | 5'9–5'10 | Guard/Post | Korea

VERSATILE IMPACT PLAYER

Yeonseo is a versatile tall guard who can operate on the perimeter, create off the bounce, and attack gaps with a smooth handle and excellent pace. She has a unique ability to slither through traffic and finish on either side of the basket with touch and body control. In transition, she consistently scans the floor and finds open shooters while maintaining the ability to advance the ball herself. Defensively, she plays the passing lanes well and uses her size to create disruption.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Continued development as a perimeter shooter and pick-and-roll creator will further unlock her guard/post versatility. Her size, handle, finishing ability, and playmaking vision give her the potential to be a matchup problem at the next level.

Yenoseo Lim → WATCH HER IN ACTION → https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZ7B8o4t78S/

UTILITY PLAYMAKER

Damhee is a versatile do it all guard/forward who impacts the game through shooting, rebounding, playmaking, and intelligent movement. She spaces the floor well, runs hard in transition, and consistently tracks the ball to create extra possessions. She has good vision and understands how to make the next play, while her ability to set solid screens adds value within pick and roll actions. When left open, she can confidently knock down the three and punish defensive rotations.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Continued development as a consistent perimeter shooter and downhill creator will expand her offensive role. Her versatility, feel, rebounding, and willingness to do the little things make her a valuable connective piece at the next level.

Damhee Kim — WATCH HER IN ACTION → Gwangju vs Yangming

Tesloch "Tes" Pouch |#4 | 5’9 -5’10| PG/G | Australia | Rowville High School

TWO WAY PRESSURE GUARD

Tes is a polished two way guard who reads screens well and creates pressure at the point of attack. She has a reliable handle, attacks the top foot, and uses anticipation to navigate screens and disrupt actions. In transition, she pushes pace, fills lanes, and turns stops and deflections into offensive opportunities. She can knock down the three when open and has a strong feel for attacking switches. Tes has a high ceiling and comes from a strong basketball family, which is reflected in her advanced feel and understanding of the game. Tes and her twin sister, Tiedore, are sisters to two WNBA stars, giving them a unique basketball lineage and foundation of high level basketball IQ.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Continued development as a consistent three point threat and creator out of ball screens will elevate her offensive ceiling. Her defensive pressure, pace, feel, and ability to play through physicality give her the foundation to translate well to D1 basketball.

Tesloch Pouch → WATCH HER IN ACTION → https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZ_3HqKj_pj/

Zhuozin Wu | #3 | Guard/Post | Yali High School | China

PIVOT DRIVEN HYBRID

Zhuozin is a versatile tall guard/post who uses excellent footwork and a strong right foot pivot to create downhill advantages. She runs the floor extremely well in transition, can advance the ball, and consistently finds ways to finish through traffic around the lane. Her ability to operate both inside and outside makes her difficult to match up with, particularly when she can use her footwork to get defenders moving. She also shows good passing feel and the ability to create for teammates while attacking.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Improving her lateral movement against quicker perimeter players will be important as she transitions into higher level competition. Her size, footwork, transition ability, and guard/post versatility give her a strong foundation to develop into a matchup driven two way hybrid.

Zhuoizin Wu — WATCH HER IN ACTION → Yali vs Jubilee

CRAFTY MID SIZE POST

Yu Shun is a crafty left handed post with a quick first step, strong feel around the basket, and excellent soft touch. She uses pump fakes, turnarounds, and efficient footwork to create scoring opportunities while also showing the ability to cut, slash, and read the floor. Her hands and touch allow her to finish comfortably around the rim, and she can turn over either shoulder or utilize a turnaround fadeaway. Defensively, she is effective in the post and uses active hands on entry passes to generate turnovers and transition opportunities.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Expanding her perimeter and mid range game will give her more ways to attack from outside the paint. Yu Shun has the foundation to become a crafty, skilled mid-sized post who can create matchup problems at the next level.

Yu Shun → WATCH HER IN ACTION → https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaIC7rrzMk4/

Lea Pinuela | #9 | 5'6 | PG | University of Santo Thomas | Philippines

SCRAPPY FLOOR GENERAL

Lea plays with swagger, heart, and relentless energy, bringing pressure from baseline to baseline defensively. She rotates well in both man and zone concepts and offensively attacks gaps with a scrappy downhill game, slicing through the defense to create. She consistently scans the floor for the next option, can shift direction effectively around the rim, and has the ability to knock down the three. Her competitiveness and pace make her a guard who can change the energy of a game.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Adding more pace and control in transition will help her become a more consistent creator. Continued development as a perimeter shooter and decision maker will allow her energy, toughness, and playmaking to translate effectively to the next level.

Lea Pinuela — WATCH HER IN ACTION → UST vs Royal International

PRESSURE POINT GUARD

Rune is a relentless point of attack defender who is not afraid to pick up 94 feet and pressure the ball from start to finish. She has excellent anticipation, consistently looking for steals and opportunities to force turnovers while using her physicality to keep defenders pinned and uncomfortable. Offensively, she is a facilitator who can break pressure, make the extra pass, and keep the offense moving. She can also knock down the three and brings an energy that can shift momentum for her team.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Continued development as a consistent perimeter creator and scorer will keep defenses from playing her strictly as a facilitator. Her defensive pressure, anticipation, toughness, and ability to create momentum make her an intriguing small guard prospect.

Rune Kishizoe — WATCH HER IN ACTION → Seika Girls vs Yangming

Rui Liu | #9 | Guard/Post | China

SCORING HYBRID

Rui is a tall guard/post with the ability to stretch the floor, score from the mid-range, and operate comfortably with the ball in her hands. She has a soft touch, can knock down the three, and uses her size to draw contact and create scoring opportunities. Her ability to facilitate and scan the floor makes her more than a scoring threat, particularly in pick and roll actions where she can read the defense and make the next play. Her size and offensive versatility create natural matchup problems.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Continued development as a consistent perimeter shooter and pick and roll creator will elevate her offensive ceiling. Her combination of size, touch, handle, playmaking, and scoring versatility gives her the potential to be an impactful guard/post at the next level.

Rui Liu — WATCH HER IN ACTION → Yali vs Yangming

TENACIOUS TWO WAY GUARD

Rhaine is a scrappy, tenacious defender who competes across man to man and zone concepts and consistently understands how to rotate. Offensively, she can attack gaps, create for others, and score efficiently while continuing to scan the floor for the next play. She has the vision to deliver quality passes and enough perimeter shooting ability to punish defenses when left open. Her toughness and activity allow her to impact the game without needing high usage.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Adding more pace and control to her drives, along with more advanced pick-and-roll reads, will expand her role as a creator. Developing a more consistent perimeter game and improving her ability to attack switches could make her a reliable two-way guard at the next level.

Rhaine Mesha — WATCH HER IN ACTION → UST vs Rowville

FLOOR STRETCHING WING

Honoka is a perimeter oriented guard who provides valuable spacing and can knock down open threes off kick outs. Her movement without the ball helps open the floor, while her ability to slash and track the ball allows her to stay active within the offense. She complements aggressive interior players by creating room on the perimeter and making herself available as a shooting option. Defensively, her next step is becoming more comfortable defending physically against bigger hybrid guard/post players.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Developing a quicker lateral first step and embracing more physicality defensively will expand her versatility. Her shooting, movement, and ability to create spacing give her a clear role as a perimeter weapon at the next level.

Honoka Goto — WATCH HER IN ACTION → Seika Girls vs Rowville

COMBO GUARD

Hsuan Ling is a physical combo guard who absorbs contact well and maintains excellent control on downhill drives. She can finish with either hand, changes pace effectively, and consistently scans the floor to identify opportunities to attack or slash. Her ability to play through physicality allows her to create advantages without needing a large window of separation. She brings the versatility to score while also making the right read when defenses collapse.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Improving her defensive reads, particularly in pick-and-roll situations, will strengthen her two-way impact. Her physicality, pace, finishing ability, and feel as a combo guard give her a strong foundation for the next level.

Hsuan Ling Wu — WATCH HER IN ACTION → Yangming vs Seika

LONG RIM PRESENCE

Aorangi is a long, mobile forward/post with a good vertical, strong movement skills, and the ability to contest shots effectively. She moves well laterally for her size and shows the mobility to stay involved on both ends of the floor. Offensively, she has the tools to become a reliable finisher around the rim and benefit from her length in the paint. Her physical tools give her significant upside as she continues to develop.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Adding strength will be important as she faces more physical post players, while expanding her high post and mid range game will create additional scoring options. Developing jab step and pump fake counters could turn her length and mobility into a more complete offensive package.

Aorangi Harding — WATCH HER IN ACTION → Rowville vs UST

Bridgette Kata | #44 | Guard | Rowville Secondary College | Australia

DOWNHILL CREATOR

Bridgette is a young guard with a high ceiling who embraces physicality and consistently looks to attack the paint. She can create advantages downhill, handle pressure, and use her court vision to find open teammates when defenses collapse. She shows the ability to knock down the perimeter shot when open and plays with the physicality needed to compete through contact. Her combination of creation, vision, and willingness to attack gives her significant developmental upside.

DEVELOPMENT & PROJECTION

Developing a quicker first step, a more consistent three point shot, and a reliable mid range counter will make her downhill game harder to contain. Bridgette has the tools to develop into a versatile scoring/playmaking guard with a high ceiling at the next level.

Bridgette Kata — WATCH HER IN ACTION → Rowville vs UST

If you'd like more information about each of the participants, reach out to arynpmcclure@gmail.com and/or CLister@nba.com.

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The lens is simple. Talent is everywhere. Visibility Isn’t.

Aryn McClure

Basketball Strategist, Scout, Player Development Coach, Founder.

Learn more about NBA RSI: https://nbarisingstarsinvitational.com/

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