By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
LAUSANNE (Switzerland) – Despite not competing for a medal and having to play for the 11th spot in the whole FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, Argentina has shown the whole world to have a precious gem for the future named Tyler Kropp.
The 18-year-old, born in the United States to an Argentinian mother, has been delivering over the past few years with the youth selections of the Argentinian national team.
In Lausanne, there’s no difference. After becoming the first player since 1983 for the country to register at least 20 points and 9 rebounds per game over his first three appearances at this competition, he hasn’t stopped collecting huge performances.
At the moment, he’s leading the whole competition in points scored (21.8) while also ranking fourth in rebounds grabbed (10.3) per game for Argentina. And he’s enjoying his country’s support.
“That’s amazing. We don’t expect that. We come here, we try to bring our own energy, but we have other Argentinians too, and that’s amazing,” he told Eurohoops about Albiceleste’s fans’ support coming from the stands in Switzerland.
“When we played Serbia the first time in the big arena, we had a ton of people singing our songs. Everything was great, amazing. We appreciate all that, but we also have to bring our energy,” he said.
Busy making history 🔥
🪣 24 pts
✊ 9 reb
🪙 2 ast
🦸♂ 2 stl
⚙ 29 eff#FIBAU19 pic.twitter.com/tOGeVKBuzT— NextGen Hoops (@NextGenHoops) July 1, 2025
Despite potentially being able to play for Team USA as well, he chose to represent his mother’s native country. And he struggled for it. “I had wanted to do it forever, I’ve been sending emails and texts to whoever I could,” he first recalled about wanting to play for Argentina.
“Finally, I sent an e-mail to Mariano Marcos [Argentina’s Coordinator of Youth Selections] when I was about 15 and he gave me the opportunity to come to the Pre-Selection,” Kropp added.
“Then I made the team for the U16 AmeriCup when I was 16, and I played last year when I was 17. Now I’m 18, playing here. It’s amazing, it’s a great experience,” the 2007-born power forward continued. His journey with the blue-and-white national team is far from over.
Pablo Prigioni, head coach of Argentina’s senior national team, included him in the extended list for the upcoming 2025 FIBA AmeriCup. “It’s an honor. It’s a special moment for sure. It’s been my goal for a while, so I’m super honored. I’m super happy to represent the country at the highest level. I can’t wait.”
Revealing conversations with the former New York Knicks‘ playmaker, Tyler Kropp can’t contain his joy. “He said he’s been following me for a while and that I earned this opportunity. I was really thankful”, the young gem of Argentinian basketball said as well.
“I was super excited and really thankful. I’m super excited to be coached by him, learn as much as I can from him and the veterans,” he added. Pablo Prigioni hasn’t been his only inspiration, though.
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“I’ve got the chance to talk to Luis Scola a lot. He’s been good and has given me some good advice. Hopefully, I can learn a lot from Gabriel Deck when I go with the senior team. Obviously, I’ve also looked up to Manu Ginobili as well,” Tyler Kropp added.
Moreover, he will likely experience playing the pick-and-roll with one of the best playmakers in International basketball: Facundo Campazzo.
“It’s a dream to play with Campazzo, I hope I’m gonna train with him. I’m gonna learn as much as I can from him. He’s amazing. We went to see him play for Real when we were in Madrid. I’m gonna try to learn as much as I can from him and just soak everything in,” he added.
Ultimately, Tyler Kropp’s goal can’t be anything but bringing Argentina back where it belongs, fighting for the best competitions worldwide, not only in South America.
“We have an amazing history, the country belongs at the top of South America, at the top of the world. All this stuff that we’re doing it’s just in hopes, and it’s an effort to bring the country back to where it should be for sure,” the future Northwestern player commented.
Born three years after Argentina’s historic victory at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Tyler Kropp can turn into what the country has searched for over the past few years. In the meantime, he dominates.
PHOTO CREDIT: FIBA