Franck Belibi Interview + Scouting Deepdive
Interview, Scouting Report and Film Analysis on Franck Belibi, FIBA standout and one of the most underrated High School prospects in the nation.
What did playing in the FIBA U19 World Cup teach Franck Belibi Jr, the tournament’s second youngest player? “I learned that I can hang with some of the best players in the world.”
Belibi, the Colorado native quickly burst onto the international stage, representing Cameroon. Despite playing U19, at just 16 years old he was Cameroon’s 2nd leading scorer, providing a crucial scoring punch for an otherwise lackluster offense. Belibi cited his Cameroonian pride as the motivation to move up to the U19 age group, “I wanted to shine light on the fact that there are good players from Cameroon and that we can make a splash internationally.”
While he’s traditionally played shooting guard, and is listed as such, he sees himself as a hybrid of shooting guard and point guard, “I can really produce well in both spots, balancing scoring and being an aggressive playmaker.” He considers his ability to facilitate the most underrated part of his game.
As a ball-handler Belibi played with patience, especially in the pick-and-roll, coming off screens slowly, before bursting downhill. He rarely got sped up or overwhelmed by defensive pressure and operated with great poise, especially for his age. In the future, when Belibi is surrounded by better spacing and continues to fill out his frame, he will have all the tools (handle,speed,pace,size) to become a consistent and efficient downhill threat in half-court settings.
He struggled as a facilitator during the FIBA tournament but that is to be expected when playing up in age groups and in a higher usage role with demanding ball-handling responsibilities. He has posted a very positive 2.86 assist-to-turnover ratio over his last 13 AAU games and his Cameroonian teammates failed to convert on many would-be assist.
Belibi is most impressive in transition, where he is already an efficient shooter going 59.1% through FIBA’s 7 games. He is at his best when he is able to pick up speed going downhill and can combine his acrobatic athleticism with burst and hang time. He regularly outlast defenders in the air, ducking under contesting arms and contorting his body to finisher at the rim. He has an evolving touch, with intriguing flashes of hook shots, floaters and scoop finishes, with the ability to spin the ball of the glass from a variety of contested angles and with both hands. His transition scoring will be one of his most translatable skill sets through his basketball career.
His perimeter shooting was the main contributor to his FIBA explosion, shooting 61% through the first 4 games on 18 attempts before curtailing and finishing at a 36% over the tournament's 7 games. Comparing Belibi’s Prep School and AAU film with his FIBA performances, there was a clear shift in his shooting form. In the past he positioned the ball under his chin, but now holds ball above his head and shoots it forward. This shift was a result of Belibi realizing he needed to adjust to a higher release point after his arms grew 6 inches in two years.
Because Cameroon used a 2-3 zone so frequently, Belibi wasn’t able to fully highlight his defensive skills, but when he had the chance he proved to be a prideful defender. Most importantly, Belibi brings intensity to the defensive end, “I compete every play no matter what and I’m not scared of anybody or any situation.” He will need to continue adding muscle to hold his own against stronger players, but he already has the lateral quickness, motor and wingspan, to be a stellar defender.
There were certainly growing pains that came with playing against older players, mainly showing itself in his efficiency and turnovers. But, Belibi was tactical in adjusting to the competition level, saying he used more touch shots, “like floaters or mid range scoring if you can’t get all the way to the basket, or just being extra physical with them and just raising my physicality level and not letting yourself get pushed around.” Only time will tell, but accepting the challenge of playing U19 should bode well for Belibi’s long-term development,
Simply put, few 16-year-olds can make the plays that Belibi can. He is a special athlete with flashes of brilliance as both a scorer and defender. To solidify himself as a top prospect in the class of 2026, he will need to prove he can consistently knock down three-pointers and create efficient opportunities in the half court. Belibi’s only offer has come from Long Island University, along with interest from FAU, Seattle, UIC, and Toledo. Though his role is limited on his 17U EYBL team, his FIBA performances reveal the kind of impact he’s capable of making when trusted with greater offensive responsibilities. With a pivotal summer ahead, Belibi is poised to attract attention from even more college programs and rightfully so, with proper coaching, Belibi’s raw upside can be molded into an extremely productive two-way college player with true 3-D potential.