Saniyah Hall (SPIRE Academy) named FIBA U19 World Cup MVP at 16 years old

Lance Smith

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Saniyah Hall (SPIRE Academy) named FIBA U19 World Cup MVP at 16 years old image

Joe Rondone/Arizona Republic / USA Today Network via Imagn

The most fitting description for Saniyah Hall is prodigious.

Before this summer, she was already the top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2026 and reigning MaxPreps National Junior of the Year.

And as of Sunday, she's now the 2025 FIBA World Cup U19 Most Valuable Player (and gold medalist).

All at the age of 16 years old.

The second youngest member of USA's U19 team in Brno, Czech Republic, Hall had game-highs of 25 points and seven assists to go with nine rebounds and two blocks on 8-16 shooting as the Americans beat Australia 88-76 for first place. In seven games, she averaged 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game on 52.6/39.3/82.4 shooting splits.

Her 19.9 PPG average was best on the team and third-highest for the whole tournament.

After starting her high school career at Laurel (OH), Hall sent her stock through the roof by leading Montverde Academy (FL) to national title contention as a junior. The Eagles went 26-2 against a national schedule and she averaged – these numbers might look familiar – 20.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks. She's not only productive against the world's toughest competition, but also remarkably efficient and consistent from game to game.

Hall recently announced that she was returning to Ohio to play her senior season at SPIRE Academy. SPIRE went 7-13 last season facing a lot of national-caliber competition, but with Hall and other big-name players transferring this summer, you can expect a much different outlook for the team in 2025-26.

Hall, who turns 17 on July 30, has not yet made her college commitment but will choose between USC, Ohio State, South Carolina, and presumably anywhere else other D-1 she could want to go to.

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Lance Smith

Lance has covered high school basketball, football and softball since 2019. A graduate of The USC Marshall School of Business, Smith dabbles in linear algebra and football and basketball computer rankings.