NEW YORK (2010 FIBA World Championship) – If anyone is worried about the future of German basketball, they shouldn’t be.

At least not on the evidence of the national side’s promising EuroBasket in Poland and the very impressive start in the American college ranks this season of two players who figure to be a big part of German national teams for years to come.

Lucca Staiger, a 6ft 5in shooting guard, had a remarkable shooting performance for Iowa State in their 90-70 victory over Drake on Tuesday while 6ft 8in forward Elias Harris almost helped Gonzaga University upset Michigan State in East Lansing.

Harris is a freshman at Gonzaga, which is where NBA legend John Stockton played college basketball, and has had a couple of eye-popping performances already.

The 20-year-old followed up his 18-point debut in a win against Mississippi Valley State with a 17-point, nine-rebound and three-steal effort on Tuesday at Michigan State – the number two ranked team in the country.

The Spartans held on for a 75-71 win.

Staiger, a junior, made an Iowa State record 10 three-pointers against Drake.

He was 10 of 16 overall and Cyclones coach Greg McDermott said: “Lucca can shoot.

“He made it look really easy today. We have a lot more weapons than we did last year and it makes it a lot easier for guys on the perimeter like Lucca and Scott (Christopherson) to get open.”

Staiger connected on 72 of his 192 attempts from long range last season.

One reason why Harris and Staiger have gotten off to quick starts may be the summers they enjoyed with Germany’s national side.

While playing coach Dirk Bauermann, Staiger buried eight of 14 shots from behind the three-point line in Poland. He averaged 13 minutes game.

Harris averaged more than 12 minutes per contest.

If Germany receive a wild card to play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, expect Staiger and Harris to be in the squad.

FIBA