Seven FIBA Americas U16 champs still in running for USA team

COLORADO SPRINGS (2016 FIBA U17 World Championship) - Seven winners of the 2015 FIBA Americas U16 Championship are still in the running to play at the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship as the United States named their 18 finalists for the final roster.

The group of players who are hoping to add a world title to their continental crown are Jordan Brown, Wendell Carter Jr., Markus Howard, Kevin Knox II, Javonte Smart, Gary Trent Jr., and Robert Woodard II..

The 18 finalists were selected by USA Basketball men’s national team director Sean Ford after four training sessions with 36 hopefuls. 

"What a competitive U17 training camp this has been. All 36 participants should be congratulated for their efforts and attitudes. This selection process was extremely difficult," said Ford. 

"Coming into the training we expected that the strength of our team would be the athletic ability, length and the quantity of players capable of playing multiple positions, and that has been the case. Now comes another huge challenge, selecting the 12-player USA team."

USA head coach Don Showalter, who is hoping to lead his team to a fourth straight undefeated U17 Worlds crown, continues his training camp until 17 June at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. 

The final 12-man roster will be named no later than 17 June. 

The United States will play in Group A at the U17 FIBA World Championships along with Chinese Taipei, Egypt and Turkey.

FIBA