June 20, 2017
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Rising sophomore Austin Wiley and incoming freshman Chuma Okeke have been selected finalists for the USA Basketball U19 World Cup Team. The team was cut from 27 to 18 on Tuesday following four sessions at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
After three more practices, the team will be trimmed to 12 on Thursday to represent the United States as it seeks its third consecutive gold medal at the July 1-9 FIBA U19 World Cup in Cairo, Egypt.
The selected finalists will remain in Colorado Springs and will train twice a day through Sunday.
Included among the 18 finalists are seven gold medalists from this past summer including Wiley, who played on Team USA's gold medal winner at the FIBA Men's U17 World Championship in Zaragoza, Spain in the summer of 2016 and has participated in the past four minicamps for the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team.
"It's going pretty well," said Wiley. "There are a lot of players, a lot of grinding and a lot of basketball. It's a grind out here, but it is fun, though."
Wiley is proud his hard work is paying dividends and appreciates head coach Bruce Pearl being in attendance.
"It's a blessing," said Wiley of making the cut. "It shows how hard I have worked in the past year, and I want to keep going and make the team and go win a gold medal.
"It meant a lot to have BP here watching. I appreciate his support. It helped me, but I feel it also helped Chuma. It was Chuma's first time out here and gave him a lot more confidence, and it gave me more confidence as well, just having my head coach out here. "
Okeke, who is ranked 41st nationally, totaled 35 points and 17 rebounds at the Cancer Research Classic on Jan. 11 for Westlake High. He totaled 35 points and 24 rebounds in an 89-83 triple overtime loss to Newton in the state playoffs on Feb. 24. Okeke led Westlake to the 2016 Georgia Class 6A state championship for the first time since 2002.
"It's a good feeling to know the coaches have confidence in me, and I would be very proud for Auburn and my family if I make the team," Okeke said.
The Atlanta, Ga., native was named a MaxPreps All-American third-team selection this past season and has continued to impress among the world's best in Colorado Springs.
"Chuma has been playing well, ever since the first day," said Wiley. "He has been playing hard and aggressive and doing what he does and not letting this being his first minicamp get to him like it does most people.
"I gave him some advice and told him what it was going to be like and to play hard at all times, and they will notice you."
Wiley averaged 8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 18.1 minutes this past season while starting 21 of 22 games. The Hoover, Ala., native, who shot 58.0 percent from the floor, scored a career-high 25 points, including 21 in the second half, at NIT Champion TCU on Jan. 28. He recorded his first double-double in only his 11th game as he had 10 points and a career-best 11 rebounds at No. 23 South Carolina, which reached the Final Four.
He was named SEC Freshman of the Week on Jan. 23 after averaging 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in wins vs. Alabama and LSU.
Selections were made by the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team Committee as athletes eligible must be 19 years or younger (born on or after Jan. 1, 1998) and U.S. citizens.
For more information, go to www.usabasketball.com.
2017 FIBA U19 World Cup
FIBA conducted the draw on Feb. 11 in Cairo, Egypt, and announced the four preliminary round groupings. The United States was drawn into Group D for preliminary round games and will open against Iran on July 1, face Angola on July 2 and will cap preliminary round action versus Italy on July 4 (game times are to be determined).
The United States earned its berth into the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup by virtue of claiming gold at the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, while Iran earned FIBA Asia U18 gold, Angola won FIBA Africa U18 gold and Italy collected FIBA Europe U18 bronze.
Following the preliminary round, all 16 teams will be seeded according to group play results, and will advance to the July 5 round of 16. Winners will advance to the July 7 medal quarterfinals, while the remaining teams will continue playing out for classification. The medal semifinals will be held July 8, and the gold and bronze medal games are slated for July 9.
Now titled the FIBA U19 World Cup and played every two years, the event originally was known as the FIBA Junior World Championship from 1979 through 2003 and as the FIBA U19 World Championship from 2005-2009, and it was played every four years from 1979 through 2007.
In the 12 previous U19 competitions held, the USA men's teams have won six gold and three silver medals, including gold in three of the past four U19 championships (2009, 2013 and 2015).
Past USA U19 standouts include: Jalen Brunson (2015 MVP), Vince Carter (1995), Stephen Curry (2007), Terrance Ferguson (2015), Aaron Gordon (2013 MVP), Tim Hardaway Jr. (2011), Montrezl Harrell (2013), Gordon Hayward (2009), Doug McDermott (2011), Jahlil Okafor (2013), Gary Payton (1987), Sam Perkins (1979), J.J. Redick (2003), Marcus Smart (2013), Klay Thompson (2009), Scott Skiles (1983), Deron Williams (2003), Justise Winslow (2013) and James Worthy (1979).