Tag: Team USA basketball

Predicting the 2024 Paris Olympics roster for Team USA women including Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson

Predicting a 12-player roster with so many stars is HARD, but here’s our best guess.

After a successful pair of exhibition games in November of 2023 following a training camp in Atlanta, the USA Basketball Women’s Olympic Team is poised to assemble a stacked roster ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

The USA Basketball National Team Committee will have its hands full trying to decide what athletes will be part of the 2024 Olympic roster. In the coming weeks, 18 players will attend an additional training camp in New York. A final roster of 12 players will represent the United States at the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament on February 8-11 in Belgium.

When the Paris Olympics arrive in July, USA Basketball will be playing for a chance to win its eighth consecutive gold medal.

With so many phenomenal athletes, there will be some tough cuts. Here are the 12 players we project to make the roster:

Drake Powell showcases stellar court vision at USA Basketball camp

Northwood (N.C.) High School senior Drake Powell, UNC’s top basketball recruit in the 2024 class, showed out at a recent USA hoops camp.

Northwood High School (N.C.) senior Drake Powell is one of the country’s top prep basketball players.

His stats tell you one thing, but those are just numbers.

Powell is one of the country’s top high school players because of his ability to make virtually anything happen. He can grab a rebound and sprint down the court for a dunk in seconds, bounce through ball screens and lock down ball-handlers with his long arms and, most importantly, take over a game when his team needs it.

Whereas the UNC basketball team will graduated talented program staples in Armando Bacot and R.J. Davis next year, it gains in Powell. He is currently the fourth-ranked recruit in 247Sports’ Class of 2024 rankings.

Over the weekend, Powell spent his weekend in Colorado Springs, participating in the USA Basketball Junior Minicamp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

He shined amongst some of the country’s top players at the Minicamp ā€“ just check out this clip below.

I’m sure Powell is elated to be participating with the National Team, but his main focus will soon turn to helping Northwood finally capture the NCHSAA 2A state championship. The Chargers advanced to the 3A championship earlier this year and in the COVID-shortened, 2020-2021 campaign, but lost both times.

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Anthony Edwards mocked Jaren Jackson Jr. mid-dunk for getting out of way in Team USA practice

Anthony Edwards is an elite trash talker.

As Team USA has been practicing for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the team has certainly been having a little fun with the tournament prep.

During a scrimmage this week, Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards got some playful trash-taking in at Memphis Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. as the latter got out of the way as Edwards dunked the ball.

“Jump! Ain’t you Defensive Player of the Year?” Edwards quipped to Jackson during the practice session, which likely fueled more friendly competition between these two on the court.

While Jackson was indeed the NBA’s top defensive player last season, it clearly won’t stop Edwards from getting some amicable trolling in on the practice floor.

Hey, Edwards is as good at trash-talking as he is at basketball, and we bet that Jackson won’t go easy on him on the next possession.

However, the two will be teammates cheering each other on in the Basketball World Cup sooner than later.

Cam Johnson shines in USA first exhibition game

Former North Carolina Tar Heel Cam Johnson ties team-high in Team USA’s first exhibition game.

From UNC to Phoenix to Brooklyn to now representing Team USA, [autotag]Cam Johnson[/autotag] continues to prove he belongs.

Monday night, Johnson stepped up again, tying the team-high in scoring with 15 points on 7 for 10 shooting. The Tar Heel also tacked on six rebounds, with Team USA handling Puerto Rico 117-74.

Johnson’s performance stood out most because it came off the bench. Johnson contributed 19 minutes, bringing in a +18 in minutes played.

Not only did Johnson play consistently throughout on both sides of the ball, but he had a few highlights that found itself on social media.

There were concerns about whether this USA team could live up to the previous teams without significant star-studded talent. However, despite the youth, this team is filled with what many believe will develop into the next stars with big contracts to match.

Johnson will enter his fifth season in the NBA after signing a four-year $108M deal. It’s safe to say the Nets like what their investment is doing so far.

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Former UNC basketball star Cam Johnson joins finalized USA FIBA World Cup roster

Will former Tar Heel Cam Johnson lead Team USA to its first FIBA World Cup title since 2014?

Cam Johnson was a welcome addition to the UNC basketball roster for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons.

The Moon Township, Pa. product averaged double-digit points each season in Carolina blue (12.4 in 2017-2018, 16.9 in 2018-2019). He helped the Tar Heels to a pair of NCAA tournament appearances each year, including a run to the Sweet 16 during their 2018-2019 campaign.

Johnson’s stellar two years in Chapel Hill paid off, as he was selected 11th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2019 NBA. His scoring output has increased in each professional season, including a career-high 16.6 points per game in 25 starts with the Brooklyn Nets this past year.

Now entering his fifth NBA season, Johnson is taking his talents to the national level.

On Thursday, July 6, Team USA finalized its roster for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, one that includes Johnson. He will play alongside the likes of some bright, young NBA talent: current Nets and former Suns teammate Mikal Bridges, former Duke stars Paolo Banchero and Brandon Ingram, 1-year Tar Heel Walker Kessler, 2020 NBA Draft top overall pick Anthony Edwards and former New York Knicks Star Jalen Brunson.

Johnson is tasked with trying to help Team USA capture their first title since 2014, when the Americans throttled Serbia, 129-92, in Spain behind 49 combined points from NBA stars Kyrie Irving and James Harden.

Team USA severely underachieved in the succeeding 2019 FIBA World Cup, finishing in seventh place despite a roster with NBA stars Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell, Kemba Walker and former Tar Heel Harrison Barnes.

After the 2023 World Cup, which runs from Aug. 25-Sept. 10 in Phillippines, Japan and Indonesia, Johnson’ll be turning his head back to preparing for his second season with a Nets squad that signed him to a 4-year, $108-million contract in June.

It’s an exciting time in the career of a talented, blossoming young player like Johnson.

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Team USA roster: Here are the players heading to the 2023 FIBA World Cup in the Philippines

Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards and Mikal Bridges are the headliners.

The U.S. men’s national team is headed to the Philippines to participate in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and the roster will have many new faces.

The United States had a stacked roster (including James Harden, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, and Kyrie Irving) and won a gold medal during the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain.

But, while led by Donovan Mitchell as well as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the United States failed to medal during the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.

Quite a lot has changed since then, however, with Steve Kerr replacing Gregg Popovich as the head coach. Meanwhile, under the leadership of Grant Hill instead of longtime director Jerry Colangelo, NBA players are reportedly no longer required to “try out” for Team USA.

The Americans who were tapped for the roster will play their first game against New Zealand on August 26. They will then face off against Greece, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, on Aug. 28.

Team USA (-180) is currently the favorite to win the tournament, per DraftKings. Serbia (+800), Greece (+900) and Slovenia (+1000) are also projected with the next-best odds.

Based on reporting so far, here are the 10 players who will be heading to the Philippines. Expect two more NBA players (potentially Desmond Bane and Alex Caruso) to commit to the roster before the official roster is announced.

WATCH: Seth Trimble highlights from USA Basketball

Full highlights of UNC basketball freshman Seth Trimble during Team USA’s run to the gold medal in the U18 FIBA Americas Championship.

Incoming UNC basketball freshman guard [autotag]Seth Trimble[/autotag] was part of Team USA’s U18 team that is fresh off of a gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship over the weekend.

The team went 6-0 in the event and Trimble was a critical member of the roster.

Trimble averaged 9.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, while shooting 51.4 percent from the floor in six games. In the title game, Trimble had six points, four assists, and two steals. His best game was 16 points in the semi-finals against Argentina.

Throughout the event, Trimble showcased his athleticism and flashed the potential he has and what he can bring to the North Carolina backcourt immediately.

Trimble is expected to arrive in Chapel Hill this week.

Below are his full highlights from the FIBA Americas Championship.

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Seth Trimble, GG Jackson win gold for Team USA

UNC basketball commits Seth Trimble and GG Jackson were part of the Team USA U18 team that won the Gold at the FIBA Americas Championship.

Two UNC basketball commits won the gold medal for Team USA’s U18 Men’s National Team in the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas Championship.

Team USA defeated Brazil on Sunday night, 102-60, in the championship game.Ā The US went 6-0 in the event.

In the six games, incoming UNC freshman [autotag]SethĀ Trimble[/autotag]Ā averaged 9.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. His best game was 16 points in the semi-finals against Argentina. He also led the tournament in free-throw percentage, going 15-of-18 (83.3%).

In the title game, Trimble had six points, four assists and two steals. He also had this monster dunk.

Trimble is expected to arrive in Chapel Hill this week to join the rest of the freshman class.

For UNC 2023 commit [autotag]GG Jackson[/autotag], he missed the final four games after two strong performance to kick things off. He averaged 14 points and eight rebounds in the two appearances.

His best game was in game two, a 20-point and 12-rebound outing against Ecuador.

You can rewatch the championship game, here.

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Hubert Davis makes surprise trip to see current UNC commits

UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis visited incoming freshman Seth Trimble and 2023 commit GG Jackson, both playing for USA U18 National team.

While UNC basketball head coach [autotag]Hubert Davis[/autotag] is in the middle of a key offseason, he continues to show support for future Tar Heels all around the country.

In this case, he even went outside of the country to visit two key future North Carolina prospects.

Team USA Basketball is in the middle of the FIBA Americas Championship down in Tijuana and are fresh off of a semi-final win on Saturday. But, earlier this week, Davis made a visit to watch and support incoming UNC freshman [autotag]Seth Trimble[/autotag] and 2023 UNC commit [autotag]GG Jackson[/autotag], both on the USA roster.

Even though both players are either signed or committed, the visit from Davis made a big impact on Trimble’s mom.

Davis went on to watch Trimble and Jackson help lead Team USA to a dominating win over the Dominican Republic.

Trimble had 11 points and a game-high five assists and five steals off of the bench. Jackson added eight points and four rebounds in the win.

Team USA plays for a Gold Medal on Sunday night against Brazil.

UNC offseason workouts began last week and the expectation is Trimble will make his way to Chapel Hill next week following the end of the FIBA Championships.

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