Meet Dream Team 2016
Words. Aron Phillips
Other than perhaps winning an NBA title, there is nothing better than USA Basketball. Representing your country in international competition, playing against the top players from around the world, having the chance to win a gold medal - all of these things are at stake each and every game. Yesterday, USA Basketball announced the 21 top young prep talents that have been named to the 2009-10 USA Basketball Men’s Developmental National Team.
In 2009, this USA U16 National Team will first look to capture the gold medal at the inaugural 2009 FIBA Americas U16 Championship slated to be held June 17-21 in Mendoza, Argentina. But in 2010, should the U.S. qualify for the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship, they will compete as the USA U17 World Championship Team.
Included on the roster are five prep ballers from the high school class of 2012 and 16 who are set to graduate high school in 2011. Here’s how it looks:
Justin Anderson (Montrose Christian School, Md. / Montross, Va.)
Kyle Anderson (Paterson Catholic School / Fairview, N.J.)
Brad Beal (Chaminade College Prep H.S. / St. Louis, Mo.)
K.C. Caudill (Brea Olinda H.S. / Brea, Calif.)
Angelo Chol (Herbert Hoover H.S. / San Diego, Calif.)
Quinn Cook (DeMatha H.S. / Bowie, Md.)
André Drummond (Capitol Preparatory Magnet School / Middletown, Conn.)
Perry Ellis (Wichita Heights H.S. / Wichita, Kan.)
Sterling Gibbs (Seton Hall Prep / Scotch Plains, N.J.)
Brandan Kearney (Southeastern H.S. / Detroit, Mich.)
James McAdoo (Norfolk Christian H.S. / Norfolk, Va.)
Johnny O’Bryant (Eastside H.S. / Cleveland, Miss.)
Tony Parker (Miller Grove H.S. / Lithonia, Ga.)
Norvel Pelle (Dominguez H.S. / Long Beach, Calif.)
Chasson Randle (Rock Island H.S. / Rock Island, Ill.)
L.J. Rose (Second Baptist School / Houston, Texas)
Mike Shaw (De La Salle Institute / Chicago, Ill.)
Marquis Teague (Pike H.S. / Indianapolis, Ind.)
Adonis Thomas (Melrose H.S. / Cordova, Tenn.)
Kevin Ware (Rockdale County H.S. / Conyers, Ga.)
Tony Wroten, Jr. (Garfield H.S. / Renton, Wash.)
“I think we’ve got a very talented group of guys,” said 2009-10 USA Developmental National Team head coach Don Showalter of Mid-Prairie High School (Iowa). “Everyone I’ve talked to at the major college level, the scouting services and from the kids I’ve seen personally, pretty much agrees that these are the top kids in the under 16 age group. They’re all going to be high major college players. It’ll be a great chance for them to play together and see how they stack up against the best ki ds in their grade.
“One of the things that we need to do from the start is make it clear that this is about building a team. We’re not playing an all-star game. We have to make sure the kids understand about how difficult the competition is going to be. It’s not like we’re going out and playing another AAU team or just another tournament. It’s a very, very high level of competition and as soon as we make the kids understand that, we’ll be better off.”
Showalter will be assisted by Herman Harried, head coach Lake Clifton High School (Md.), and Kevin Sutton, head coach at Montverde Academy (Fla.).
These guys will train June 6-12 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. before the 12-member team that will represent the U.S. this summer will be announced.
Kyle “Slow Motion” Anderson is a 6-7 freshman PG with serious court vision, he’s gotta work on his athleticism though. Can’t wait to see him as a senior. He might be about 6-10 running the point.
wheres my name?
Glad to see Kyle Anderson (N.J.) on the trial team. Best of luck to him, a talented player.
Perry Ellis, haha good name
[...] school juniors and six of the premiere sophomores, USA Basketball just announced that the 2009-10 USA Men’s Developmental National Team will reassemble for a fall mini-camp on Oct. 9-11 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado [...]
Marquis teague is the best point guard in the country and will start for the USA national team