2008 USA Basketball Men�s U18 National Team Finalists Named

July 3, 2008 � Washington, D.C.

Following three trials sessions held at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., and featuring 18 of the nation�s top 18-and-unders, USA Basketball today announced 14 finalists for the 2008 USA Men�s U18 National Team. Headlined by four returning USA Basketball veterans, the finalists, comprised of athletes born on or after Jan. 1, 1990, will remain in Washington, D.C., to train through July 10 before departing for the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. The eventual 12-member team will be finalized by July 8.

Athlete selections were made by the USA Basketball Men's Collegiate Committee, chaired by Syracuse University head coach Jim Boeheim.

Featuring U18 national teams from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean, the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, which will be held July 14-18 in Formosa, Argentina, will qualify the top four finishing teams for the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship, slated to be held July 2-12 in New Zealand.

�I�m thrilled with the effort, with the competitiveness and with the attitude of every one of the guys who were a part of these trials. We�re down to 14 players right now and we still have two players to cut, but it�s incredibly competitive and the talent level is superb; and most importantly and most satisfying is the fact that they are so willing to learn and so willing to get better. The coaching staff � John, Anthony and myself � have meshed really well in a short time together. We have what we think is superb chemistry on the coaching staff and we are going to work to make sure it filters down to the team,� said USA and Davidson College head coach Bob McKillop.

The finalists will continue training at the Verizon Center twice a day, at 10:00 a.m. (all times EDT) and 5:00 p.m. through July 8. On July 9 (10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.) and 10 (10:00 a.m.) the team will train at Georgetown University before traveling to Argentina.

Malcolm Lee (John W. North H.S. / Riverside, CA) is the most veteran USA Basketball finalist and is one step closer to making his third USA Basketball squad. Most recently Lee helped lead the USA to a 98-78 victory over the World Select Team at the Nike Hoop Summit in April and helped force 25 World turnovers and 18 USA steals.

Lee first showcased his talent in a USA Basketball uniform at the 2007 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival, held in Colorado Springs, Colo. Also returning from the Festival are: Leslie McDonald (Briarcrest H.S. / Memphis, TN); Travis Releford (Bishop Miege H.S. / Shawnee Mission, KS) and Lance Stephenson (Abraham Lincoln H.S. / Brooklyn, NY).

Rounding out the finalists roster are USA Basketball newcomers: Dominic Cheek (St. Anthony H.S. / Jersey City, NJ); JaMychal Green (St. Jude H.S. / Montgomery, AL); Matt Humphrey (Hales Franciscian H.S. / Chicago, IL); Ryan Kelly (Ravenscroft H.S. / Raleigh, NC); Mason Plumlee (Christ H.S. / Arden, N.C.) Kemba Walker (Rice H.S. / New York, N.Y.); Maalik Wayns (Roman Catholic H.S. / Philadelphia, PA); David Wear (Mater Dei H.S. / Santa Ana, CA); Travis Wear (Mater Dei H.S. / Santa Ana, CA) and Wesley Witherspoon (Berkman H.S. / Lilburn, GA).

Virginia Commonwealth University head coach Anthony Grant and Georgetown University head coach John Thompson III are serving as assistant coaches

2008 USA U18 Championship Team
The FIBA Americas U18 Championship format divides the eight teams into two preliminary round groups consisting of four teams each. Preliminary round play will be held July 14, 15 and 16, and each team will play the other three teams in its preliminary group. The two top finishing teams in each preliminary round group will then advance to the Thursday, July 17 medal round semifinals and compete for 1st-4th places. Teams placing third and fourth in each preliminary round group will advance to the consolation semifinals and play for 5th-8th places. The FIBA Americas U18 Championship Finals will be contested Friday, July 18.

Originally known as the FIBA Americas Junior World Championship Qualifier, the tournament was held every four years between 1990-2006. FIBA changed its calendar, however, and the tournament will now be conducted every other year, followed in the next summer by the FIBA U19 World Championship.

USA men's teams boast of a sensational 29-1 overall record in the U18/junior qualifiers and won gold in 1990, 1994, 1998, and most recently in 2006, when the United States played host to the U18 Championship For Men for the first time in San Antonio, Texas. The USA men's team also captured the bronze in 2002. Hosts of prior U18 championships are: San Antonio, Texas in 2006; Isle de Margarita, Venezuela in 2002; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in 1998; Santa Rosa, Argentina in 1994; and Montevideo, Uruguay in 1990.

Some top players to have represented the United States in the past U18 tournaments include Shareef Abdur-Rahim (1994); Carmelo Anthony (2002); Jerryd Bayless (2006); Michael Beasley (2006); Chris Bosh (2002); Dee Brown (2002); Nick Collison (1998); Grant Hill (1990); Alan Houston (1990); Andre Iguodala (2002); Stephon Marbury (1994); Mike Miller (1998); Quentin Richardson (1998); Kyle Singler (2006); and Deron Williams (2002).