Preliminary Round Groups For 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship For Men Announced

-- U18 Championship To Be Held June 26-30 At St. Mary's University In San Antonio --

Tickets are on sale for the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men. June 26-30 all-session, single day, general admission passes are just $5 each. For tickets or information about corporate ticket packages, call 210-820-2100, or go online to www.SanAntonioSports.org.

The U18 tournament format features the eight teams divided into two preliminary round groups consisting of four teams each. Preliminary round play will be held June 26, 27 and 28, each team will play the other three teams in its preliminary group. The top two finishing teams in each preliminary round group will then advance to the June 29 medal round semifinals and play for 1st-4th places. Teams placing third and fourth in each preliminary round group will advance to the June 29 consolation semifinals and play for 5th-8th places. The FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men finals will be held Wednesday, June 30.

The Bill Greehey Arena on the campus of St. Mary's University in San Antonio, will host the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men June 26-30. It also served as the site for the competition in 2006. (Photo: St. Mary's University)

USA Basketball and the San Antonio Sports announced on Jan. 26, 2010, that they were joining forces to host the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men. The zone tournament, which will qualify four teams for the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship, is being held at the Bill Greehey Arena on the campus of St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas. Only athletes born on or after Jan. 1, 1992, are eligible for the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.

Originally known as the FIBA Americas Junior World Championship Qualifier, the tournament has been held since 1990. USA men's teams boast of a sensational 33-2 overall record in the U18 championships and have won gold in 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2006, while capturing a silver medal in 2008 and the bronze in 2002.

Sites of prior FIBA Americas U18 Championships for Men include Formosa, Argentina in 2008; San Antonio in 2006; Isla Margarita, Venezuela in 2002; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in 1998; Santa Rosa, Argentina in 1994; and Montevideo, Uruguay in 1990.

Some of the top players who have represented the United States in the past U18 tournaments include Shareef Abdur-Rahim (1994); Carmelo Anthony (2002); Michael Beasley (2006); Chris Bosh (2002); Dee Brown (2002); Nick Collison (1998); Jonny Flynn (2006); Spencer Hawes (2006); Grant Hill (1990); Allan Houston (1990); Andre Iguodala (2002); Stephon Marbury (1994); Mike Miller (1998); Quentin Richardson (1998); Kyle Singler (2006); Kemba Walker (2008) and Deron Williams (2002).

Notable members of other national teams who have competed in the U18 Championship include Leandro Barbosa (Brazil) 1994; Jose Barea (Puerto Rico) 2002; Gregory Echenique (Venezuela) 2008; Juan Fernandez (Argentina) 2008; Todd MacCulloch (Canada) 1994; Jamal Magloire (Canada) 1994; Peter Ramos (Puerto Rico) 2002; Luis Scola (Argentina) 1998; Tiago Splitter (Brazil) 2002; and Jesse Young (Canada) 1998.

The awarding of the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men to USA Basketball and San Antonio marks the second time the event has been hosted in San Antonio and the United States. Other major international events USA Basketball has hosted include the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship (Olympic qualifier) for Men (Las Vegas, Nev.); 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men (San Antonio, Texas); 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women (Colorado Springs, Colo.); 2002 FIBA Men's World Championship (Indianapolis, Ind.); 1992 FIBA Americas Tournament of the Americas / Olympic Qualifier (Portland, Ore.); 1985 FIBA Women's Junior World Championship (Colorado Springs, Colo.); and the first COPABA Women's Junior World Championship in 1977 (Squaw Valley, Calif.).

USA Basketball Men's U18 Championship Team
USA Basketball plans call for selection of the 12-member USA U18 Team to be made during team training that will be held June 14-25 in San Antonio with approximately 20 U.S. hopefuls participating.

Selection of the USA U18 Team will be made by the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team Committee, which is chaired by Syracuse University head coach Jim Boeheim, and also consists of Lorenzo Romar (University of Washington head coach), Bruce Weber (University of Illinois head coach), Roy Williams (University of North Carolina head coach), and athlete representative Jay Williams (2002 USA World Championship, 2000 USA U20, 2000 USA Select and 1999 USA Hoop Summit team member).