FIRST JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT -- 1990

Featuring a talented squad with several future NBA players, the USA traveled to Montevideo, Uruguay with two goals, to qualify the United States for the 1991 FIBA Men�s Junior World Championship and earn a gold medal. Head coach Ron Arrow�s USA team realized both goals by sweeping its competition and rolling to a perfect 7-0 record and the gold medal.

1990 USA Junior World Championship Qualifying Team 1990 USA RESULTS (7-0) USA 120 Venezuela 68 USA 143 Panama 103 USA   89 Costa Rica 44 USA   87 Brazil 79 Final Round USA 124 Puerto Rico 68 USA   97 Uruguay 73 USA 105 Argentina 73 1990 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL STANDINGS 1. USA (7-0) 6. Cuba (3-4) 2. Argentina (6-1) 7. Panama (3-4) 3. Brazil (5-2) 8. Venezuela (1-6) 4. Uruguay (4-3) 9. Canada (1-4) 5. Puerto Rico (4-3) 10.Costa Rica (0-5)

Outscoring opponents by an average of 109.3 ppg. to 72.6 ppg., a 36.7 ppg. margin, the USA was even more dominating on the boards. The United States grabbed an average of 45.3 rpg., nearly doubling its opponents output of 26.7 rpg. Calbert Cheaney led all U.S. scorers, averaging 21.6 ppg., while Grant Hill averaged a team second best 16.3 ppg.

Opening against Venezuela, the U.S. held a 65-35 halftime lead and cruised to the 120-68 victory. In a total team effort, seven players finished in double-digits, including Cheaney and Hill, who scored 18 points apiece.

After holding a 67-57 advantage at the half, the USA turned it up a notch to outscore Panama 76-46 in the second half and earn a 143-103 victory. Hill led the United State's offensive show with 28 points, Terry Dehere added 23 and Allan Houston had 22.

Behind a 22 point effort by Hill, the U.S. easily downed Costa Rica 89-44 in its third contest. After leading 49-34 at the half, the U.S. allowed just nine Costa Rican field goals in the second half and sailed to the 89-44 victory.

Meeting an undefeated Brazilian team in its final preliminary round contest, the USA earned its closest victory of the tournament, 87-79. Brazil kept the game within reach by shooting 56.3 percent (9-16 3PTs) from beyond the arc. However, the U.S., which shot 0-6 from three-point, scored 58 points from inside the paint (29-56 FGs). The USA's scoring effort was aided by Cheaney, 34 points and Allan Houston, 22 points.

Meeting Puerto Rico in the semifinals, the USA dashed out to a 57-33 halftime lead and reeled off a 124-68 victory as all players scored with Cheaney posting a game-high of 27 points.

The USA downed host Uruguay 97-73, after leading 47-37 at the half, in its second semifinal match behind the scoring efforts of Ed O'Bannon, 19 points, Derrick Martin, 18, Cheaney, 17, Houston, 14 and Hill, 13 points.

The victory set up a gold medal contest between two undefeated teams, as Argentina also stood at 6-0.

In the gold medal contest, the U.S. jumped out to a 49-34 halftime advantage and Argentina was never able to recover as the United States went on to earn the 105-73 decision and the gold medal. Cheaney once again led the U.S., scoring 26 points.

Brazil defeated Uruguay 69-61 for the bronze medal

1990 USA Junior World Championship Qualifying Team Roster

1990 USA Junior World Championship Qualifying Team Cumulative Statistics