SEVENTH FIBA MEN'S JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP -- 2003

Thessaloniki, Greece - July 10-20, 2003

One loss was the only blemish on the 2003 USA Basketball Men's Junior World Championship Team's results page as the USA juniors overcame the disappointment to finish 7-1 and in fifth place.

2003 USA Junior World Championship Team 2003 USA RESULTS (7-1) USA 84 Slovenia 83 USA 109 China 84 USA 88 Nigeria 69 USA 106 Puerto Rico 72 USA 87 Lithuania 84 Australia 106 USA 85 USA 77 Slovenia 72 USA 82 Puerto Rico 80 2003 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMP. FINAL STANDINGS 1. Australia (7-1) 9. Venezuela (6-2) 2. Lithuania (5-3) 10. Argentina (5-3) 3. Greece (6-2) 11. Nigeria (4-4) 4. Croatia (5-3) 12. S. Korea (2-6) 5. USA (7-1) 13. Angola (2-6) 6. Puerto Rico (3-5) 14. China (1-7) 7. Slovenia (3-5) 15. Malaysia (1-7) 8. Turkey (4-4) 16. Iran (1-7)

But the one U.S. slipup was enough to crush the USA's medal hopes. Still, the United States men showed remarkable fortitude as they overcame the tremendous disappointment of the lone loss to finish 7-1. The USA's record at the finish was tied with gold medalist Australia for the championship's best record.

The USA began training on June 24 and prior to the Junior World Championship demoinstrated they would be a medal contender after rolling to a 5-0 record to win the 2003 Global Games in Dallas, Texas.

Traveling to Thessaloniki, Greece, the USA opened preliminary round play with three wins. Posting an 84-83 victory over Slovenia as Paul Davis finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds, Deron Williams poured in 23 points as the USA pounded China 109-84. Utilizing its superior depth which resulted in all 11 available players scoring, De'Angelo Alexander led the way with 13 points as the United States wrapped up first round play with a physical 88-69 win over Nigeria.

Moving on to the medal round quarterfinals, the U.S. opened things with an impressive 106-72 win over Americas champ Puerto Rico as Alexander finished with 23 points and nine boards. Behind Daniel Brown's record setting 47 point peformance on 18-of-29 shooting overall, including 9-of-15 from 3-point, the U.S. out battled Lithuania 87-84 to improve to 5-0. Meeting 4-1 Australia in the last of the three quarterfinals games, Australia routed the Americans 106-72. With the loss the USA finished quarterfinals play in a three-way tie with Australia and Lithuania who all finished with identical 2-1 records. Based on the International Basketball Federation's (FIBA) tie breaking formula, the USA placed third and with just the top two twams advancing to the medal someifinals, was eliminated from the medal round.

Following a two-day break, the USA rebounded from the heartache loss to Australia, and again came out on top against Slovenia 77-72 as Davis recorded 20 points and eight rebounds. Facing Puerto Rico in the game to decide fifth place, the U.S. opened a big lead and after watching it disappear, fought back to record an 82-80 win and earn the fifth place finish. Kevin Pittsnogle led the USA's scoring with 17 points and made five 3-pointers.

The United States squad was led in scoring by the trio of Davis, 17.7 ppg., Daniel Brown, 17.3 ppg. and Alexander 11.9. The team's strong rebounding was headed by Davis at 8.7 rpg., with Alexander and Hollins grabbing 6.4 rpg. and 6.3 rpg., respectively. Davis was the lone American to shoot over 50 percent from the field, making 51.8 percent of his shots, Alexander made a team best 45.8 percent of his shots from beyond the 3-point arc, as Daniel Brown made 44.4 percent and Davis made 36.0 percent of his 3-pointers. Williams passed off for a team best 4.8 apg., followed by Daniel Brown, 4.1 apg., Shakur, 2.8 apg., and Watson, 2.0 apg. Brown snatched a team high 19 steals and Hollins led the squad in blocked shots with nine.

In the gold medal game, Australia routed Lithuania 126-92, while host Greece claimed the victory in the bronze medal game defeating Croatia 73-64.