Aug. 24-29, 2021 • Debrecen, Hungary

The USA team of Eric Dailey Jr., Gradey Dick, Kyle Filipowski and Keyonte George won six-straight games to capture the gold medal at the 2021 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup from Aug. 24-29 in Debrecen, Hungary, where they were led by USA coach Nick LoGalbo and assistant coach Kelly Carruthers.

The 2021 gold marked the first time the U.S. men had won consecutive titles after also having won the 2019 gold medal. Additionally, the USA 3x3 U18 women also captured titles at the 2019 and2021 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cups, marking the first time the USA had won double-golds at consecutive events.

In its first game on Aug. 25, the USA opened with a 21-17 come-back win over Estonia. Estonia led 14-8 at 3:35, but two points from Filipowski and a score from Dailey kicked off a 13-3 U.S. run that closed out the win for the USA. With the USA leading 19-17, George sank a game-winning 2-pointer with 7.0 seconds on the clock. George led the USA with nine points, Filipowski finished with eight points and Dailey added three points.

Also on Aug. 25, the USA topped Slovenia 21-13 on the momentum of an 11-4 closing run. The USA went ahead 5-1, but Slovenia cut it to 7-6 at 6:24. Two points from Dick and one from Filipowski gave the USA a 10-7 cushion, and Slovenia responded for a final time, converting a two-point play to make it 10-9 at 4:43. The USA put together five unanswered points before Slovenia made a 2 to make it 15-11 at 2:34. Three quick points from the USA improved the lead to 18-11 and all but secured the win. George, who led with nine points, ended the game at 21-13 on a driving basket with 40 seconds on the clock.

The USA wrapped up pool play on Aug. 27 with a 22-8 win over Latvia to earn the No. 1 seed from Pool D. The USA jumped out to an 8-1 lead at 7:31, and after allowing one score, reeled off eight-straight points to go ahead 16-2. With the Americans up 20-8, George was fouled in the process of making a 2-pointer, and those two points gave the USA the 22-8 victory with 2:33 on the clock. George finished with nine points, Filipowski scored six, Dick added four and Dailey had three points.

In the quarterfinals, the USA defeated the No. 2 seed from Pool B – Lithuania – 21-13 with 2:17 left.

The defeated Lithuania (3-2) 21-13 with 2:17 left on the clock in the quarterfinals the No. 2 seed from Pool B. Two scores from George kicked off a 9-1 run, and the USA led 12-4 at 6:47 when Dailey made a 2-pointer. Lithuania rallied to cut the margin to 12-8 at 6:10, but the USA added four quick points to go ahead 16-8 at 5:09. Lithuania attempted a final rally, scoring four straight points to make it 18-13 at 3:28, but the USA got two points from George and Dailey closed out the 21-13 victory with the game-winning slam at 2:17. Dailey had eight points, George tallied seven points, Dick added four and Filipowski had two points.

The USA won its semifinal in convincing fashion, 21-13, over Belarus. The USA led 5-1 before Belarus tied the game 5-5 at 6:57. After a 2-pointer from each side, the USA added four straight points to go ahead 11-7, and Belarus could not catch up after that point. Belarus came within three points, 15-12, but George responded with four points to give the USA a 19-13 lead. Filipowski scored the final two points for the USA, ending the game 21-13 at 44.0 seconds. George had eight points, Dailey finished with five points, Filipowski contributed four points and Dick had three.

The gold medal game was a rematch of the first game of the tournament for both teams, which saw the USA beat Estonia 21-17 on Aug. 25. Estonia got out to a 6-2 lead, but the USA worked its way back to tie the game 7-7 on a 2-pointer from George at 5:22. After Estonia scored a free throw, a point apiece from Filipowski, George and Dick launched a 10-0 U.S. run that ultimately decided that game, and the score was 17-8 when George made another 2 at 2:48. Dick made it 20-12 with a 2-pointer at 1:08, and after a 2 from Estonia, Dailey ended the 21-14 win with a driving score with 38.0 seconds on the clock. Filipowski had nine points, George had seven points, Dick added three and Dailey finished with two points.

Dailey won an individual gold medal in the dunk contest, while George, who was the tournament’s leading scorer in points per game (8.2 ppg.) and the second leading scorer in total points (49), was named tournament MVP. He was joined on the all-tournament team by Estonia’s Markus Heinakroon and Belarus’s Illia Milasheuski. 

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