Mendoza, Argentina • June 17-21, 2009

Following news that FIBA would now hold a U17 World Championship every other year, USA Basketball put together its inaugural USA Men's Developmental National Team Program to help prepare players for future national teams.

Called upon to lead the 21 up-and-coming stars was USA veteran Don Showalter of Mid-Prairie High School (Iowa). Selected as Showalters assistants for 2009-10 were Herman Harried of Lake Clifton High School (Md.) and Kevin Sutton of Montverde Academy (Fla.), both of whom also had previous USA Basketball experience.

After the first training camp, held June 6-12 in Colorado Springs, Colo., Showalter and his staff traveled with the 2009 USA U16 National Team to Mendoza, Argentina, in hopes of not only securing one of the three berths alloted to FIBA Americas for the 2010 FIBA U17 Worlds, but capturing the gold medal as well.

In reaching both goals, the United States not only captured the inaugural FIBA Americas U16 Championship gold medal, it dominated opponents by a 33.8 scoring margin and outrebounded foes by an even 20.0 boards a game. The U.S., which scored at a clip of 113.0 points a contest and averaged 53.6 rebounds, held foes to just 79.2 points and 33.6 caroms each game.

Opening with a 110-82 victory over Brazil, the U.S. had five players score in double digits, including a game-high 21 points on 4-of-5 from 3-point from Adonis Thomas.

Venezuela was no match in a 102-76 victory as the USA opened with an 11-0 run and never looked back. Quinn Cook scored the game's first eight points and led the charge with 22 on the night.

In the USA's third contest, it was Brad Beal's turn to pace the balanced attack that featured six players socring in double digits. Beal poured in 18 points as the U.S. led 56-33 at halftime and ran away with a 126-73 win over Puerto Rico.

Advancing to the semifinals against Canada, the U.S. led wire-to-wire and had no troubles dispatching its opponent, this time to a tune of 126-78. Six players scored in double digits, with two recording double-doubles, as James McAdoo led the way with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Thomas also netted a high of 19 points.

Meeting host and also undefeated Argentina for the gold medal, the United States expected a fight. After the first quarter the U.S. led by seven, 25-18, but went to a zone defense in the second quarter and the strategy worked. Argentina struggled, while the USA ran out to a 50-36 halftime lead and sailed in for the 101-87 victory and the gold medal. Beal scored a team-high 26 points on 7-of-14 from 3-point, while Cook added 22 points and McAdoo had a double-double of 20 points and 12 boards.

The dominating performance by the U.S. was an all-around team effort. The team had four players who averaged in double digits and nine who scored no less than 6.2 ppg. Beal topped the charts with a 19.0 ppg. average, while adding 4.0 rpg. McAdoo was next with 16.8 ppg. and a team second-best 8.6 rpg.; Cook scored 15.6 ppg. and passed out a team-best 5.0 apg.; Thomas averaged 13.8 ppg., 5.8 rpg. and 2.8 apg.; Sterling Gibbs posted 9.2 ppg. and 2.8 apg.; André Drummond contributed 8.6 ppg. and 6.8 rpg.; Tony Parker averaged 8.2 ppg. and 6.6 rpg.; and Johnny O'Bryant was a beast on the boards, averaging a team-high 9.8 rpg. to go with 6.8 ppg.

Canada earned the third berth to the '10 U17 Worlds with a 106-81 win over Venezuela in the bronze medal game.

2009 USA MEN'S FIBA AMERICAS U16 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM ROSTER

2009 USA MEN'S FIBA AMERICAS U16 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM CUMULATIVE STATISTICS