Isla de Margarita, Venezuela • July 24-28, 2002

A two-point loss to host Venezuela prevented the Americans from achieving their gold medal dreams, however, the USA Junior World Championship Qualifying Team bounced back to claim the bronze medal at the Confederation of Pan American Basketball Associations (COPABA) Men's Junior World Championship Qualifying Tournament and achieve its number one goal of earning the United States an invitation to next summer's FIBA Junior World Championship.

Utilizing a balanced scoring attack that after its five games featured nine players averaging between 15.6 and 5.0 points a game, the U.S. offense was led by 6-8 forward Carmelo Anthony, who averaged a team high 15.6 ppg. on 54.1 percent shooting from the field, while adding 6.2 rpg. and 1.8 assists. Chris Bosh, a 6-11 forward, was the only other American to average double digit scoring, he finished averaging 10.2 ppg. and a team best 9.2 rebounds, while shooting a team high 57.6 percent from the floor, and adding 1.6 blocked shots a game. Kris Humphries posted 9.0 ppg. and 5.0 rpg., while 5-10 guard Aaron Brooks accounted for 8.8 ppg. and 2.0 assists, and shot a team leading 50.0 percent from 3-point making 9-of-18 tries. Guard Daniel Brown finished averaging 8.2 ppg. and a team best 3.0 assists.

The USA kicked open the COPABA Junior Qualifying Tournament in impressive fashion, posting a 109-70 rout of the Dominican Republic. Led by guard Brooks' 19 points, all 12 USA player scored, including seven who finished in double digits.

Behind Anthony's game high 21 points, the United States rolled over Mexico 101-41 to earn its second consecutive win. The U.S. set a team record for fewest points allowed by limiting Mexico to only 41 points, breaking the previous mark of 44 points scored by Costa Rica in 1990.

The USA rallied back after trailing by as many as 14 points to narrowly edge Argentina 75-73 in its final preliminary round game and for the second consecutive night, Anthony led the USA attack scoring 23 points, while Andre Iguodala snatched a USA team record 10 steals.

In a sweltering arena, the U.S. was outscored 26-to-9 in the final quarter and host Venezuela made several critical shots in the game's final minutes to earn a 67-65 upset of the Americans in the medal semifinals. The loss halted the USA's winning streak in the event at 24 games. The USA was led by Anthony's 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Humphries added 12 points and Bosh tossed in 11 points while snagging nine rebounds.

Fighting through the disappointment of its semifinal loss, the USA rebounded behind the play of guards Brown and Williams who combined for 28 points to lead the U.S. to a 71-65 victory over Argentina in the bronze medal game. Brown led the USA's balanced scoring effort with 16 points on 3-for-5 shooting from 3-point, while Williams scored 12 points. Bosh added eight points and a team high nine rebounds, and Humphries also finished with eight points.

2002 USA BASKETBALL MEN'S JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING TEAM ROSTER

2002 USA BASKETBALL MEN'S JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING TEAM CUMULATIVE STATISTICS