Sao Sebastiáo do Paraiso, Brazil • June 16-20, 2012

Sao Sebastiáo do Paraiso, Brazil, hosted the eight-team 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men and for the sixth time in eight FIBA Americas U18 Championships, the USA men claimed gold.

First held in 1990 and known as the FIBA Americas Junior World Championship Qualifying Tournament, the U.S. improved its overall record to 43-2.

Led by University of Florida mentor Billy Donovan, the U.S. featured a well balanced scoring attack that averaged 97.2 points and won its five contests by an average of 38.6 points a game.

Julius Randle, the USA’s youngest player, averaged USA team highs of 14.2 points and 6.6 rebounds a game. University of Tennesse power forward Jarnell Stokes added 14.0 ppg. and 5.6 rpg., Shaq Goodwin added 12.4 ppg. and 4.8 rpg., and Rasheed Sulaimon was credited with 10.0 ppg. 3.4 rpg. Marcus smart accounted for team bests 4.0 assists and 3.6 steals a game to go with 7.4 points a game.

Opening play June 16, behind Goodwin’s 30 points that came on flawless 12-of-12 shooting from the field and 6-of-6 marksmanship from the foul line, the USA recorded a high scoring, 105-42 pounding of U.S. Virgin Islands.

Led by Jake Layman’s game high 18 points, the USA routed Mexico 110-59 the following day as all 12 USA players scored in the game.

Getting points again from every member of the USA Team, including a game high 22 points from Stokes and 15 more from Randle, the USA downed host Brazil 83-64 to close out preliminary round play 3-0.

Utilizing its superior depth and balanced scoring, the USA handled Argentina 107-72 in its semifinal game. The win, which featured all 12 U.S. players scoring including seven in double figures, advanced the Americans into the gold medal game. The U.S. offense, which registered a tournament high 107 points on 54.8 percent shooting overall, was paced by 15 points from Randle, Sulaimon added 14 points, Goodwin tossed in 13, Rodney Purvis and Stokes each accounted for 11 points, and Nathaniel Britt, II and Layman had 10 points apiece.

Leading by just six (37-31) at halftime of the June 20 gold medal game versus Brazil, the USA stepped up its defense in the second half to break open its game with Brazil and record an 81-56 victory. Randle helped pave the way to the win posting a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds. Stokes contributed 11 points and Smart was credited with 10 points, three rebounds, four assists and a game high six steals.

Canada edged Argentina 68-66 in the bronze medal game. The U18 Championship’s top four finishers qualified for the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship.

2012 USA BASKETBALL MEN’S U18 NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER

2012 USA BASKETBALL MEN’S U18 NATIONAL TEAM CUMULATIVE STATISTICS