Riga, Latvia • July 3-11, 2021

For the fourth time in the past five FIBA U19 World Cup events, the United States men collected the gold medal (2021, 2019, 2015, 2013). Under the guidance of TCU head coach Jamie Dixon, who led the USA to gold in 2009, the Americans compiled a perfect 7-0 record.

Averaging 95.0 points a game, the USA’s average winning margin was 29.7 points a game.

Opening play against Turkey and posting an 83-54 win, the Americans got a strong performance from Jaden Ivey, who tallied his tournament-high 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Chet Holmgren chipped in a near double-double with 13 points, and nine rebounds. The USA's second game saw a huge 100-52 win over 2019 U19  silver medalists Mali with six players scoring in double-digits. Caleb Furst (14 points), Ivey (14 points) and Kenneth Lofton Jr. (14 points) led the way offensively. The USA forced 25 turnovers in the game and made 29 free throws, three makes shy of the USA U19 World Cup single-game record.

The USA finished out preliminary round play against a tough Australia team, but the U.S. defense held strong, blocking 12 shots, on the way to an 87-66 win. Mike Miles paced the USA with 16 points, while Lofton scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. In the round of 16 match up with South Korea, the USA put forth a record-breaking performance with a 132-60 win. The Americans broke the USA U19 men’s single-game record in rebounds (62), assists (39), field goals made (57) and field goals attempted (92) and recorded the second-most points (132). Eight players scored in double figures and were led by a Holmgren double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Peyton Watson recorded his tournament high 15 points to go with nine rebounds, six assists and four blocks.

A 30-point quarterfinals win over Senegal 88-58, sent the USA to the semifinals. The Americans went on a 14-4 run in the first 3:20 of the game, ending the quarter up 32-14 and never looked back. The USA forced Senegal into 28 turnovers in the game. The semifinal match up against Canada was a back-and-forth battle, and the USA held just a six-point lead (69-63) heading into the fourth quarter. A 17-0 USA run in the fourth that was the difference, as the U.S.held Canada scoreless for 3:36 to secure a 20-point lead (88-68). Despite Canada hitting some late shots down the stretch, the Americans earned the win and advanced to the gold medal game.

In the gold medal contest against France, the game came down to the wire, but the USA’s balanced team effort and unselfish play helped lead them to the 83-81 victory. The USA surrendered the lead at the 8:26 mark of the second quarter and wouldn’t regain an advantage until late in the fourth quarter. The Americans regained the lead at the 6:51 mark in the fourth quarter when Holmgren laid it in high off the glass to take a 69-68 lead during an 11-0 run. The USA held onto the lead until the final buzzer. The Americans were led by Ivey with 16 points; Lofton finished with 16 points and seven rebounds; Adam Miller added 12 points; Miles contributed 11 points; and Holmgren tallied 10 points.

Holmgren who averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.7 blocks per game overall, was named FIBA U19 World Cup MVP. He was joined on the All-Star Five by Ivey, who contributed 12.3 points, 3.0. rebounds and 2.1 assists throughout the tournament. Rounding out the All-Star Five was Zach Edey (Canada), Nikola Jovic (Serbia) and Victor Wembanyama (France).

“I couldn’t be happier for everybody on the team, we came together, and we had a lot of guys perform to get here,” stated Holmgren. “It wasn’t a one or two guy thing, it was the whole team and we needed everybody to get here.”

Dixon was assisted by Stanford University head coach Jerod Haase, and Yale University head coach James Jones.

“We battled. We were worn down, but we battled down the stretch and found a way, so I am proud of them,” said Dixon. "It's a grind, there's no question but there's a lot of joy in it. Coach Jones and Coach Haase, the time they put in, the scouts they did, the coaching, the substituting, they were tremendous.”