Athens, Greece - July 12-22, 1995

The 1995 USA Men's Junior World Championship Team, defending junior world champions, was denied in its attempt to capture a fourth gold medal as the American squad finished 4-4 and in seventh position.

The preliminary group draw saw the U.S. placed in a group with Australia, Italy and Jordan. The most competitive of the four preliminary groups, Australia, Italy and the USA figured to battle for the two medal round qualifying spots.

Playing its preliminary games in Larissa, Greece, the U.S. was served notice that repeating as junior world champions would be no easy feat as Australia slipped past the U.S. 71-69. Australia took a 71-69 lead after Aaron Trahair made two free throws when he was fouled with 7.8 seconds left. The USA's Stephon Marbury was fouled on a drive to the basket with three seconds left, and after missing his first free throw, he purposely missed the second and the ball went off an Australian, giving the U.S. once last chance with 1.5 seconds to go. The U.S. alley-oop try failed, and Australia had the 71-69 win. The USA's Samaki Walker turned in a strong showing, accounting for 26 points and 10 rebounds.

The U.S. struggled against Jordan but claimed a 61-51 victory as Marbury led the U.S. charge with 17 points. Facing Italy in a game in which the winner advanced on to the medal-round quarterfinals, behind Marbury's 29 points, 22 coming in the second half, the U.S. kept its medal hopes alive when it rallied in the second half to earn a 75-61 win.

Opening the medal-round quarterfinals against France, the USA earned a 65-62 win. Despite the USA leading by as many as 15, with just 1:32 remaining France grabbed the lead 62-61. The USA's Trajan Langdon came up with a steal and hit Marbury with a long pass for a layup with 38 seconds remaining, however, to give the U.S. a 63-62 lead. Then, Langdon sealed the 65-62 win with two free throws with 14.5 seconds left. Marbury led the U.S. with 20 points, and Langdon finished with 15.

Meeting host and undefeated Greece in front of a partisan sold-out crowd numbering more than 20,000, the U.S. suffered its second loss of the competition, falling 98-78. Greece led 64-59 with 11:54 to play, and a 19-6 offensive run by Greece put the game out of reach as Greece went on to the victory. Marbury again paced the U.S. offense with 23 points.

In the familiar position of needing a win to keep its medal hopes alive, the U.S. fell 82-65 to Croatia in a game in which the U.S. outside shooting never got on target. Marbury scored 16 points to pace the USA. Facing Argentina in the consolation semifinals, the U.S. led 33-29 at halftime, but the USA's shooting problems returned, and Argentina stormed back to capture a 67-58 win. Fowlkes was the lone U.S. player to score in double figures, finishing with 13 points.

Facing France in the seventh-place game, the U.S. offense finally got on track, and the result was an easy 92-55 win. Fowlkes led the USA with 22 points, and Vince Carter added 13 points and nine rebounds.

Greece defeated Australia 91-73 in the gold medal game, while Spain upended Croatia 77-64 to collect the bronze medal.

The USA's Marbury, who averaged team highs of 17.5 ppg., 3.9 apg. was named to the Junior World Championship All-Tournament Team.