By ADAM ZAGORIA
While European players dominated the top of last month’s NBA Draft, the U.S. continues to dominate basketball at the youth levels.
Led by Koa Peat‘s 26 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and Cam Boozer’s 24 points, 13 rebounds and 2 steals, the U.S. U17 team obliterated Italy, 129-88, to win the FIBA U17 World Cup final in Istanbul, Turkey. Boozer was named the World Cup Most Valuable Player.
A.J. Dybantsa, the No. 1 player in the Class of 2025, scored 14 points, Tyran Stokes went for 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals and Brandon McCoy added 13 points, 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds .
With former Duke and NBA standout Carlos Boozer on hand to support his sons, the U.S. won its seventh straight gold medal in the event and improved to 51-0 all time. Italy secured its first ever medal in the FIBA U17 World Cup, finishing with the silver.
The U.S. cruised into the final with a 145-65 rout of New Zealand in the semifinals.
FIRE US UP FELLAS.
— USABJNT (@usabjnt) July 7, 2024
#USABMU17 x #FIBAU17 https://t.co/DVdrMgerK3 pic.twitter.com/ar8jp7lHMT
The Americans led 73-36 at the half when Boozer had 20 points and 5 rebounds, Peat had 15 points, 6 boards and 4 assists and Dybantsa had 14.
The 6-foot-8 Peat out of Perry (AZ) High won his third gold medal as he is being pursued by a Who’s Who of colleges. He has a Top 10 of North Carolina, Texas, Michigan, Kentucky, Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, Baylor, Houston and Duke.
The 6-9 Boozer out of Christopher Columbus (FL) is being courted by Duke, his father’s alma mater, Miami, North Carolina, Michigan, Florida and Arkansas.
Gold. Medal. Plays.
— USABJNT (@usabjnt) July 7, 2024
@tyran_stokes x #FIBAU17 pic.twitter.com/gylCzxOcRG
The Women’s FIBA U17 World Cup begins Thursday in Mexico.
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