U.S. U19 Team Named USA Team of the Year
December 14, 2009 | Men's Basketball
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. ----- The USA Men’s U19 Team, in recognition of its gold-medal performance at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship, was named as the 2009 USA Basketball Team of the Year. The USA Basketball Board of Directors made its announcement from its headquarters here Monday. Led by the University of Pittsburgh’s Jamie Dixon, the USA U19 squad compiled a perfect 9-0 record July 2-12 in Auckland, New Zealand, ending an 18-year gold-medal drought for USA Basketball in the U19 Worlds. Dixon was assisted by collegiate head coaches Chris Lowery of Southern Illinois University and Matt Painter of Purdue University. “Our squad embodied a true team,” said Dixon, who was also named the 2009 USA Basketball National Coach of the Year. “We didn’t have the best player in the tournament or maybe even the best 1 through 5 players, but we definitely had the best 1 through 12. We won with our depth and teamwork. We were also fortunate to have a three-man head coaching staff with Chris Lowery and Matt Painter.” Georgia sophomore Trey Thompkins ranked second on the team in scoring at 10.6 points per game and third among all Americans in rebounding at 5.0 per game. He had the Yanks’ highest single-game scoring output with 22 points in a fourth-round win over Greece. Among the 16 teams, the USA finished ranked No. 1 in scoring offense, scoring margin, field goals made (204), 3-point field goals made (84), 3-point field goals attempted (238) and fewest turnovers per game (12.9). The U.S. defense limited its foes to just 66.0 points per contest and a frigid 38.2 percent shooting from the field. The U.S. squad set single-game USA U19 World Championship team records for 3-point field goals made (14) and attempted (37) and most blocked shots (12).
