The USA 17U National Team finished the preliminary round at the 2012 World Championships in impressive style, and now faces Canada in Friday's quarter-final round.
USA beat previously 3-1 China 116-47 on Tuesday to finish the prelims undefeated at 5-0. Canada comes into quarter-final play at 3-2. A win there sets up a semi-final match-up on Saturday vs. Spain (3-2) or China (3-2). Another win there and Croatia (also 5-0 in the prelims) is the likely opponent in Sunday's final.
In 5 games, Apple Valley guard Tyus Jones led Team USA with 27 assists (5.4 per game) while scoring 7 points per game. He started 2 games at the point guard spot, where Joel Berry also started twice and Conner Frankamp once. Jones played 19 minutes per game, Berry and Frankamp each 21. Jones' assist to turnover ratio was about 3.5 to 1, Berry was at 2 to 1, and Frankamp also 3.5 to 1. He shot a solid 54 percent from the field, 5th best on the team behind 4 inside players, but he made just 1-of-3 3s. Frankamp made 8-of-16 3s. Berry is from Lake Highland Prep, Apopka, FL while Frankamp is from Wichita North. All 3 are class of 2014.
Frankamp led team USA in scoring in the preliminary round with 14+ ppg. Jahlil Okafor of Chicago Whitney Young emerged as the USA's best all-around player, however. The 6-10 post (class of 2014) scored 14 points with a team-high 10 boards, while shooting 58 percent. He overshadowed the #1 player among the 2013s, Jabari Parker, also from Chicago (Simeon), who also scored 14 points per game.
Stephen Domingo, 6-7 forward and 2013, from San Francisco St. Ignatius, also scored in double figures (10 ppg) while making 12-of-28 3s. Justise Winslow of Houston St. John's, a 6-6 forward in the class of 2014, emerged as a defensive stopper. He led the team in blocks and steals while grabbing 7 boards per game.
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