JAKARTA– FIBA has constantly been tinkering with the rules of 3×3 after introducing the sport internationally three years ago in an effort to give it more of a beach volleyball feel as it pushes the game for inclusion as part of the basketball discipline part of the Olympic program.
But it appears the international governing body made one change that has dramatically shifting the dynamics away from the European countries and smaller countries in Southeastern Asia to the United States when it decided to give the dunk the same two-point value as a three-point shot in a game that only goes to 21 points and lasts just 10 minutes.
The men’s U18 team has yet to win a gold medal, losing to Croatia, 21-20, on a Dario Saric jumper over the outstretched hands of Rondae Hollis Jefferson last year. But judging from the first day of this year’s competition, the Americans, coached by Don Showalter– the head coach at City High in Iowa City– have brought along a new player— 6-9, 240 pound Cliff Alexander from Chicago’s Curie High has become the biggest impact player on these outdoor half courts located in a huge park just north of this huge city’s central business district. Alexander is a physical specimen who catches and finishes anything near the rim and knows how to use his body to create space. He blocks shots and is a relentless rebounder.
Alexander is being heavily recruited by Arizona, Michigan State, Kansas, Memphis State and Illinois after droppiing Kentucky from his list. Don’t be surprised if he gives DePaul a long look, either, given the fact he already made an official visit and is friends with a number of their former Public League recruits like Billy Garrett, Tommy Hamilton, Rashaun Stimage and Myke Henry. He will commit in mid-December.
This is Alexander’s first time playing in a Team USA uniform and he terrorozed the competition in the first thee games– throwing down a thunderous 13 dunks as the U.S. team defeated Andorra, a good China team and Bulgaria, reaching the necessary 21 points in less than the required time during each of the three games the Americans played in Group B competition.
Although the local organizers did little to provide informatilon to the media with details describing the players, Alexander was more than happy to introduce himself. There is a reason why he is considered to be the second best front court prospect in the Class of 2014, just behind 6-11 Jalil Okafor of Chicago Whitney Young in a Midwestern city that is producing more quality high school players these days than any other big city in the country.
Alexander established his reputation this summer
Alexander just has too much quickness to the ball and quickness to the rim for anyone here. And no one so far has shown the desire to get in his way– or even foul him to prevent an easy two points– once he receives the ball, either cutting across the lane or positioning himself in the low post or finishing off screen and roll plays.
“They want us to attack the rim, to bring the rim down,” Alexander said.
When the rule was implemented there was some thought other countries would try to turn this game from a high skill contest to bully ball in the box to prevent dunking from taking over the game. “If I was a player I would have never given up a dunk,” Showwalter said. “But it never happened in the two tournaments we participated in in the States before we came here and it hasn’t happened here yet. It kind of surprised me.”
Showalter is a high school coach from Iowa who has been the genius behind the USA’s unbeaten run of gold medals in the U16 competition, which has become a magnet for more and more of the best players in the country. “It’s a chance for us to introduce them to what it means to represent this country. They go to other countries and seeing their players signing the national anthem, hear their fans waving flags and chanting support for their country and they start to understand our fight song is the national anthem.”.
USA basketball had to qualify for this youth world championship during a four day national youth championship in Colorado Springs when they were faced with quality teams representing Hoop It Up and Gus Maker. But they won there and won the FIBA Americas warm up tournament against in Washington, D.C. It appears the federation is finally started to figure out the make up for a good 3-3 team is based more on offensively versatility and quickness than slow, low post big men who can’t function in shot clock situations.
“In 3 x 3 you need three guys who can handle the ball at all times,” Showalter said. “That is not necessarily the case in 5 x 5.”
Give the selection committee credit for selecting a well put together American team– which also consists of 6-9 Cleveland State freshman Demonte Flannigan, who also has a knack for using his quickness to the ball and quickness to the rim to make a similar impact as Alexander; pure shooter Dominique Collier, a high school senior from Denver East in Springfield, Ill. who has committed to Colorado and guard Larry Austin Jr, a fiercely competitve guard from Lamphier High in Springfield, Ill., who has verbaled to Tennessee.
“I didn’t know much about USA basketball, but Larry is my best friend and he said I ought to give it a try,” Alexander said. “I like the game. It’s just like the 3×3 games I used to participate in at the park near my house when I was growing up.”
Alexander looked right at home in the steamy, late afternoon heat of this huge city of 10 million, never losing his legs during three games. He actually got stronger as the games progressed, throwing down four dunks against a constantly improving Chinese team and five against Bulgaria.
To be fair, this tournament is not nearly as good as the 2012 youth worlds that were held on Spain. Australia opted not to enter and Serbia pulled out 10 days ago. The U.S. started slowly against Andorra, but went into another gear against China. “I told them this could be the game that determines whether we get out of the pool,” Showalter said. “I told them if they just stood away, China could beat them.”
Alexander and Flannigan, who had seven dinks himself in the first three games, weren’t about to let that happen. “It’s a big advantage, because all me and Dominique have to do is throw it up to the rim and our bigs will go get it; Cliff and DeMonte just dunk everything,” Austin Jr. said.
The USA still has to play against defensie aggressive Puerto Rico, who they beat 21-17, in the finals of the FIBA Americas tournament, Argentina, whuich has four players from its U17 team; and perennial 3×3 European power France before they can seal the deal.
the park where this event is taking place is the home of a huge monument that rises above called “The Monas” with a flame at the top that was commissioned by the late Presisdent Sukarno to the people of Indonesia. But Cliff Alexaander owns this park these day and it may not be long before we are talking about Alexander the Great.
