EIGHT STRAIGHT: USA Men’s Basketball U16 National Team takes home gold, burying Canada, 118-36, in FIBA Americas final; Cameron Boozer named MVP

MERIDA, Mexico – The USA Basketball Men’s U16 National Team made it look easy. When a team displayed the dominance at the 2023 FIBA Men’s U16 Americas Championships, including a lopsided 82-point win in the gold medal game, something very special took place.

For the eighth consecutive time, the young Americans struck gold, crushing Canada, 118-36, Sunday night in the Poliforum Zamná.

USA went 6-0 at the tournament and Sharman White captured his second gold as head coach of the USA Men’s U16 National Team (2021, 2023). He joins the legendary Don Showalter (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) on the list of American head coaches to win multiple FIBA Men’s U16 Americas titles.

Rising junior Cameron Boozer of Columbus (Miami) was the Most Valuable Player of the tournament and becomes the eighth American to earn the honor. Boozer tossed in a game-high 24 points to pace six Americans in double figures. Joining Boozer Tyran Stokes with 15, Darryn Peterson had 13, A.J. Dybantsa scored 12, Koa Peat dropped 11 and Jayden Quaintance added 10.

The 82-point margin of victory is the highest in the history of the competition’s gold medal game (previous was 51 vs Canada, 111-60, in 2017). Puerto Rico won the bronze medal, defeating Argentina, 86-76, in overtime.

The game’s box score.

Up next are the ladies this week at the same location on the Yucatan Peninsula as the 2023 FIBA Women’s U16 Americas Championship tips on June 13 with USA playing Puerto Rico at 7:30 p.m. EDT. Check it out on YouTube.com/FIBA.

— From USA Basketball Communications