Inside look at USA’s FIBA Americas U18 Roster

    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.– The United States U18 men’s basketball team flattened another country Mexico, 100-46, in preliminiary round competition Saturday.

      Here’s a deeper look at this talented roster, which is coached by Billy Donovan of Florida, and includes eight rising seniors and four incoming college freshmen.

       — Isaiah Briscoe, 6-4 guard Roselle N.J. Catholic. First team All State selection who transfered in from St. Benedicts to a school closer to his home averaged 22.1 points, 4 assists, 3.9 rebounds for Roselle, which is project as best team in Jersey after winning Parochial B state title. His nickname is “Must See TV.” St. Benedicts and has ambidextrous skillls that remind some of a young Deron Williams. He has already been offered by Arizona and Syracuse, where his older sister plays basketball.

    — Jalen Brunson, 6-2 guard, Stevenson High, Lincolnshire, Ill. Son of former Temple star guard Rick Brunson, who spent nine years in the NBA. Was selected Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois over Jalil Okafor and Clff Alexander after lighting up Okafor’s Whtiney Young state champions for 56 in state semi-final loss. Averaged 26.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists as a junior. Has cut list to eight schools– UConn, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Nova. and Temple. Most scouts feel he could wind up at dad’s alma mater if father takes staff as assistant on Fran Dunphy’s staff.

     — Jaylen Brown, 6-7 forward, Wheeler High in Alpharetta, Ga. Internet sensation who blew up after attending Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy two weeks ago after team of Adidas All Stars. Exceptional student with 435. GPA whose parents attends Michigan and Michigan State. Will reportedly make visits to UCLA, Kentucky. Duke has just jumped into recruiting war for most athletic wing in the South. tough kid who has been practicing boxing for last two years.

     — Chase Jeter, 7-0 center, Bishop Gorman High, Las Vegas. Late addition to team after Dwayne Morgan of Baltimore had to return home to Baltimore for family emergency but son of Chris Jeter, who played on UNLV’s 1990 national championship team, has fit right in as a force inside. Exceptional student who has over a 4.0 GPA and reportedly is committed to Duke has 21 points and 20 rebounds as Nevada state championship game as Gorman won its fourth consecutive Nevada state title. All around player who averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds, 10 steals and 3 blocks as a junior. Wears No. 4 to honor memory of cousin, who also played basketball and passed away due to heart attack at age 14.

     –Stanley Johnson, 6-7 foward, Mater Dei High, Santa Ana, Calif. Pllayed in McDonald’s All America, Nike Hoop Summit and was selected Basketball Times national Player of the Year who signed with Arizona and should fill vooid left when versatile 6-9 Aaron Gordon declared for NBA draft. Led Mater Dei High to four state upper division championships and two straight unbeaten season. Easily the most versatile player in the class. Played four positions in high school, starting as a center in ninth grade and a point guard as a senior, when he averaged 25.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.3 assist and 2.5 steals. Two gold medals in FIBa U17 World championships and 2011 FIBA Americas U16 title. Mother Karen Taylor played basketball for Jackson State and professionally in Denmark, Italy and Sweden.

     — Tyus Jones, 6-1 point guard, Apple Valley, Minn. This Three time Gatorade Minnesota Boys Basketball player of the year who played in McDonald’s All American game, Nike Hoop Summit is considered best point guard prospect in the class and has signed to play for Duke, along with best friend, 6-11 Jalil Okafor, Justice Winslow. Played varsity for five years and averaged 25.6 points, 8.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals as a senior. Has participated in six cycles with USA basketball, winning gold medals in 2-012 FIBA U17 world championship and 2011 FIBA Americas U16 championship.

     — Luke Kennard, 6-5 guard, Franklin Oh. High Two sport star who was a quarterback on football team and was named the 2013 Ohio Division II Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 2,331 yards, 26 touchdowns, but pure shooter preferred basketball and has committed to play for Duke after averaging 41 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4 assist and and 2 steals and already has scored 50 or more points three times and 40 or more 11 times as a junior. Made seven threes, scored 30 points, made 7 threes off the bench in opening game of this tournament when U.S. hammered Uruguay by 98 points.

      — Tyler Lydon, 6-9 forward, New Hampton. N.H. School. Syracuse commit from Elizaville, N.Y. was somewhat of a surprise pick.. Chandler Parsons clone as grown two inches since last year, making him an athletic wing who can rebound, fill the lane in trasition in Billy Donovan’s up tempo system. Has been playing varsity since eighth grade and, as a junior, was selected New England Prep School Calss 3A honorable mention after his team advance to the state championship game.

     — Allonzo Trier, 6-5 guard, Findlay Prep, Las Vegas. Starting off guard for this team. Nomadic traveler who was born in Seattle and whose picture once graced cover of New York Times Magazine as sixth grader when paper did a story on basketball prodigies and their road to college. As a junior, averaged 25.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.1 steals while shooting 64 percent inside the arc and 94 percent from the line for Montrose Christian School in suburban Washington, D.C. Massive recruiting from Connecticut Georgetown, Kansas, Louisville, North Carolina, Oklahoma (where he played his first two years of high school ball) UCLA, UNLV, Wake but we keep hearing he will eventually wind up at Washington.

     — Myles Turner, 7-0 center, Trinity High, Bedford, Tex. Top 5 recruit nationally and best big man in that talent loaded state who played in McDonald’s game, Nike Hoop Summit. Length, long wing span should make him best shot blocker to play for Texas since NBA All Star LeMarcus Aldridge. Averaged 18.7 points, 12.4 rebunds, 4,8 assist, and 7.8 blocked shots as a senior. Wears No. 52 to honor the memory of two close friends who passed away. Hidden talent is he can cook.

      — Justice Winslow, 6-6 forward, St. John’s School in Houston, Tex. Most complete player on this team, starts in front court with Johnson, Turner. The 2013 and 2014 Gatorade Player of the year who played in the McDonald’s All American game, Nike Hoop Summit and has won gold medals in the 2012 U17 world championship and the 2013 FIBA U19 World championships, where both he and JOkafor both played up. Averaged 27.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.8 steals. Signed to play for Duke over Arizona where he could be an instant starter. Father Rickie played for the Universtiy of Houston and played briefly in N/BA before competitng professionally in Turkey. Tough kid who once broke his arm playing on the trampoline with his brother Josh and was sidelined for three months.

     –Stephen Zimmerman, 7-0 center, Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas, Nev. High school Teammate of Chase Jeter who has helped lead team to three consecutive state titles, averaging 15 points, 10 rebounds as a junior. Eight finalists in his recruiting include Arizona, Indiana, UCLA, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carollna and UNLV. Is a righty, but only writes with his righjt hand, playing basketball and every other sport with his left.