ISTANBUL – A place in seventh heaven was sealed Sunday for the USA Basketball Men’s U17 National Team.
The United States are champions for a seventh straight time since 2010 and improved to 51-0 in the FIBA Men’s U17 World Cup competition.
The seventh was a came with ease but the young Americans showed rhythm and flair in six games where they had no peers.
Cameron Boozer of Columbus (Miami) pocketed more hardware as he was named TISSOT Most Valuable after securing a 24-point, 13-rebound effort in guiding United States to a 129-88 victory over Italy in the final. Boozer averaged 20.1 points, 9.9 rebounds 2.0 assists and 2.7 steals for the tournament.
“It’s cool but it’s more of a team thing. The team dominated the whole tournament, winning games by 50 points every time. It’s a great group of guys and I love playing with them,” Boozer said afterwards. “I think we had a great team with a lot of great characters on and off the court. It was a great group of guys. I think it’s one of the best groups of guys FIBA has ever seen so I really appreciate playing with all these boys.”
Joining Boozer on the All-Star 5 were his USA teammate A.J. Dybantsa of Utah Prep, Maikcol Perez of Italy, Kaan Onat from Türkiye and New Zealand’s Oscar Goodman.
Dybantsa, the nation’s top-ranked player from the Class of 2025, tallied 14 points, four rebounds and three assists against Italy while averaging 14.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals in the title run.
Onat helped Türkiye to third place as he averaged 18.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals. Goodman was the main force for Semi-Finalists New Zealand with 17.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals.
In the bronze medal game, host country Türkiye bounced back from the disappointment of losing in the semis to whip New Zealand, 101-78. It is the country’s second medal at the event following silver in 2016.
Onat averaged 18.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals.
The USA roster was composed of several players from teams ranked in the Blue Star Media Elite 25.
Semifinals
In the U17 Men’s World Cup semifinals, it was another lopsided win for the Red, White and Blue over the Independence Day Weekend in a city where East meets West.
The United States jumped to a 21-point edge and rolled to a 145-65 blowout win over New Zealand.
The Americans’ 69 points is a record for the most first-half points in a FIBA U17 Men’s World Cup semifinal game and they added 27 steals, using a stifling defense led by Jalen Haralson and Brandon McCoy Jr., with six apiece.
The winners closed the contest on a 41-19 spree in the fourth quarter.
Nine players struck for double figures scoring with McCoy Jr. (19), Koa Peat (19), J.J. Mandaquit and Cameron Boozer (18 apiece), Tyran Stokes (13), Dybantsa (11), Haralson and Caleb Holt (11 apiece) and Chris Cenac Jr. (10).
Cameron Boozer posted his fourth double-double of the tournament with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Boozer’s twin brother, Cayden, handed out a game-high nine assists and Mandaquit had eight.
The USA exceeded their tournament averages in points per game with 125.2 and field goal percentage at 55.4 percent.
Since 2010, the Americans are perfect in 50 games at the U17 World Cup.
— FIBA Communications contributed to this report
