COLORADO SPRINGS, Col.– The US U16 team took target practice Friday, setting a single game record for three point goals with 19 during a 115-51 blowout victory over the Dominican Republic in the FIBA Americas championships at Bahia Blanca, Argentina.
Gary Trent from Apple Valley, Minn. High, a 6-5 guard who is the most talented shooter on the team, led the Americans with 25 points, making 7 of 12 three point goals. Point guard Markus Howard from Findlay, Nev. Prep made 6 of 10 threes and finished with 20 points while guard Jaylen Nowell of Garfield High in Seattle had had 13 points, three assists and three steals; and 6-5 wing Robert Woodard of Columbus, Miss High added 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Guard Tre Jones of Apple Valley grabbed a game-best 10 boards to go with two points, five assists and three steals; while 6-9 3/4, 230 pound center Wendell Carter Jr. of Pace Academy in Atlanta had nine points, seven rebounds and 5 assists.
The USA’s previous record for made three-pointers was 13, set by the 2009 USA U16 squad, while the previous tournament record of 14 made 3s was set by both Canada and Chile in 2011. Trent tied the USA and FIBA Americas U16 record for made threes, previously set by Bradley Beal in 2009.
“It was really consistent. When they were open, you felt that everything was going in from the 3, especially Gary,” USA U16 coach Don Showalter said. “And then we had other guys step and hit 3s as well. What that does is it spreads the defense out and we’re really tough to cover when our 3s are going in.”
Team USA U16 also had 25 steals, breaking its previous record of 23 steals versus Bahamas in 2013. The U.S. also eclipsed the former team and overall U16 championship three-point attempt record of 42 with 44 tries from beyond the arc against Dominican Republic.
Trent — the best perimeter prospect in the trials– looked like he was in a zone during the easy victory. “You could say that, but not really,” Trent said. “It was just my teammates. They put me in the right spots. It was up to the point guards running the offense and finding me.”
Team USA opened the tournament Wednesday with a 123-83 blowout of Brazil in a game where Carter finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes. it has yet to lose a game in international competition in this age bracket.
