USA 104, France 81
View the USA-France box score here.
The quest for a seventh straight FIBA U17 Men’s World Cup gold medal began for the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s U17 National Team on Saturday with a 104-81 victory over France in Istanbul. The win puts the Americans atop Group B with Guinea, who defeated China 101-92 earlier in the day.
TEAM NOTES
Curtain Call: The USA improved to 3-0 all-time (95-52 in 2018, 86-50 in 2012) against France in U17 competition. The win also moves the U.S. to 45-0 all-time at the event.
8 Mile: The U.S. roster includes eight athletes (Cameron Boozer, Cayden Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, Caleb Holt, JJ Mandaquit, Brandon McCoy Jr., Koa Peat, Tyran Stokes) that were members of the 2023 FIBA U16 Men’s AmeriCup that won the gold medal a year ago. Today, against France, saw the junior national team returners shoot 50.0% (30-60 FG).
My Band: The starting five for the USA Basketball Men’s U17 National Team featured McCoy Jr., Mandaquit, Dybantsa, Peat and Cameron Boozer. The quintet was responsible for 68 of the USA’s 104 points.
PLAYER NOTES
Encore: Cameron Boozer, the 2023 FIBA U16 Men’s AmeriCup MVP, picked up where he left off on the international stage. His 29 points (9-15 FG, 11-13 FT) now ranks second all-time on the USA single-game record for points scored in a game (No. 1 is Michael Kidd-Gilchrist's 30 points vs. Canada in 2010). However, Boozer set a new high mark for free throws made and attempted.
Superman: Impacting every facet of the game, Dybantsa put together an all-around effort for the USA. He recorded 19 points (7-11 FG, 5-8 FT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists and a team-high 5 steals. The last U17 athlete to record 5+ steals was Cooper Flagg (8) in the 2022 gold medal game against Spain.
My Name Is: Peat, the two-time gold medalist, put together a solid performance against France. He finished with 18 points (8-17 FG), 6 boards (5 OR), 3 assists and 1 steal. Tonight was his seventh consecutive game scoring in double-figures while donning the red, white and blue. He scored 10+ in all six games at the FIBA U16 AmeriCup last year and averaged 17.2 ppg.
What's Next
A game recap will be published on usab.com.
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