DEBRECEN, Hungary (Aug. 30, 2024) - Following 14 combined victories against a batch of challengers from across the globe, the 2024 USA 3x3 U18 National Teams pocketed gold medals at the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary, on Aug. 30.
The top-tier finish marks the sixth consecutive and eighth overall 3x3 U18 World Cup title for the American women and the first tournament triumph for the USA men since 2021.
Spearheaded by Jasmine Davidson, Saniyah Hall, Arianna Roberson and Sarah Strong, the 2024 USA 3x3 Women’s U18 National Team showcased its dominance throughout the entire event.
Outside of its nail-biting title game, the crew’s smallest margin of victory was six points, and the platoon typically walked off the floor up double digits.
In its final against Japan, however, the United States squeezed every ounce of energy out of its group to overcome in what would prove to be its most difficult game of the five-day European circuit.
The USA women rattled off three straight layups to build a 3-0 lead, but Japan roared back to tie it at three. The two traded blows for the rest of the match and combined for a staggering 12 ties until the game’s closing sequence.
On several occasions, the Japanese capitalized on a 2-point look or and-one layup to flip a one-tally hole into a one-point lead. As they did in every contest, Davidson, Hall or Strong would counter with an inside score to halt any type of boost for its opposition.
Following a crucial 2-point hit, the Japanese held a 19-18 lead in the waning moments. In frenetic fashion, Strong scored a layup to tie it at 19 before Davidson nailed a 2-point field goal to secure the victory and ignite a rumble from the American fans scattered across the crowd.
Hall made seven 1-pointers for eight total points, Davidson chased in on five 1-pointers for seven tallies and Strong, who captured her third straight 3x3 U18 title, finished with six points.
The 2024 USA 3x3 Men’s U18 National Team members Kingston Flemings, Amir Jenkins, Nikolas Khamenia and Bo Ogden, meanwhile, played in a pair of thrillers before donning some golden hardware in Hungary.
In its title game against Spain, a group they defeated 21-18 in its second pool play game, Flemings and Co. impressed late to notch a 21-13 win and first 3x3 title as a unit.
Spain trailed 6-5 early but missed free throws and open layups allowed Ogden and Flemings to construct a 4-0 run and bring the score to 10-5. In response to a Spanish rally, Flemings and Khamenia transformed an 11-8 affair into a 16-8 contest with back-to-back 2-pointers and a thunderous dunk.
Four of Spain’s final points came from the free throw line but the United States had already pulled away. Flemings put a bow on the outing with an uncontested layup, and the USA exited the venue with smiles, 21-13.
Khamenia poured in nine points, Flemings registered seven and Ogden recorded five points to propel the USA to its first 3x3 U18 gold in three summers.
Different than five-on-five, 3x3 is played on a half-court with a 10-minute game clock and 12-second shot clock. Play is continuous, as teams “clear” the ball behind the 2-point line following a made basketball, defensive rebound or steal. The first team to score 21 points via 1-pointer field goals or 2-pointers behind the arc is victorious; or if time expires then the team leading wins.