Montverde Academy big man comes off the bench to provide spark in blowout victory.
Montverde Academy (Fla.) rising junior
Dakari Johnson posted 16 points and 12 rebounds Saturday to help the United States advance to 2-0 at the FIBA U17 World Championship with a 95-57 win over Czech Republic.
The Americans opened the event – being played in Kaunas, Lithuania – Monday with an 89-67 win over Australia.
Dakari Johnson
USA Basketball photo
Johnson, a 6-foot-10 center originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., came off the bench to produce a double-double in just 13 minutes. He has solidified his standing as one of the nation's top Class of 2014 prospects this summer.
"I just tried to come in the game and crash the offensive boards and really played hard," Johnson said. "I think I wasn't as effective yesterday as I should have been. I just tried to increase my play today."
Jabari Parker (12),
Conner Frankamp (11),
Joel Berry (10),
Stanley Johnson (10),
Tyus Jones (10) and
Jahlil Okafor (10, 14 rebounds) joined Dakari Johnson in double figures. All 12 American players scored for the second game in a row at the event.
Czech Republic shot just 30.5 percent from the field and failed to produce a single double-digit scorer.
The United States led 41-22 at the half and closed strong with a 31-12 advantage in the fourth quarter.
"Our emphasis was getting a good start in the first quarter," USA head coach Don Showalter said. "The defensive intensity was really good. To hold somebody like the Czech Republic to 22 points in a half means we're doing something right on defense."
The USA takes on 0-2 Egypt on Sunday in another preliminary contest. Monday is an off day before completing prelims Tuesday and Wednesday.
