Aaron Gordon and Jabari Parker help United States go 5-0 in Mexico.
The United States under-16 developmental basketball team captured gold for the second time in three years at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship, dominating Argentina 104-64 Saturday night in Cancun, Mexico.
Under head coach Don Showalter of
Mid-Prairie (Wellman, Iowa), the USA is now 18-0 all-time in U16 and U17 international play with gold in last summer's FIBA U17 World Championship to go along with the FIBA Americas titles.
"It's an unbelievable feeling," USA guard
Larry Austin Jr. said. "First off, to be playing for your country is a great feeling. To bring back a gold medal while representing your country is just unbelievable."
Jabari Parker took home tournament MVP honors.
USA Basketball/Steven Maikoski
of
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) turned in his third dominating performance in as many days at the event against Argentina, scoring 24 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. The 6-foot-8 rising junior posted averages of 17.0 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.1 blocked shots per game during five games in Cancun.
"We were prepared for the game and we were able to figure it out and get the win," Gordon said. "It's what we've been working for. We've been together for two weeks, putting in a lot of effort and hard work, and when it all comes together, there are just no feelings to explain it."
Jahlil Okafor of
Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.) also provided a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Jabari Parker (14 points),
Justin Jackson (13) and
Theo Pinson (10) all contributed double-figures scoring efforts in the gold medal game.
Parker,who helped
Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) capture the Illinois' Class 4A state title as a sophomore, was named the tournament MVP after averaging 15.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
"It's an honor," Parker said. "I felt surprised because all these guys, each and every one of them, everybody deserves this MVP trophy. When I got it, I just felt a sense of accomplishment."
The United States averaged 108.4 points per game at the event while allowing just 66.2. Next summer the team will compete in the FIBA U17 World Championship in Lithuania beginning in late June.
