Playing without top-rated 2013 prospect
Jabari Parker, the United States received a monster effort Tuesday from another Chicagoan in an 86-50 win over France at the FIBA U17 World Championship in Kaunas, Lithuania.
Jahlil Okafor, a 6-foot-10, 280-pound center from
Whitney Young (Chicago), piled up 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Americans in both categories. Through four games at the event, Okafor is averaging 14.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per outing.
Jahlil Okafor
Photo by Steven Maikoski/USA Basketball
With a spot in Friday's quarterfinals already secure, Parker sat out while nursing an injured toe against France.
The United States pulled away Tuesday in the second and third quarters, outscoring France 44-19 over that span.
Conner Frankamp (12 points, 3 assists) and
Stanley Johnson (12 points, 10 rebounds) joined Okafor in double figures for the United States.
Tyus Jones (8 points, 5 assists) and
Justise Winslow (10 rebounds, 7 steals, 2 blocks) also made major contributions.
Damien Inglis, a 6-8 forward viewed as one of the top young prospects in Europe, was held to just four points on 2 of 7 shooting for France. Petr Cornelie, a 6-10 center, paced the French with 14 points.
The United States – winning by an average margin of 33.5 points per game in Lithuania – will play its final preliminary contest Wednesday against China. Behind the play of star guard Mario Hezonja and 6-8 forward Karlo Zganec, Croatia is the only other country that remains unbeaten in the competition.
