COLORADO SPRINGS (FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2017) - Don't be surprised if United States coach Don Showalter has another couple of viewing sessions of last summer's CentroBasket U15 Championship as the four-time reigning champions will face off against all three CentroBasket teams in their group at FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2017.

The United States - who have never lost in their 20 games at the biennial FIBA U16 Americas Championship dating back to 2009 - have been drawn into Group B with Dominican Republic, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The top two teams from each of the two groups will reach the Semi-Finals and thereby book tickets to the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup - which USA have won in undefeated fashion in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016.

"It's interesting that we have all three teams from the CentroBasket in our group. Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Mexico have very solid programs," said Showalter, who will begin his training camp for the U16 tournament on Thursday, 1 June with 32 players. "In fact, either Dominican or Puerto Rico have made it to the Semi-Finals in the past three U16s, so we're not going to overlook any team."

A day after the draw was announced, Showalter added eight players to his training camp pool just days ahead of the team gathering in Colorado Springs from 1-10 June. Three of the added players participated in the 2016 USA Junior National Team minicamp last October.

About the late adds to the training camp pool, Showalter said: "These players we invited have done very well this spring and over the past year on their high school teams. We felt they would fit in really well with what we're looking at. They can play different positions. They're really good defenders. We're always looking for great defenders on our team. Each one of these players will bring something new to the table, and they'll compete for a spot on the team."

The USA coach said he expects to be challenged in Argentina, which will host the event in Formosa from 14-18 June.

"It's interesting that we have all three teams from the CentroBasket in our group. Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Mexico have very solid programs. In fact, either Dominican or Puerto Rico have made it to the Semi-Finals in the past three U16s, so we’re not going to overlook any team."Don Showalter

"The competitiveness, especially among the top teams, is really incredible," Showalter said. "We were down to Canada by 20 in the (FIBA U16 Americas Championship) 2015 gold medal game, so we know we can't take any team for granted."

Still, the USA coach knows what he and everyone else in the program expects and is aiming for.

"In the end, it doesn't really matter who you have in your pool, you still have to win," Showalter said.

FIBA