×
20 November, 2017
26 February, 2019
9 Xavier Munford (USA)
14/11/2017
News
to read

USA name roster for Qualifiers against Puerto Rico and Mexico

COLORADO SPRINGS (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) - Just three days before opening training camp for their two November FIBA World Cup qualifying games, USA Basketball has named its 12-man roster.

Eleven of the twelve are currently competing in the NBA's developmental G-League with one currently a free agent. By agreement with FIBA, no NBA players or G League athletes on two-way contracts were available for selection. Last summer, for the first time, the USA roster for the FIBA AmeriCup Championship was also comprised primarily by G League players.

Four players return from the AmeriCup side that went 5-0 on its way to the gold medal, Including Larry Drew II (Sioux Falls Skyforce); Reggie Hearn (Reno Bighorns); Xavier Munford (Wisconsin Herd); and Jameel Warney (Texas Legends).

Returning as head coach from the AmeriCup campaign is former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy. He will be joined on the bench by veteran international coach Mo McHone and former Georgetown University coach John Thompson III.

Here is the complete roster.

USA 12-player roster for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers

Larry Drew II

Reggie Hearn

Xavier Munford

Jameel Warney

Markel Brown

Semaj Christon

Jarell Eddie

Amile Jefferson

Elijah Millsap

Donald Sloan

Kennedy Meeks

Travis Wear

"USA Basketball has put together a versatile roster that has a mix of youth and experience highlighted by our four returning players from this summer’s AmeriCup gold medal team," said Van Gundy. "Puerto Rico and Mexico are outstanding teams that are extremely well coached, and we will have our hands full in our games against them. We are excited about the challenge, and I know we all have great pride in representing our country."

In spite of their success at the AmeriCup, the returning USA players are not household names.  Warney, a 23-year-old G League and NBA Summer League veteran, was named AmeriCup MVP after scoring 21 points on 8-11 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds in a game that saw the Americans comeback from a 20 point deficit to defeat Argentina on their home court in Cordoba. Hear added 14 in the final and Munford 10.

Of the USA first-timers at the senior level, Brown plays for the Oklahoma City Blue, Eddie for the Windy City Bulls, Wear for the South Bay Lakers and Sloan for the Texas Legends. Both Jefferson and Millsap compete for the Iowa Wolves, while Meeks plays for Raptors 905. Christon is a free agent.

NCAA fans will remember Meeks as the center for the 2017 NCAA Final Four Champion University of North Carolina Tarheels. Jefferson was a captain on Duke's 2015 NCAA championship team. Millsap is the brother of NBA All Star Paul Millsap.

But though they may not be famous, the team is not without first flight experience.

Eight of the 12 have NBA game time, including – Brown (109 games); Christon (64 games); Drew (12 games); Eddie (31 games); Millsap (69 games); Munford (14 games); Sloan (218 games); and Wear (51 games).

Along with the four AmeriCup veterans, four other players have represented USA Basketball – Brown (2011 USA Basketball World University Games Team trials); Meeks (2010 USA Junior National Team minicamp); Sloan (2011 USA Pan American Games Team); and Wear (2008 USA U18 National Team).

The USA will open camp on Nov. 17 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Their first game is November 23 against Puerto Rico in Orlando, Florida. They close against Mexico in Greensboro on November 26.

FIBA