REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - Talk about big shoes to fill … it’s hard to imagine a tougher position in international basketball to take over than as the successor to Don Showalter as head coach of the United States U16/U17 national team program. But the new man in charge is Mike Jones.

Jones was handed the reins to the USA’s U16 and U17 teams with USA Basketball naming Eric Flannery and Sharman White as his two assistant coaches ahead of the FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2019 - which is the continental qualifying tournament for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2020.

"The (USA Basketball Men’s Developmental National Team) Committee feels that between Mike, Eric and Sharman the 2019 USA U16 national team will have an experienced coaching staff that has demonstrated success in international basketball and at the high school level," said Sean Ford, who is USA Basketball’s men’s national team director. "All three of these coaches have had multiple roles with USA Basketball, and we think that will be a benefit to all of the athletes who take part in training camp and who make the final roster."

Before we look at the qualifications of those three coaches, let’s examine what legacy they will be taking over. And it is a truly magnificent legacy that Showalter leaves behind.

Between 2009 and 2018, Showalter proved to be "Mr. Perfect", having never lost a single game at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship or FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup. Showalter went 25-0 with five undefeated U16 Americas crowns and his USA teams went 37-0 in five U17 World Cup title runs. If you don’t want to add them up … that’s 10 titles in 10 summers with a 62-0 record.

And there was true dominance of the continent and the world - winning the 25 U16 Americas games by an average of 45.2 points and just two victories by 20 points or fewer - a 14-point win over Argentina in the 2009 Final and a 17-point victory against Canada in the 2015 Final. Showalter’s USA teams’ average victory at the U17 World Cup was 41.4 points with only three games closer than 18 points - their first game against Argentina in 2010 (by 12 points), the first game in 2014 against Greece (by 10 points) and the 2014 Final against Australia (by 7 points). At the other end, Showalter saw his teams win 35 of the 62 games by 40 points or more, 20 of them by 50 points or more and 13 games by 60 points or more.

After the announcement of the new coaching staff, Showalter gave his stamp of approval of the three men, who all served as his assistant for at least one of the 10 competitions besides being on hand at many of the U16 or U17 training camps. 

"Three outstanding coaches as well as close friends to carry on the Jr National Team gold medal tradition!! All have been a huge part of previous Gold Medal teams!! #winners," posted Showalter on Twitter

Jones had the most interaction with Showalter and USA Basketball in the past, serving as his assistant at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2011 and the 2012 and 2016 U17 World Cups.

"To be named to the coaching staff for the U16 team is truly an honor for me, for my family, and for the basketball program that I represent," said Jones, who will be holding his training camp for the June 3-9 FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2019 in Belem, Brazil from May 22-29 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Mike Jones (left in photo) helped guide the United States to the title at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2016.

"Having so many opportunities to work with Sean, (assistant director) Samson (Kayode), and work on coach Don Showalter’s staff, I truly feel like I’ve seen the best that basketball has to offer, and I want to continue the strong tradition that USA Basketball has set," Jones added.

Flannery, for his part, was on the coaching staff for the 2013 U16 Americas and 2014 U17 World Cup crowns.

"It always gives me chills to put on anything with USA across my chest," Flannery said. "To be able to represent our country on the basketball court is surreal at times. I have the opportunity to work with the best coaches and best players our sport has to offer while representing our country. You cannot ask for more than that."

White meanwhile has one summer competition under his belt - the 2015 U16 Americas crown.

"Anytime you get to represent your country coaching basketball, it’s probably one of the greatest feelings in the world," White said. "And with it being USA Basketball, you get a chance to work with some of the greatest coaches in the world, period. It’s an extreme honor and a privilege."

An honor and privilege is one thing but can Jones, Flannery and White keep up the winning tradition? Sure they have the backing of Showalter and he is still involved in the teams’ selection process as the USA Basketball Youth & Sport Development coach director. But "Mr. Perfect"* (* that is not Showalter’s nickname) definitely has left some enormous shoes to fill. We will see in Brazil and then next summer at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2020 in Bulgaria if the tradition in fact continues.

David Hein

FIBA

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