COLORADO SPRINGS - They make winning look so easy at times, the USA teams.

In 2014, the Americans swept all before them in international competition.

They captured titles at the FIBA Basketball World Cup and FIBA World Championship for Women.

The youngsters were downright impressive, too, reaching the top of the podium at both the FIBA U17 World Championships for Men and Women, and the FIBA Americas U18 Championships for Men and Women.

International basketball got a very good look at players who are going to grace the biggest stages in the sport in the not-to-distant future.

Even as high school stars, these players have seen their names go up in bright lights thanks to their involvement with USA Basketball.

The success solidified the USA's standing as the leading nation in the FIBA bwin World Ranking.

The men are No. 1 with 1,040 points - 335 more than No. 2 Spain, while on the women's ladder, the United States' stranglehold is even greater at 1,040 points to 590 points for Australia and 550 points for No. 3 Spain.

Even in the combined ranking, which takes into account the points of all categories (Men, Women, Boys and Girls) in the given cycle, the USA are like a bright star in another galaxy for all to see with 3,286 points. 

Spain (1,987.5 points) and France (1,222.5 points) are No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.

There is no doubt at all about which country rules the roost in the international game.

Even in such a dominant position, though, USA Basketball faces challenges.

There are "unknowns" on the horizon which do not allow the Americans to rest on their laurels.

This was articulated very well by Jerry Colangelo, its chairman, in an end-of-year interview on www.usab.com.

"Sometimes it's good to look into the crystal ball and speculate what is just around the corner," he said.

"There will be a sea change taking place in USA Basketball after the 2016 Olympics because the next competition in terms of the [FIBA Basketball] World Cup will not take place until 2019 so there is going to be a different kind of a format in terms of quad format, so that will be challenging. 

"What will we do in 2017 and '18 by way of example to prepare for ’19 and ’20. 

"Our formula is going to have to be recalculated in terms of how we have had success, playing in international competition every two years. That now changes after the Olympics in 2016."

Indeed, with the new FIBA calendar, the next FIBA Basketball World Cup will be held in 2019.

"We're working on our game plan for that as we go forward, that will be a challenge," Colangelo said.

One of the unknowns concerns player availability.

"Will the NBA players continue to be as committed to participation?" Colangelo said. 

"Will the NBA owners continue to allow the players to participate? 

"All of these factors are somewhat out of our control but things we have to deal with. We have to be willing to roll with the punches, go with the flow, deal with the circumstances. 

"That is the so-called crystal ball - not many answers but a lot of questions."

The way the players talk about their involvement with USA Basketball, it seems likely that the superstars will continue to sign up for national team duty.

"Any player who player who participates for USA Basketball, beginning in the junior programs, all the way up to the senior teams, men and women, are better people for participating, in terms of helping them with their value system," Colangelo said. 

"They become better players because of the great coaching. Some of the greatest coaches in the country are working on all levels. So they become better players."

"Therefore many people benefit. On an NBA level, the teams benefit big time.

"The ultimate recipient, those who gain the most, are those who are the NCAA, the NBA and right on down the line so it’s a formula that is very, very strong and the players themselves all come back after the experience and say it was one of the greatest experiences of their lives."