USA - Wainwright selected to lead U19 National team

COLORADO SPRINGS (U19 National team) – DePaul University (Ill.) head coach Jerry Wainwright, who served as an assistant for the 2006 USA U18 National Team, has been called upon to lead the 2007 USA U19 World Championship Team at this summer’s FIBA U19 World Championship for Men. USA Basketball also announced today that collegiate head coaches Bruiser Flint of Drexel University (Pa.) and George Washington University’s (D.C.) Karl Hobbs will serve as assistant coaches for the USA U19 National Team. Coaching staff selections were made by the USA Basketball Men’s Collegiate Committee, chaired by USA Senior National Team assistant and Syracuse University head coach Jim Boeheim, and approved by the USA Basketball Executive Committee.

The 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship will be contested July 12-22 in Novi Sad, Serbia. The draw for the tournament was held on Feb. 27, and the United States was placed in Group B for preliminary round action along with China (FIBA Asia gold medalist), Mali (FIBA Africa silver medalist) and host Serbia (FIBA Europe fifth place finisher).

"In all honesty it’s a great honor," said Wainwright. "I’ve been privileged to work with two other programs in USA Basketball. Certainly after last summer where I had a wonderful experience with our under 18 team with coach Romar as the head coach, coach Hewitt and myself. It’s an incredible privilege to wear your country’s name on a uniform and represent it. At this point in my career it’s certainly a highlight. I hope I can live up to the past coaches and what they’ve accomplished.

"Bruiser Flint and Karl Hobbs are both obviously beyond being up and coming stars. They’re already stars but they’re young guys, and I was fortunate enough to know them as players. Their energy level, their commitment to excellence and the fact that they’ve always had tremendous relationships with their players will help us establish a family atmosphere. They’re also two of the most competitive people I’ve ever met. They’re winners, and I’m extremely humbled that they’re going to be co-coaches alongside me. I don’t look at them as assistant coaches, when we’re over in Serbia."

"It’s a natural progression for Jerry, he was an assistant last summer for our very successful U18 team," said Boeheim. "Some of the players will return and are familiar with him, so it’s a natural progression for him to move up and take the reigns. I think he’ll do an outstanding job with the team this year. In Bruiser Flint you have a proven head coach who’s been involved with USA Basketball teams in the past, has great international experience and is coming off another tremendous coaching year at Drexel. Karl Hobbs is one of the bright young coaches in college basketball. He’s had tremendous success at George Washington and has international coaching experience. He brings a lot to the table and will be a tremendous addition to the coaching staff."

The U.S. earned its 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship berth by claiming gold at the 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. The 2007 USA squad will be comprised of males 19-years-old or younger (born on or after Jan. 1, 1988) who are citizens of the United States.

In addition to the USA’s pool, included among the 16 national teams that qualified through their FIBA zone tournaments are Brazil (FIBA Americas bronze medalist), France (FIBA Europe gold medalist), Lebanon (FIBA Asia bronze medalist) and Lithuania (FIBA Europe silver medalist) in Group A; Group C consists of Australia (FIBA Oceania gold medalist), Canada (FIBA Americas fourth place finisher), Nigeria (FIBA Africa gold medalist) and Turkey (FIBA Europe fourth place finisher); while Group D includes Argentina (FIBA Americas silver medalist), Puerto Rico (FIBA Americas fifth place finisher), South Korea (FIBA Asia silver medalist) and Spain (FIBA Europe bronze medalist).

Though game times are still to be determined, the USA will open play against Mali on July 12, followed by China on July 13 and will cap preliminary play against host Serbia on July 14. The top three teams from each of the four preliminary round groups advance to the July 16-18 second round. The top three teams from Groups A and B will compete in round-robin play in second round Group E; while the top three teams from Groups C and D will play each other in Group F. The preliminary round results from advancing teams will carry over to the second round standings, thus teams will only face advancing squads from the opposite group in second round action. Quarterfinals will be contested on July 20, the semifinals on July 21 and the gold medal tilt is slated for July 22.

The USA U19 National Team Trials, featuring approximately 35 of the nation’s top 19-and-unders, will begin June 28 in Dallas, Texas.

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