SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS-University of Illinois freshman Jereme Richmond (Waukegan, Ill.) has been named to the 12-member USA Basketball U18 National Team, following trials at the University of Texas-San Antonio. Richmond will remain in Texas until the end of the month, training with his U.S. squad through June 25 before competing in the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, which will be held June 26-30 at St. Mary’s University’s Bill Greehey Arena in San Antonio.
Richmond becomes the first player to represent the University of Illinois on the U.S. U18 National Team since Deron Williams and Dee Brown in 2002. He averaged 21 points and 11.4 rebounds during his senior year at Waukegan High School, earning Illinois Mr. Basketball honors and participating in the McDonald’s All-America Game.
Joining Richmond on the USA U18 National Team roster are Vander Blue, Trevor Cooney, Abdul Gaddy, Joshua Hairston, Kyrie Irving, Quincy Miller, Tony Mitchell, LeBryan Nash, Austin Rivers, Amir Williams and Patric Young.
The FIBA Americas U18 Championship will feature eight national teams from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean. The USA is in Group A, along with Argentina, Mexico and the Virgin Islands. Group B includes Brazil, Canada, Puerto Rico and Uruguay. The U.S. will open preliminary play against the Virgin Islands on June 26 at 7:00 p.m. (all times listed are CDT). On June 27 the USA will face Mexico at 7:00 p.m. and will close preliminary play against South American rivals Argentina on June 28 at 7:00 p.m. The semifinals are slated for June 29, and the finals will be held June 30.
Not only is a gold medal at stake, but also the top four finishing nations qualify for the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship. Players eligible for this competition must have been born on or after Jan. 1, 1992.
Oklahoma’s Jeff Capel has been named as head coach of the 2010 USA U18 National Team, while Georgia Tech’s Paul Hewitt and Buffalo’s Reggie Witherspoon will serve as assistant coaches.
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim chairs the USA Junior National Team Committee, which made player selections for the U18 National Team. The Committee also includes Illinois coach Bruce Weber, North Carolina coach Roy Williams, Washington coach Lorenzo Romar and athlete representative Jay Williams.