US Hoops Under-18s in Washington

By: Ben Raby
WASHINGTON- Some of the country's best high school basketball players have been working out at the Verizon Center for almost a week, and they'll remain in town through Thursday. It's all part of training camp for USA Basketball's Under-18 National Team as they prepare for the FIBA Americas U18 Championships to be held later this month in Argentina.

The Americans are led by Davidson head coach Bob McKillop and assistants John Thompson III (Georgetown) and Anthony Grant (Virginia Commonwealth). The roster is made up mostly of high school graduates who will be making their collegiate debuts this fall. There are also a handful of players still a year away from the college game. Safe to say though, you can expect to see most of these players in the NBA within the next two-three years.

Camp began last week with 18 players, all born in 1990 or later. Fourteen players remain, with two more cuts expected by week's end. Hollis Thompson (6'6", 180), who has verbally committed to Georgetown for Fall 2009, is among those already sent packing.

As for those players competing for one of the final 12 roster spots, point guard Kemba Walker (6'1", 172) has earned immediate praise from both Coaches McKillop and Thompson. Walker is off to UCONN this fall, and has already established himself as the Americans' on-floor leader.

Among the big-men fighting for spots on the US team is a future Dukie and a number of future Tar Heels. Center Mason Plumlee (6'10", 205) is off to Duke in 2009, where he can probably expect some battles against twins David and Travis Wear (verbally committed to North Carolina for Fall 2009). Also verbally committed to UNC in 2009, is guard Leslie McDonald (6'4", 193). No surprise then that Tar Heel coach Roy Williams was in attendance at today's practice.

The US U18 team flies to Argentina on Thursday, with the FIBA American tournament scheduled for July 14-18. The US is coming off a dissapointing bronze medal finish last year in Venezuela.