Trevion Williams Named Finalist for FIBA U-19 World Cup

Over the weekend the trials for the FIBA U-19 team that the United States will take to the World Cup in Greece took place out in Colorado, and our own Trevion Williams acquitted himself well. Of the 31 players originally invited that participated in the five practice sessions T-Will made the cut as one of 18 finalists:

Scottie Barnes (University School/West Palm Beach, Fla.)

Joshua Christopher (Mayfair H.S./Lakewood, Calif.)

Cade Cunningham (Montverde Academy, Fla./Arlington, Texas)

Jalen Green (Prolific Prep/Fresno, Calif.)

Tyrese Haliburton (Iowa State/Oshkosh, Wis.)

Walker Kessler (Woodward Academy/Newnan, Ga.)

Kira Lewis Jr. (Alabama/Meridianville, Ala.)

Isaac Likekele (Oklahoma State/Mansfield, Texas)

Evan Mobley (Rancho Christian School/Temecula, Calif.)

Casey Morsell (St. John’s College H.S./Washington, D.C.)

Zeke Nnaji (Hopkins H.S./Hopkins, Minn.)

Reggie Perry (Mississippi State/Thomasville, Ga.)

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (IMG Academy, FL/Overland Park, Kan.)

Jalen Suggs (Minnehaha Academy/Minneapolis, Minn.)

Anton Watson (Gonzaga Prep/Spokane, Wash.)

Trevion Williams (Purdue/Chicago, Ill.)

Ziaire Williams (Notre Dame H.S./Sherman Oaks, Calif.)

Samuell Williamson (Rockwall H.S./Rockwall, Texas)

Jared Butler (Baylor University/Reserve, La.) was also selected a finalist but was unable to participate.

Purdue 2020 commit Ethan Morton did not make the cut, nor did top 2020 target Hunter Dickinson. Coach Painter, of course, it the chair of the junior national team committee, so we don’t want there to be too much favoritism.

The 16 participating teams have been divided into four groups for preliminary, round-robin games, and the USA was drawn into Group A. The USA will open preliminary play in 2019 against New Zealand on June 29, then face Lithuania on June 30 and Senegal on July 2.

Following the preliminary round, all teams will advance to the round of 16 on July 3. The winners of the round of 16 will advance to the medal quarterfinals on July 5, and the losers will play out for ninth-16th places. The semifinals will be played on July 6, and the gold and bronze medal games on July 7.

Carsen Edwards took part in this in 2017 and helped the US to a bronze medal.