June 2, 2015
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Kentucky men’s basketball signee Isaiah Briscoe is a finalist to represent the United States at the World Championships in late June and early July.
Briscoe, who signed with UK in fall 2014, is among 24 players who have accepted invitations for the 2015 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Championship Team training camp. USA Basketball will select 12 members from the training camp roster for the 2015 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Championship Team. Athletes eligible for the team must be U.S. citizens who are 19 years old or younger (born on or after Jan. 1, 1996).
The training camp will take place June 12-26 at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship will be held June 27 through July 5 in Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Briscoe, a 6-foot-3 point guard from Newark, N.J., has previous USA Basketball experience, having helped Team USA to a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. By going 5-0 and winning that championship, the U19 team qualified for the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship. Briscoe also suited up for the USA at the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit.
Arizona head coach Sean Miller will lead the 2015 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Championship Team. Providence’s Ed Cooley and Dayton’s Archie Miller will serve as assistants.
Training camp will begin on the evening of June 13, followed by two practices each day. Finalists for the team are expected to be announced June 15, and the roster will be selected prior to the team’s departure for Greece.
As defending U19 champions, Team USA has an opportunity to win consecutive FIBA U19 World Championships for just the second time since the competition began in 1979. The U.S. captured back-to-back gold medals in 1979 and 1983. The U.S. also won gold in 1991, 2009 and 2013.
Briscoe will suit up for Kentucky as a freshman for the 2015-16 season. One of the key members of UK’s highly-touted four-man signing class for 2015, Briscoe has been named a USA Today All-USA First Team selection and a Parade Magazine All-American. He also participated in the McDonald’s All American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic.
Past members of the USA U19 team include standouts such as Vince Carter (1995), Stephen Curry (2007), Stephon Marbury (1995), Gary Payton (1987), Klay Thompson (2009), Deron Williams (2003) and James Worthy (1979).
Past Wildcats on the USA U19 team include James Blackmon (1983), Darius Miller (2009) and Kenny Walker (1983). Miller’s team won gold.
More information on the 2015 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Championship Team, including the full training camp roster, can be found at usab.com.
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