The USA will be led by 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup bronze medalists Romeo Langford (New Albany H.S./New Albany, Ind.) and Cameron Reddish (Westtown School/Norristown, Pa.) and 2015 FIBA Americas U16 gold medalist Tre Jones (Apple Valley H.S./Apple Valley, Minn.).
Suiting up for the USA with prior training camp experience will be Darius Bazley (Princeton H.S./Cincinnati, Ohio); Bol Bol (Findlay College Prep, Nev./Olathe, Kan.); Darius Garland (Brentwood Academy/Brentwood, Tenn.); Tyler Herro (Whitnall H.S./Greenfield, Wis.); Keldon Johnson (Oak Hill Academy/Sterling, Va.); Anfernee Simons (IMG Academy/Altamonte Springs, Fla.); and Zion Williamson (Spartanburg Day School/Spartanburg, S.C.).
David McCormack (Oak Hill Academy/Norfolk, Va.) will be taking part in his first event with USA Basketball.
Additionally, Louis King (Hudson Catholic H.S./Columbus, N.J.), who was a member of the bronze medal winning 2017 USA U19 World Cup Team, will attend the 2018 Nike Hoop Summit as a member of the U.S. team but is unable to participate due to injury.
The roster includes three Duke commits in Jones, Reddish and Williamson. R.J. Barrett, also signed to Duke, figures to play for the World Roster since he’s Canadian.
The roster also includes two Kentucky pledges in Herro and Johnson; two from Oregon in Bol and King; and two uncommitted guys in Langford and Simons. Langford is down Kansas, Indiana and Vanderbilt, while Simons is considering N.C. State, Tennessee and others in addition to contemplating entering the NBA Draft.
DeMatha Catholic High School (Md.) head coach Mike Jones was selected head coach of the 2018 USA team for the Nike Hoop Summit, while 1996 Olympic gold medalist Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway , head coach at Memphis East H.S. (Tenn.), will serve as the USA’s assistant coach.
Jones also led the USA Nike Hoop Summit Team in 2013 and 2014, and he served as a USA Nike Hoop Summit assistant coach in 2012 and 2017. He was a USA assistant coach for the gold medal winning 2011 U16 and 2012 and 2016 U17 teams and for the 2004 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival East team.
Hardaway returns to USA Basketball after having recently served as a court coach alongside Jones at the 2017 USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team October minicamp. As a player, Hardaway was a member of three USA Basketball teams including the gold medal winning 1996 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team.
The Nike Hoop Summit is an annual basketball game that pits the best U.S. high school senior boys against top international players from around the world who are 19 years old or younger in a one-game showdown.
The 2018 edition will be contested at 7 p.m. (PDT) on Friday, April 13, at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com , the Rose Quarter Box Office or by calling 800-745-3000. Courtside seats are $50 and $75, while lower bowl seating starts at $10. Applicable service charges apply.
“I am truly excited to be working with such a tremendous group of young men who are so talented,” Jones said. “The chance to work alongside Penny Hardaway, knowing his passion for the game and his ability as a coach, is an honor that I don’t take lightly.
“The prior experience I have with USA Basketball, coupled with the playing experience of many of the players with USA Basketball, allows for us all to approach this game with a focus to prepare and represent our country with pride. The future is so bright for these young student-athletes and to have the chance to work with them in their final high school basketball experience is special. I can’t wait to get to work.”
All 12 U.S. team members are ranked among the top 28 in the ESPN 100 for the class of 2018, including Williamson second, Reddish third, Bol fourth, Langford fifth, Johnson sixth, Simons seventh, Bazley ninth, Jones 12 th, Garland 13th, King 14 th, Herro 25th and McCormack 28 th.
While all 12 listed on the Naismith Trophy High School Boy’s Preseason Watch List, named to the 2018 Naismith High School Boys All-America first team were Bol, Langford, Reddish and Williamson; while Johnson and Jones were second team honorees; Bazley and Garland listed on the third team; and King and Simons were honorable mention.
