Whitehead, Johnson Left Off U16 Team | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Tuesday / December 3.
  • Whitehead, Johnson Left Off U16 Team

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    Isaiah Whitehead and Dakari Johnson are two of the elite players in the Class of 2014, yet they were left off the 2011 USA Men’s U16 National Team announced Monday.

    Don Showalter, head coach of the team, told SNY.tv he liked both players but the committee didn’t feel either deserved a spot on the 12-man roster that will compete this month in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Cancun, Mexico.

    “We had 27 really good players,” Showalter said by phone. “We were only going to take one true five man and the fellow [Jahlil] Okafor was a little more consistent [than Johnson]. Playing in a national camp there’s just not enough room for two strictly post players.

    “It’s not a situation where Dakari by any means played poorly because he played well. The coaching staff and the committee felt that Okafor was a little more consistent in the practices. There is not room on a team for two true five men.”

    The 6-foot-9, 235-pound Johnson remains part of the U16 Developmental Team. He played at Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick last season, but could move next year to play for former coach Kevin Boyle at Montverde (Fla.), or he could transfer to Blair Academy.

    “I look for Dakari to have a great, great chance to make it next year [on the U17 team],” Showalter said. “His upside is better than better anybody’s here. We can’t take on upside, we’ve got to take on where they are right now.”

    The 6-4, 193-pound Whitehead is the latest Lincoln High School star to follow Stephon Marbury, Sebastian Telfair and Lance Stephenson.

    “Isaiah played well,” Showalter said. “He lacked a few skills that we were looking for. I don’t think he’s real consistent practice to practice. When he got tired a little bit he showed that a little bit on the court.

    “We liked Whitehead a lot. He improved as the practices went on.”

    Here’s the full roster:

    NAME
    POS
    HGT
    WGT
    DOB
    YOG
    SCHOOL/ HOMETOWN
    Larry Austin
    G
    6-1
    161
    02/18/96
    2014
    Lamphier H.S. / Springfield, IL
    Conner Frankamp
    G
    6-0
    152
    07/16/95
    2013
    Wichita North H.S. / Wichita, KS
    Aaron Gordon
    C
    6-8
    208
    09/16/95
    2013
    Archbishop Mitty H.S. / San Jose, CA
    Justin Jackson
    G
    6-6
    171
    03/28/95
    2014
    Homeschool Christian Youth Ass. / Spring, TX
    Stanley Johnson
    F
    6-5
    217
    05/29/96
    2014
    Mater Dei H.S. / Fullerton, CA
    Tyus Jones
    G
    6-0
    171
    05/10/96
    2014
    Apple Valley H.S. / Apple Valley, MN
    Kendrick Nunn
    G
    6-1
    175
    08/03/95
    2013
    Simeon H.S. / Chicago, IL
    Jahlil Okafor
    C
    6-8
    269
    12/15/95
    2014
    Whitney Young H.S. / Chicago, IL
    Jabari Parker
    F
    6-6
    225
    03/15/95
    2013
    Simeon H.S. / Chicago, IL
    Theo Pinson
    F
    6-4
    176
    11/05/95
    2014
    Oakridge Military Academy / Greensboro, NC
    Malik Price-Martin
    F/C
    6-9
    187
    01/20/95
    2013
    Monsignor Edward Pace H.S. / Miami, FL
    Johnathan Williams
    F/C
    6-7
    208
    05/22/95
    2013
    Southwind H.S. / Memphis, TN
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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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