Koa Peat, Cam Boozer lead USA to 7th straight FIBA U17 World Cup gold medal

By ADAM ZAGORIA

While European players dominated the top of last month’s NBA Draft, the U.S. continues to dominate basketball at the youth levels.

Led by Koa Peat‘s 26 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and Cam Boozer’s 24 points, 13 rebounds and 2 steals, the U.S. U17 team obliterated Italy, 129-88, to win the FIBA U17 World Cup final in Istanbul, Turkey. Boozer was named the World Cup Most Valuable Player.

A.J. Dybantsa, the No. 1 player in the Class of 2025, scored 14 points, Tyran Stokes went for 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals and Brandon McCoy added 13 points, 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds .

With former Duke and NBA standout Carlos Boozer on hand to support his sons, the U.S. won its seventh straight gold medal in the event and improved to 51-0 all time. Italy secured its first ever medal in the FIBA U17 World Cup, finishing with the silver.

The U.S. cruised into the final with a 145-65 rout of New Zealand in the semifinals.

🗣 FIRE US UP FELLAS.

🇺🇸 #USABMU17 x #FIBAU17 https://t.co/DVdrMgerK3 pic.twitter.com/ar8jp7lHMT

— USABJNT (@usabjnt) July 7, 2024

The Americans led 73-36 at the half when Boozer had 20 points and 5 rebounds, Peat had 15 points, 6 boards and 4 assists and Dybantsa had 14.

The 6-foot-8 Peat out of Perry (AZ) High won his third gold medal as he is being pursued by a Who’s Who of colleges. He has a Top 10 of North Carolina, Texas, Michigan, Kentucky, Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, Baylor, Houston and Duke.

The 6-9 Boozer out of Christopher Columbus (FL) is being courted by Duke, his father’s alma mater, Miami, North Carolina, Michigan, Florida and Arkansas.

Gold. Medal. Plays.

🇺🇸 @tyran_stokes x #FIBAU17 pic.twitter.com/gylCzxOcRG

— USABJNT (@usabjnt) July 7, 2024

The Women’s FIBA U17 World Cup begins Thursday in Mexico.

FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 Final Standings

1. USA
2. Italy
3. Türkiye
4. New Zealand
5. Lithuania
6. Puerto Rico
7. Spain
8. Canada
9. France
10. Argentina
11. Germany
12. Egypt
13. China
14. Guinea
15. Australia
16. Philippines

Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter

Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram

And Like ZAGS on Facebook