John Calipari to Coach USA U19 Team; Kentucky, Syracuse, Iowa State, Virginia Tech, Oregon, Washington, Texas Commits In Mix for U19 World Championship Spots

Kentucky coach John Calipari is expected to coach the U.S. team at the FIBA U19 World Championship set for July 1-9 in Cairo, Egypt, ESPN reported.

A number of commits from Kentucky, Syracuse, Iowa State, Virginia Tech, Oregon, Washington and Texas are in the mix for spots on both the Canadian and American teams.

Kentucky-bound guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Syracuse commit Oshae Brissett, Iowa State signee Lindell Wigginton, Virginia Tech-bound Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Oregon commit Abu Kigab all played last year for the Canadian U18 team in the FIBA Americas Championship in Chile.

Despite 25 points from Alexander-Walker, that team lost to the U.S., 99-84, in the gold medal game on July 23.

Calipari could potentially coach against Gilgeous-Alexander should both participate and the two teams meet again.

Those players are all in the mix for spots on the Canadian U19 team, as are a slew of talented guys who last year played on Canada’s U17 team, including Class of 2019 stars R.J. Barrett and Andrew Nembhard of Montverde (FL) Academy and 6-10 Class of 2018 big Simi Shittu of Vermont Academy. Luguentz Dort, a Class of 2018 point guard being recruited by Louisville, Florida, Baylor and UNLV, is also eligible.