After he signed on to coach USA Basketball’s top youth team last summer, Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd said he was taking a “two-year approach” to the assignment.
Year one went pretty well, with Lloyd leading the Americans on a six-game romp to win gold in the U18 AmeriCup in Argentina.
The second half could be a much different deal. USA Basketball announced, as expected Thursday, that Lloyd will be back to coach in the U19 World Cup, an event held every two years in which the Americans failed to reach the medal stand the last time around.
While USA has won eight gold medals in the history of the FIBA U19 World Cup, including the 2019 and 2021 events, the Americans finished fourth in the 2023 event behind gold medalist Spain, France (silver) and Turkey (bronze). UA center Tobe Awaka was USA’s leading rebounder (10.6) and second-leading scorer (11.6) in the 2023 U19 World Cup.
It has long been USA’s philosophy to preserve coaching staffs for two-year rotations of working with a cohort of prospects. While player availability and interest can vary depending on the event and timing, the U19 World Cup typically attracts top age-qualifying prospects from around the world who aren’t preparing for that summer’s NBA Draft.
“I’m hoping a lot of these kids will be with us next year, so we’ll have a little bit of continuity,” Lloyd said during the U18 training camp last summer. “I think we’re organized and we’ll have a purpose when we’re playing.”
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd directs USA during its 110-70 win over Argentina in the championship game of the FIBA U18 AmeriCup tournament in Buenos Aires.
This year’s USA U19 team could have U18 returnees such as Arkansas commit Darius Acuff, the AmeriCup MVP, and possibly add top prospects who played in the U17 World Cup last summer, including Gilbert Perry’s Koa Peat and Duke-bound forward Cameron Boozer.
In addition, No. 1 2025 prospect AJ Dybantsa has expressed interest in signing up after standing out in the U17 World Cup last summer and also playing in the U16 AmeriCup.
“I’ve won two gold medals,” Dybantsa told FIBA.com last November. “I’m probably going to play again next year for U19s, hopefully win three.”
Lloyd will work with the same two assistants he had in Argentina last summer: Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland and Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry. In Argentina, Lloyd was also joined by two other UA staffers: Trainer Justin Kokoskie and assistant coach Rem Bakamus. Kokoskie served as USA’s athletic trainer, and Bakamus was a staff assistant.
The FIBA U19 World Cup is scheduled for June 28-July 6 in Lausanne, Switzerland, meaning Lloyd and the USA staff will probably begin training camp in mid-June.
“It’s always an honor to serve USA Basketball,” Lloyd said in a USA Basketball statement Thursday. “I have always been a fan of FIBA basketball and will embrace the opportunity to lead a very talented group of young men this summer. I look forward to working with coach McCasland and coach Shrewsberry again as we try to bring home gold from the World Cup.”
Bounceback, barely
Arizona’s next opponent, UCF, moved past a crushing 99-48 home loss to Kansas on Jan. 5 by hanging on to beat Colorado 75-74 on Wednesday, thanks to some gritty defense in the final minute.
The Buffaloes (9-5, 0-3) led most of the way, but the game was tied at 74 entering the final minute before Deebo Coleman hit the second of two free throws with 35 seconds left, and the Knights held off the Buffaloes from there.
“We always talk about wanting to win on defense,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said.
The Knights (11-3, 2-1) hung on by defending the Buffs into an off-balance airball from Colorado’s Julian Hammond with seven seconds left and again after it was assessed a five-second violation when UCF’s Keyshawn Hall failed to inbound — or get recognized as requesting a timeout, as Dawkins said he thought Hall did.
In any case, Hall quickly redeemed himself by blocking a potential game-winning shot inside from Colorado’s Elijah Malone with four seconds left.
“I want to give a lot of credit to Keshawn for not getting frustrated and just making the play,” UCF guard Jordan Ivy-Curry said. “We say ‘next play,’ and he did that. Big shout out.”
Wildcats slide in
ESPN mock draft
Arizona forward Carter Bryant dunks over Cincinnati forward Tyler Betsey, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati.
After being listed at No. 13 on ESPN’s “Big Board” of NBA Draft prospects in October, freshman Carter Bryant was listed at No. 27 on ESPN’s updated mock 2025 NBA Draft on Thursday, while center Motiejus Krivas slipped from 17th to 34th in the same two postings.
Krivas’ rating change was not a surprise, since he was of limited effectiveness in eight games before being shut down again in mid-December with his ankle injury, though Bryant has had a strong start to Big 12 play.
“He has played some of his best basketball as of late and is the type of prospect every NBA team will want to get a closer look at in the pre-draft process,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony wrote. “Bryant will have to produce as the season moves on, hopefully making strides in his feel for the game and toughness as he gains experience. He might require additional time at Arizona to maximize his NBA outlook.”
In its 59-player mock draft, ESPN did not list UA guards KJ Lewis and Jaden Bradley, after it rated Lewis No. 34 and Bradley No. 55 in its October “Big Board.”
Arizona’s Jaden Bradley takes a free throw against Cincinnati, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati.
