Georgia Tech guard Josh Okogie earned a spot on USA Basketball’s U19 team that will compete in the 2017 FIBA U19 World Championship.
After surviving the first cut on Tuesday, Okogie made the final cut on Thursday, becoming one of 12 of the United States' best players aged 19-and-under.
“This is big. We came here on Sunday, and there were 27 players,” Okogie said, according to Georgia Tech. “Everybody could play, everybody could score. When we scrimmaged, nobody missed a shot; everybody was going 100 percent. I tried to make sure I did the things I’ve learned at Georgia Tech and transition that over here...
“Last night, I was on my knees and said 30 prayers. It’s a blessing to see my dreams starting to unfold. I thank God, my parents and my family for staying with me through this process. We’re just getting started.”
The team began training at Colorado Springs’ United States Olympic Training Center on Sunday.
Okogie is the first Yellow Jacket player to compete on a USA team in an international competition since Chris Bosh competed in the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
The United States landed in Group D for the preliminary rounds and will open play on July 1 against Iran, face Angola on July 2 and Italy on July 4 in Cairo, Egypt.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for Josh, and we are so excited for him,” said Tech coach Josh Pastner. “Josh is a talented player who has come a long way because of his work ethic and diligence and his desire to get better. Not many players have this kind of opportunity, and he will make the most of it.”
The other 11 other players selected to the USA U19 World Cup team include:
- Hamidou Diallo (University of Kentucky/Queens, NY)
- Carsen Edwards (Purdue/Atascocita, Texas)
- Kevin Huerter (Maryland/Clifton Park, N.Y.)
- Louis King (Hudson Catholic H.S./Columbus, N.J.)
- Romeo Langford (New Albany H.S./New Albany, Ind.)
- Brandon McCoy (Cathedral Catholic H.S/San Diego, Calif.)
- Payton Pritchard (Oregon/West Linn, Ore.)
- Immanuel Quickly(John Carroll School/Bel Air, Md.)
- Cameron Reddish (Westtown School/Norristown, Pa.)
- P.J. Washington (Findlay Prep/Las Vegas, Nev.)
- Austin Wiley (Auburn/Hoover, Ala.)
About the Author
