June 3, 2008

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Basketball has revealed the four coaches who have been selected as court coaches for the upcoming 2008 USA Men's U18 National Team Trials, and UC Davis head coach Gary Stewart is among the group. He joins Steve Donahue (Cornell), Kevin McCarthy (SUNY Cobleskill) and Joe Niland (University of Mobile). The team trials are scheduled to take place July 1-3 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

"USA Basketball represents the highest level of basketball, and it's an opportunity to work with some extraordinarily talented athletes while learning from some of the top coaches in the nation," said Stewart. "It's the best of both worlds, and I'm grateful to the USA Basketball selection committee for affording me this opportunity."

Davidson College's Bob McKillop was tabbed as head coach of the 2008 USA Men's U18 National Team, while Virginia Commonwealth University's Anthony Grant and Georgetown University's John Thompson III were selected to assist. The coaching staff selections were made by the USA Basketball Men's Collegiate Committee, chaired by USA Men's Senior National Team assistant and Syracuse University head coach Jim Boeheim, and approved by USA Basketball's Executive Committee.

The trials will feature approximately 30 U.S. hopefuls, born on or after Jan 1, 1990. Following the selection of finalists for the USA squad, the team will continue to train July 4-10 in Washington before departing for Formosa, Argentina, and the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men. The top four finishing teams from the 2008 zone qualifier will earn berths to compete in the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship, slated to be held July 2-12 in New Zealand.

Originally known as the FIBA Americas Junior World Championship Qualifier, the tournament originally was held every four years between 1990-2006. FIBA changed its calendar, however, and the tournament will now be conducted every other year, followed in the next summer by the FIBA U19 World Championship.

USA men's teams boast a 29-1 overall record in the U18/junior qualifiers and won gold in 1990, 1994, 1998 and most recently in 2006 when the United States played host to the U18 Championship For Men for the first time in San Antonio, Texas. The USA men's team also captured bronze in 2002. Hosts of prior U18 championships are: San Antonio, Texas in 2006; Isle de Margarita, Venezuela in 2002; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in 1998; Santa Rosa, Argentina in 1994; and Montevideo, Uruguay in 1990.

Some top players to have represented the United States in the past U18 tournaments include Shareef Abdur-Rahim (1994); Carmelo Anthony (2002); Jerryd Bayless (2006); Michael Beasley (2006), Chris Bosh (2002); Dee Brown (2002); Nick Collison (1998); Grant Hill (1990); Alan Houston (1990); Andre Iguodala (2002); Stephon Marbury (1994); Mike Miller (1998); Quentin Richardson (1998); Kyle Singler (2006); and Deron Williams (2002).

2008 USA Basketball Men's U18 National Team Trials Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Bob McKillop, Davidson
Assistant Coach: John Thompson III, Georgetown
Assistant Coach: Anthony Grant, Virginia Commonwealth University
Trials Court Coach: Steve Donahue, Cornell
Trials Court Coach: Kevin McCarthy, SUNY Cobleskill (NJCAA)
Trials Court Coach: Joe Niland, University of Mobile (NAIA)
Trials Court Coach: Gary Stewart, UC Davis