Oregon’s Payton Pritchard Named to USA Basketball U19 World Cup Team

Oregon’s Payton Pritchard was named to the 2017 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Cup Team on Thursday morning. Kentucky head coach John Calipari has fallen in love with Pritchard over the last week, noting him as a marquee player of the team.

The back-to-back FIBA World Champions from 2013 and 2015 look to continue their dominant reign this summer. This is not Pritchard’s first experience with USA Basketball. He is a veteran with the prestigious brand.

Pritchard helped the 2016 USA Junior National Select Team win the Nike Hoop Summit. The West Linn native was a member of the 2015 U18 3x3 World Championship Team. Payton also participated in the 2013 U16 National Team Training Camp.

27 players entered the USA Basketball Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs on June 18. Next, 18 finalists were selected on June 20. Following seven more training sessions, 12 walked away with roster spots on Thursday. This is a major feat.

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

2017 USA BASKETBALL MEN’S U19 WORLD CUP TEAM ROSTER

Payton Pritchard, Oregon

Hamidou Diallo, Kentucky

Carsen Edwards, Purdue

Kevin Huerter, Maryland

Josh Okogie, Georgia Tech

Austin Wiley, Auburn

Brandon McCoy, UNLV

Cameron Reddish, Westtown H.S.

Immanuel Quickly, John Carroll H.S.

P.J. Washington, Findlay Prep H.S.

Romeo Langford, New Albany H.S.

Louis King, Hudson Catholic H.S.

The squad is made up of current college players, high school elite and incoming freshmen like McCoy. Calipari’s assistant coaches will be Tad Boyle from the Pac-12’s Colorado Buffaloes, alongside former NBA and Kansas great Danny Manning of Wake Forest University currently.

Pritchard is battling to emerge from the shadows of his NBA-bound former teammates. You couldn’t ask for a better start. The greatest confidence builder for an athlete is playing with the best talent. Pritchard might surprise some people this summer.

Three Ducks were selected in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft (Jordan Bell, Tyler Dorsey and Dillon Brooks). Then, two Ducks were signed as free agents (Chris Boucher and Dylan Ennis) after the draft.

Not to mention, two players with Oregon ties were selected between Dorsey and Brooks in the second round. Former Duck guard Damyean Dotson was selected with the 44th overall pick and the son of Oregon alum Flo Hartenstein (43rd) was drafted right after Dorsey at No. 41 overall. The Duck brand is getting boisterously loud.

The USA Men’s U19 team will remain in Colorado Springs and practice for a few more days. Then, they will depart for Egypt on June 25. We will have all the coverage on Pritchard’s journey as it unfolds.

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