COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Ayo Dosunmu faced off against some of the nation’s top players at the U.S. training camp the last week with a spot on the U18 National Team on the line. What the future Illinois guard was able to show earned him a spot on the final roster that will compete at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship starting Sunday in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
“My father and grandparents were born in Nigeria,” Dosunmu tweeted after his selection was announced. “They came to America for a better life. To be able to represent my country is an honor and a privilege. Next Stop Canada. Go USA!”
Dosunmu is one of seven guards on the 12-man roster. The 6-foot-3 Chicago native will team up with the likes of Kansas-bound Quentin Grimes and top 2019 prospects like Cole Anthony, Tyrese Maxey and Illinois recruiting target Mark “Rocket” Watts.
“It was tough getting it to 12,” said former Illinois now Kansas coach Bill Self, who is the head coach of the U18 team. “It was tough getting it from 33 to 18, but even with the 18 we’ve had a couple of extra days with and know how committed they all are to trying to make the team, knowing that different guys look better on different days and in different situations. It was tough getting to 12 because there are a lot of interchangeable parts.
“I think the committee made some good selections, and I’m excited about working with this group. One of the things I think they bring to the table is versatility. They’re very interchangeable. I can see us playing four little guards around a big. I could see us playing two bigs, two little guards and a three. I think this team has some different things they’ll be able to do depending on how we stack up against our opponents. The other thing, and this goes for all 18 guys, the appearance is that they really like each other. The appearance is that they’ll be a fun group to spend two weeks with, which obviously is very important to teams being successful, of guys understanding that some days it might not be their day, it might be somebody else’s day.”
Team USA will open play Sunday against the Dominican Republic in the first round of games in Ontario. Pool play lasts through June 12, with the quarterfinals starting June 14.