DEMATHA'S MIKE JONES NAMED HEAD COACH OF 2014 USA JUNIOR SELECT TEAM - ALL-MET ELITE

DEMATHA'S

MIKE JONES

 NAMED

HEAD COACH

OF

2014

USA JUNIOR SELECT TEAM 

 ALL-MET ELITE

DEMATHA HS.

HYATTSVILLE MD.

Leading the USA will be heralded high school mentor Mike Jones (DeMatha Catholic H.S., Md.), who not only headed the 2013 USA Junior National Select Team and was an assistant coach for the 2012 USA Junior National Select Team, but who also was an assistant coach for the 2012 USA U17 World Championship Team, the 2011 USA U16 National Team and the East Team in the 2004 Youth Development Festival.

“We all are excited about this opportunity,” Jones said. “USA Basketball has once again assembled the best of the best from around the country. More than half of this team has international experience, and the others bring an intensity and fire to our team. We want to represent USA Basketball and our country as well as we possibly can. This is a blessing, and we all want to take advantage of it.

“We also know that our opponents will be the best coaches and players from around the world,” Jones continued. “We must meet the challenge of a team that will be well prepared and one that is full of talented and experienced players. Recent history adds to the game's interest and ensures that the USA will be focused and will play with heart and effort to make USA Basketball and America proud.”

As he was in 2013, Jones will be assisted by former NBA player and University of Virginia star Cory Alexander (Boo Williams AAU, Va.), who played on three USA Basketball teams. Alexander earned gold with the USA at the 1993 FIBA U21 World Championship, silver at the 1992 FIBA Americas U20 Championship and bronze with the South Team at the 1991 U.S. Olympic Festival.

The Nike Hoop Summit is the country's premier annual basketball game for high-school-age boys, and it features America's top seniors playing against a World Select Team comprised of elite, international players age 19 years old or younger.

The USA will be led at the 17th annual game by its most experienced roster yet as it looks to capture a win after losses in 2012 and 2013. Overall, the United States owns an 11-5 series advantage.

Headlined by Jahlil Okafor (Whitney Young H.S./Chicago, Ill.), a three-time gold medalist and MVP of the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship, the 2014 USA Junior National Select Team roster also includes two-time gold medal winners Stanley Johnson (Mater Dei H.S./Fullerton, Calif.), Tyus Jones (Apple Valley H.S./Apple Valley, Minn.) and Justise Winslow (St. John’s School/Houston, Texas); as well as Joel Berry II (Lake Highland Prep School/Apopka, Fla.) and Theo Pinson (Wesleyan Christian Academy/Greensboro, N.C.), who each own one international gold medal.

Rounding out the roster are Cliff Alexander (Curie Metropolitan H.S./Chicago, Ill.), who suited up for USA Basketball as a member of the 2013 USA 3x3 U18 World Championship Team; James Blackmon, Jr. (Marian H.S./Fort Wayne, Ind.), who trained with USA Basketball as a member of the 2011-12 Developmental National Team; and Kelly Oubre (Findlay Prep, Nev./Fort Bend, Texas) and Myles Turner (Trinity H.S./Bedford, Texas), who each took part in the 2013 USA Basketball Developmental National Team mini-camp this past October.