COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – Mississippi State forward Reggie Perry was selected as one of 18 finalists for the 2019 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Cup Team announced Tuesday by the USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee.
Perry is one of five finalists who played college basketball in 2018-19 joining Tyrese Haliburton (Iowa State), Kira Lewis, Jr. (Alabama), Isaac Likekele (Oklahoma State) and Trevion Williams (Purdue). High school players from the 2019 and 2020 classes represent the remaining 13 spots.
The original pool of 33 players was narrowed down to 18 after five practices at the USA Olympic Training Center in Colorado. The 18 finalists will continue to train twice a day in Colorado Springs with the 12-member USA U19 World Cup Team being announced prior to the team’s June 24 departure.
The 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup will take place from June 29-July 7 in Greece. The USA is led by head coach Bruce Weber (Kansas State) along with assistant coaches Mike Hopkins (Washington) and LeVelle Moton (North Carolina Central). Members of the USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee include chairman Matt Painter (Purdue), Shane Battier (Athlete Representative), Tony Bennett (Virginia), Ed Cooley (Providence) and Sean Miller (Arizona).
Mississippi State posted a 23-11 record last season and secured the program’s 11th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bulldogs have dialed up 48 victories over the last two seasons which is tied for second-most in program history over a two-year span and fourth among SEC schools during that span.
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