Deja Kelly, USA roll by Venezuela in AmeriCup opener

Carolina senior guard Deja Kelly and the United States made it clear Saturday why the Americans are favored to win the FIBA AmeriCup. Kelly started at point guard and collected nine points, three rebounds and four assists as a balanced USA team rolled to an 80–54 victory Saturday over Venezuela in the opener for both teams at Domo de la Feria in León, Mexico, 250 miles northwest of Mexico City.

Jackson dishes out team-high five assists as U.S. U19 team rolls into medal round 3–0

Ian Jackson didn’t get into the United States’ game until the second quarter and struggled with his shot but showed his versatility in a 122–70 victory Tuesday over Lebanon at Fönix Arena in Debrecen, Hungary. Jackson led the Americans with five assists, and collected eight points, five rebounds and two steals in 21½ minutes as the team finished FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup Group B pool play 3–0 and dropped Lebanon to 0–3.

Banghart offers scholarships to three top-10 Class of 2026 recruits

Coach Courtney Banghart is already off to a good start in trying to lure the best of the Class of 2026 to Carolina after evidently liking what she saw when she traveled to Mérida, Mexico, for the FIBA Women’s U16 Americas Championship. Banghart was there for the start of the event to support five-star guard Lanie Grant, her only Class of 2025 commit, and recruit. Since the American team won the gold medal on Monday, news of Carolina scholarship offers for three of Grant’s USA teammates in the Class of 2026, all five-stars, has been posted on Twitter.

UNC commit Jackson nearly scores a point a minute as U.S. puts up record point total in romp

Five-star Class of 2024 UNC commit Ian Jackson scored nearly a point a minute and the United States looked impressive in their opener of the FIBA U19 World Cup. The 6–5 guard scored 17 points in just over 16 minutes as the Americans rolled to a 136–69 victory over Madagascar at Fönix Arena in Debrecen, Hungary, putting up a record point total by an American U19 team.