Buchanan invited to training camp for USA U19 National Team

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

USA Basketball announced Wednesday that incoming Virginia recruit Blake Buchanan was among 35 athletes expected to participate in the 2023 USA U19 Men’s National Team Training Camp at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Camp begins June 11, with the 12-member team to be announced before departing for the 2023 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup Championship, scheduled for June 24-July 2 in Debrecen, Hungary.

Athletes attending training camp were selected by the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team Committee. Athletes eligible for this team must be U.S. citizens, born on or after January 1, 2004.

The 6-foot-11 Buchanan recently participated in the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore., helping Team USA to a 90-84 win over a team of international players aged 19 and under. Buchanan collected eight points, eight rebounds and one steal in just under 16 minutes of action.

In 2022-23, Buchanan averaged 15.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 1.9 blocks and 3 assists per game in leading Lake City to the Idaho 5A state championship with a 26-0 record. Buchanan earned Idaho Mr. Basketball, Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps Player of the Year accolades.

Ten athletes recently concluded their college freshman years: Amaree Abram, Mark Armstrong, Tobe Awaka, Freddie Dillione, Kylan Boswell, Josh Dix, Ven-Allen Lubin, Jackson Paveletzke and Kel’el Ware. Eric Dailey Jr. also was a member of the Class of 2022 and will attend Oklahoma State next year after he recently completed a postgraduate year at IMG Academy.

The class of 2023 will be represented by Omaha Bielew, Myles Colvin, Mookie Cook, Jeremy Fears Jr., Trentyn Flowers, AJ Johnson, DeShwan Harris-Smith, Milan Momcilovic, Jackson Shelstad, Joseph Tugler and Cody Williams and Buchanan.

The class of 2024 will be represented Ace Bailey, Kanon Catchings, Johnuel ‘Boogie’ Fland, Dylan Harper, Ian Jackson, Tre Johnson, Karter Knox, Tyler McKinley, Liam McNeeley, Asa Newell, Drake Powell, Derik Queen and Cameron Scott.

Nearly half of the athletes have prior USA Basketball experience. Ten invitees have won a gold medal as a member of a USA Basketball junior national team.

Supporting as court coaches during trials will be Jonas Hayes (Georgia State University), Kevin Kruger (UNLV), TJ Otzelberger (Iowa State University) and Micah Shrewsberry (Notre Dame).

The United States will square off with Lebanon, Madagascar and Slovenia in pool play.

The U.S. will face off against Lebanon and Madagascar for the first time at a 2023 FIBA Men’s U19 World Cup. The U.S. own a 2-0 record against Slovenia at the U19 World Cup.

The United States has won the competition eight times, including three of the last four competitions—in 2015, 2019 and 2021.