US Junior Team Kicks Off Play in France

Players like Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker and Andrei Kirilenko have all shined at the Douai Junior World Championship in Doaui, France. Now a squad of the nation’s top prospects are trying to follow in those footsteps. On Wednesday, the boys wearing the red, white and blue kicked off the tournament with an exhibition game against Germany. Arizona-bound Jawann McClellan was one of the highlights in the first day of action.

McClellan and current Michigan State guard Shannon Brown each scored 13 points and helped propel the United States past Germany. Alabama forward Jermareo Davidson added 12 while UConn-bound guard A.J. Price added 10. Linzy Davis, the head of the United States team, said the roster fairs well with the European teams in the field.

“We are doing a good job with competing with these big, physical athletes,” Davis said from France. “We should compete well with these European teams. We learned that well today.”

Malik Hairston, who is coming off a recent pledge to the University of Oregon, scored eight points. Rising junior Derrick Caracter scored eight points as well and was the highest scoring non college bound or current NCAA player. Duke commitment Greg Paulus chipped in with seven points.

19 players in the current NBA Draft pool played in the Doaui event in the past. Class of 2005 prospect Keith Brumbaugh may be amongst those players next year. The Florida small forward scored seven points.

Rounding out the group was 7-foot rising junior Brian Zoubek, who scored five points and Washington state big man Jon Brockman, who added two points in the win. Davis said the team is sharing the offensive load.

“We have a great balanced scoring plan,” he said. “We are sharing the minutes 50/50 and everyone is healthy and doing well. You can’t ask for anything better than that.”

The United States team is coached by former NBA head man John Lucas. They will be back in action on Thursday when they play England. Lithuania and Germany are also in pool play.

Stay logged onto RivalsHoops.com for more information on the event as it becomes available.