The Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul, Turkey, was the site of another dominant run for the Team USA U17 squad, which took on Italy in the FIBA final. Led by Koa Peat’s 26 points and a top-tier effort from Cameron Boozer—who earned MVP honors—the team displayed an overpowering mix of talent in all facets of the game, ending in a final score of 129-88. It’s Team USA’s seventh straight FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup crown, an unreal run with a record of 51-0 in tournament play that included these record-setting stats during the final: Here are the U17 World Cup Final records that were snapped: 129 ..read more

While the concept sounds like an education-based twist on the Needle in the Haystack, according to survey data and other sources from Niche, there is an answer to the question, “Which U.S. high schools are the best for athletes?” Using a methodology that weighs factors such as parent and student survey responses, the total number of championships, enrollment, and sports offered, these 20 institutions stood out among the 20,000-plus high schools filled with millions and millions of students. Publishing the findings isn’t an endorsement for successfully locating the proverbial needle, mind you ..read more

The 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game will tip off on Tuesday, April 2, at Toyota Center in Houston and showcase 24 of the top girls’ basketball players in the country. It’s the 22nd edition of the highly anticipated girls all-star event, with loaded rosters on both sides that include Imari Berry, Justice Carlton, Joyce Edwards, Mackenly Randolph, and top-ranked standout Sarah Strong. Ahead of the action, here’s a look at each All-American in what could be another iconic addition to the game’s growing history in women’s basketball ..read more

The best of the best in high school basketball has begun to prep for the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game, which takes place on Tuesday, April 2, at Toyota Center in Houston. The West and East teams are loaded with talent, top-tier prospects from Cooper Flagg to VJ Edgecombe to Ace Bailey, who will look to shine one final time in the high school space before heading to the next chapter. The outcome of this year’s game provides a little extra motivation for the West team, though, with the East ahead in the overall win total by one game (22 to 21). Ahead of the anticipated tipoff, here’s a loo ..read more

Since NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said during All-Star Weekend that the future of G League Ignite was being assessed, there have been rumors that the program is nearing the end of its lifespan. On Thursday, Athletic reporter Shams Charania reported that this will be the team’s final season. The G League Ignite will play its final game on March 28 before shuttering. “Before, I felt there was a hole in the marketplace we were filling,” Silver said during All-Star Weekend. “Now, my focus is turning to earlier development of those players.” When Ignite launched in 2020, it ser ..read more

The high-flying moments from the high school basketball court in March haven’t skipped a beat, with the postseason action providing plenty of drama and must-see moments. As the 2023-24 season nears an end, we’re taking a look back at the best photos of the month (so far ..read more

Hoop dreams continue to become a reality as the 2023-24 high school basketball season winds down and more champions are crowned across the country. With that comes a treasure trove of images captured from state to state, the high-flying moments that genuinely depict the 1000 words each can often highlight. These are the USA TODAY HSS staff’s favorites from the past few weeks of boys high school basketball ..read more

Antwan ‘AJ’ Scott seems to know one thing: You never fake the funk on a really nasty dunk. There is no fronting here, Scott is a legit phenom with a simply huge upside. And the class of 2029 prospect (yes, do the math on that one) is a middle school standout who already has some serious elevation. Scott, from North Carolina, has explosiveness to his game that is impressive at any age. What makes this dunk impressive, or rather even more impressive, is the fact that there appears to be some contact on the way up. But Scott still elevates and gets the dunk off, which is impressive no matter the ..read more

Glance through the rosters of high school basketball teams across the country, and you’ll notice more than a few familiar last names. In fact, you’ll notice more than a few. Many of the NBA stars from the past 20 years are now taking on the classic role of basketball parents—and, in some instances, the coaches—to a promising crop of high school talent. While professional lineage isn’t anything new throughout the hardwood history that has shaped high school basketball, the amount of former NBA players’ sons in the current classes is something rather remarkable. From Dee Brown to Marcus Fizer to ..read more

It’s been a busy week and a half for Cooper Flagg, the 6-foot-8 talent who has the basketball world watching his every move. He first hit the headlines in early August after a rumor swirled that he beat NBA all-star Bradley Beal during a 1-on-1 game at Jayson Tatum’s camp. After the Brian Scalabrine-led buzz was laid to rest, it was back to business as usual for the arguably top prospect in the nation (regardless of class). Until now. Flagg has announced that he is reclassifying to the Class of 2024 from the ’25 group, which gives him a head start on the next chapter of his basketball career ..read more