USA Basketball on Sunday revealed the 18 finalists for the 2025 USA Men’s U19 National Team, trimming down a group of 31 training camp invitees after three days of intense evaluation at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
Leading the pack is AJ Dybantsa, the top-ranked prospect in the high school class of 2025. The group features a mix of recent college freshmen and standout high school players from the 2025 and 2026 classes, all competing for 12 final roster spots ahead of the next edition of FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup.
Social Media Buzzes Over Absences in U19 Final Roster
Joining Dybantsa in the group of 18 finalists are Mikel Brown Jr., Chris Cenac Jr., Christian Collins, Jason Crowe Jr., Caleb Holt, Daniel Jacobsen, Jasper Johnson, JJ Mandaquit, Morez Johnson Jr., Nik Khamenia, Brandon McCoy Jr., Royce Parham, Koa Peat, Tyrone Riley IV, Deron Rippey Jr., Tyran Stokes, and Elijah Williams.
18 finalists remain for the 2025 USA Men’s U19 National Team.
🇺🇸 #USABMU19 pic.twitter.com/si3rPDArNO
— USABJNT (@usabjnt) June 16, 2025
The group is set to represent the United States at the 2025 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup in Lausanne, Switzerland, from June 28 to July 6.
While the talent is undeniable, the final list has stirred debate among college basketball fans on X, with some questioning notable omissions.
Kansas commit Darryn Peterson, ranked No. 2 nationally in the class of 2025, was not among the 31 players invited to the U19 training camp, prompting confusion online. One user commented, “Darryn Peterson cut wow,” while the reasoning for his exclusion remains unclear.
Another fan noted, “Peterson should be on there better than 96% of them.”
Another fan raised concerns about Michigan guard LJ Cason, writing, “LJ Cason disrespect is crazy.” Cason, a rising sophomore, was considered more of a long shot heading into training camp; however, he is no stranger to exceeding expectations. His teammate at Michigan, Johnson Jr., did make the list of 18 finalists.
Taylen Kinney, a five-star point guard from Overtime Elite and Adidas 3SSB standout, was also left off the finalist roster. A user wrote, “Kinney cut, lot of the Adidas guys cut.” Kinney is ranked No. 17 nationally in the Class of 2026 and has received offers from major programs, including Purdue and Oregon.
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Five-star high school guard Jordan Smith Jr. was not among the finalists after suffering an ankle injury during the first scrimmage training camp session. One fan remarked, “I’m very surprised Jordan Smith got cut,” reacting to the absence of the top prospect.
Despite the debate surrounding the final selections, USA Basketball now turns its attention toward preparing the team for international competition.
The team will be led by Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd, with Texas Tech’s Grant McCasland and Notre Dame’s Micah Shrewsberry as assistants. Drawn into Group D, the United States will face Australia, France, and Cameroon at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Lausanne, Switzerland.
While the Americans hold a historical edge over Australia (4–2) and France (6–1), the matchup against Cameroon will mark their first meeting. With rising college talent and elite high school prospects, the final 12 will look to carry on USA Basketball’s gold-standard legacy.
