Perry's Koa Peat makes Team USA men's U16 national basketball team that will play in Mexico
Gilbert Perry forward Koa Peat made the Team USA Under-16 basketball men's national team that will play in the FIBA Americas Championship on Monday through June 11 in Merida, Mexico.
The top four of the eight teams competing will advance to the 2024 FIBA U17 Men's World Cup in Turkey. The United States drew Group A with Puerto Rico, Argentina and Mexico.
Last year, the 6-foot-8 Peat was part of the gold-winning Under-17 national team in Spain, averaging nearly 10 points.
Peat, a junior entering the next school year, is the No. 2-ranked overall prospect in the country in the Class of 2025 by ESPN.
"It means the world to me and I'm blessed to be able to represent my country and hometown Arizona once again," said Peat, who led Perry to the first Open Division state basketball championship last season.
Perry coach Sam Duane Jr., is proud of Peat's accomplishment.
"Making Team USA is a tremendous compliment to Koa's work ethic and passion to be great," he said.
The team was chosen by USA Basketball Men’s Developmental National Team Committee and represents the graduating class of 2025 and 2026. Athletes eligible had to be born on or after Jan. 1, 2007. Goodyear Millennium's Cameron Holmes and Scottsdale Christian's Elijah Williams both tried out for the team but didn't make final cuts.
Joining Peat on the Team USA men's U16 national team are Cameron Boozer, Cayden Boozer, A.J. Dybantsa, Isiah Harwell, Caleb Holt, J.J. Mandaquit, Brandon McCoy, Jalen Montonati, Darryn Peterson, Jayden Quaintance and Tyran Stokes.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Perry's Koa Peat headed to Mexico to represent USA in basketball
