Kentucky targets make up over half of USAB Men's U17 National Team

The Big Blue Nation will want to pay close attention to this summer’s 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup.

On Wednesday afternoon, USA Basketball unveiled the 12-player roster for the 2022 USA Basketball Men’s U17 National Team following nearly a week of training camp tryouts. 34 high schoolers were initially invited before the list was cut to 18 on Monday and then to the final 12.

Among those 12, seven of them have significant Kentucky interest — three from the ’23 class and four from ’24. The two ’25 prospects who made the cut, Cooper Flagg and Koa Peat, haven’t heard from the ‘Cats just yet, but both are projected to be among the best in the class moving forward and will surely hear from UK in the future.

Below is a list of the updated 12-man roster with Kentucky targets marked in bold. All rankings are courtesy of the On3 Consensus.

Class of 2023

Dennis Evans III | 7-1, 210 pounds; 4-star C, No. 29 overall
Jeremy Fears Jr. (Michigan State commit) | 6-1, 165 pounds; 4-star PG, No. 51 overall
Ron Holland | 6-8, 195 pounds; 5-star PF, No. 5 overall
Sean Stewart (Duke commit) | 6-8, 210 pounds; 4-star PF, No. 12 overall
Dajuan Wagner Jr. | 6-3, 165 pounds; 5-star CG, No. 2 overall

Class of 2024

David Castillo | 6-1, 170 pounds; 4-star PG, No. 15 overall
Johnuel “Boogie” Fland | 6-3, 165 pounds; 4-star PG, No. 12 overall
Ian Jackson | 6-5, 180 pounds; 5-star PG, No. 3 overall
Karter Knox | 6-5, 180 pounds; 4-star SF, No. 10 overall
Asa Newell | 6-8, 200 pounds; 4-star PF, No. 27 overall

Class of 2025

Cooper Flagg | 6-7, 195 pounds; SF
Koa Peat | 6-7, 200 pounds; SF

The 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup will take place in Malaga, Spain, from July 2-10. Team USA opens play on Saturday, July 2 vs. Lebanon. Typically, the FIBA YouTube account streams or publishes all of the games in full, so you’ll be able to follow along as the tournament happens.