Kentucky targets thrive in FIBA U17 World Cup blowout win

John Calipari and Orlando Antigua are in Spain watching Kentucky’s top recruiting targets compete in the FIBA U17 World Cup with Team USA, who is competing for its sixth consecutive gold medal.

USA opened the event with a blowout 120-44 victory over Lebanon on Saturday at Palacio de los Deportes Elena Benítez. It was a game in which the team scored 53 points off 34 turnovers while holding the opposition to 25% shooting from the field overall.

Kentucky’s top targets suiting up for Team USA? 2024 five-star guard Ian Jackson, who was a co-leading scorer for the U.S. with 21 points, shooting 10-17 from the field in the win. He received a scholarship offer from the Wildcats on day one of the direct contact period with rising juniors back on June 15.

Elsewhere, five-star senior Ronald Holland finished with 16 points and six rebounds, followed by rising sophomore Koa Peat with 11 points and seven rebounds. Five-star senior DJ Wagner finished with 10 points and four steals.

2024 five-star wing Karter Knox, who also received a scholarship offer from Kentucky on June 15, added nine points, four rebounds and three assists in the win.

Dennis Evans, Johnuel “Boogie” Fland, Asa Newell and Cooper Flagg represent Kentucky’s other targets on the roster.

USA shot 50% from the field overall (50-100 FG).

What’s next for the red, white and blue? The U.S. will take on Slovenia at 2:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, with the third and final game in the group phase scheduled for Tuesday, July 5 against Mali at 2:45 p.m. ET.

The World Cup bracket, beginning with the Round of 16, begins on Wednesday, July 6.