Isaac Likekele Named Finalist for USA’s 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup Team

Isaac Likekele is a step away from the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup.

Likekele made it through the team’s training camp cut from 31 players down to 18 on Tuesday morning. From here, the 18 finalists will continue training twice a day before getting cut to 12 on June 24 when the team leaves for Greece.

“It’s amazing,” OSU senior Cam McGriff said of his teammate Monday. “It’s an opportunity to represent our school, his family and also this country. I know that he definitely competes at a high level, and he deserves all that he’s getting right now.”

Among the finalists, there are five players heading into their sophomore seasons of college hoops, five players from the 2019 class and eight players from the 2020 class. The Big 12 is well represented in the team, as Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton joins Likekele as a finalist. Kansas State coach Bruce Weber is also the U19 team’s coach.

If Likekele makes it on the 12-man squad he will join Jawun Evans (2015), Marcus Smart (2013) and Matt Clark (1979) as Cowboys to have played at the FIBA U19 World Cup. Evans, Smart and Clark all won gold. There are expectations for the USA to win gold in anything, but especially basketball. At the past three U19 World Cups, the Americans have left victorious.

“He works really hard,” OSU freshman Marcus Watson said of Likekele on Monday. “I love the way he talks to us. He’s a great leader.

“I know he’s going to make the team. I know he’s going to do great things out there. I think it’s great for our program.”

Monday’s training session was also coaches day. Mike Boynton traveled to Colorado Springs and was on-hand to watch his starting point guard compete against the country’s blossoming stars.

OSU 2020 target Cade Cunningham was also named a finalist for the team. Cunningham is a 6-6 combo guard and is ranked third nationally in the 2020 recruiting class.

The 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup starts July 29. USA shares a group with New Zealand, Lithuania and Senegal. The Americans are 91-14 all-time at the event.

USA U19 Finalists

Scottie Barnes (University School/West Palm Beach, Florida)
Joshua Christopher (Mayfair H.S./Lakewood, California)
Cade Cunningham (Montverde Academy, Fla./Arlington, Texas)
Jalen Green (Prolific Prep/Fresno, California)
Tyrese Haliburton (Iowa State/Oshkosh, Wisconsin)
Walker Kessler (Woodward Academy/Newnan, Georgia)
Kira Lewis Jr. (Alabama/Meridianville, Alabama)
Isaac Likekele Oklahoma State/Mansfield, Texas)
Evan Mobley (Rancho Christian School/Temecula, California)
Casey Morsell (St. John’s College H.S./Washington, D.C.)
Zeke Nnaji (Hopkins H.S./Hopkins, Minnesota)
Reggie Perry (Mississippi State/Thomasville, Georgia)
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (IMG Academy, FL/Overland Park, Kansas)
Jalen Suggs (Minnehaha Academy/Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Anton Watson (Gonzaga Prep/Spokane, Washington)
Trevion Williams (Purdue/Chicago, Illinois)
Ziaire Williams (Notre Dame H.S./Sherman Oaks, California)
Samuell Williamson (Rockwall H.S./Rockwall, Texas)