The former Adlai E. Stevenson High School star Jalen Brunson helped the United States defend its U-19 world title and earned the tournament MVP honors.
This was Brunson’s second major championship of the season after claiming the 4A Illinois state title with Stevenson in March.
Brunson, who will attend Villanova in the fall, averaged 14 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals during the FIBA tournament.
Villanova coach Jay Wright congratulated Brunson on his MVP award after defeating Croatia in the finals.
So Proud of the Leadership & Toughness Displayed by @jbcrossover5 & the Entire @usabasketball U-19 Team #FIBAU19 #GoldMedal #USA
— Jay Wright (@VUCoachJWright) July 5, 2015
Proud of team Brunson-mama w/@usabasketball Jim Tooley and Lea -pops setting up VU dorm Room ! pic.twitter.com/LYR1qkzAcc
— Jay Wright (@VUCoachJWright) July 6, 2015
I’m speechless, Brunson said. I’ve got to give credit to my teammates. They found me the right positions to just make plays. I just can’t thank everybody enough. We worked so hard for this.
University of Arizona coach Sean Miller was the coach of the U-19 team, and he said Brunson had a great tournament.
He emerged as our leader as well, and when you have a leader at that position it helps things. I thought his performance against Greece with 30 points was an incredible performance. Down the home stretch of today’s game he stepped up big.
Brunson scored a combined 44 points during the semifinals and finals of the FIBA tournament, but his greatest stat line was the zero turnovers.
Miller thinks the 6-foot-1 point guard is going to have great success at the collegiate level.
That kid is a Final Four point guard.
[h/t zagsblog.com]
