Montverde Academy (Fla.) head coach Kevin Boyle will led the USA Junior National Select Team against the World Team in the 2012 Nike Hoop Summit, with DeMatha Catholic (Md.) head mentor Mike Jones serving as an assistant coach on the U.S. sideline.
The Nike Hoop Summit, the country’s premier annual basketball game for high-school age boys, features America’s top high school seniors playing against a World Select Team comprised of top international players 19-years-old or younger.
Nationally televised by Fox Sports Net and its regional affiliates, the 2012 Nike Hoop Summit will take place at 7 p.m. (PDT) on Saturday, April 7, 2012, at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.
“It’s a great honor to be a part of USA Basketball,” Boyle said. “I have worked with Nike through sponsorship of my teams since 1988, and Nike and USA Basketball are first class organizations. The USA Basketball men’s program has done a tremendous job with success at all age levels, and I look forward to coaching this team.”
“I am extremely excited.” Jones said. “All of my experiences with USA Basketball in my career before now have been absolutely wonderful, and I’m looking forward to having another opportunity to represent my country in international competition.”
Portland area fans may remember USA assistant coach Jones from the 2010 Les Schwab Invitational when he lead DeMatha past Kyle Wiltjer’s Jesuit High School (Ore.) in the semifinals and on to the tournament title.
“I’ve known Coach Boyle for quite a few years, and I have always respected him and the way he has run his program,” Jones continued. “I’m definitely looking forward to implementing his plan and his system with our guys as we try to do the best job we can to prepare our team and to maintain the current win streak the USA is on. We want to make sure we represent our country the best we possibly can. I’m very much looking forward to it, and I’m extremely excited.”
Tickets for the 15th Annual Nike Hoop Summit are now on sale, with general admission $5 when purchased in advance and $10 on game day. Reserved courtside seating is $25 and $50, and tickets can be purchased through the Rose Quarter Ticket Office, by calling 877-789-ROSE (7673) or by visiting rosequarter.com or nikehoopsummit.com.
“Each and every year the Nike Hoop Summit is a very competitive contest between the U.S. and the World Team, and it’s always a challenge to build team chemistry in the three days we have to prepare,” said Sean Ford, USA Basketball Men’s National Team Director and non-voting chair of the USA Men’s Developmental National Team Committee. “The committee feels confident, however, that Kevin Boyle and Mike Jones have what it takes to get the 2012 U.S. team to play together and with discipline. Their tremendous amount of experience and success demonstrate what great coaches they are, and USA Basketball is fortunate to have their leadership.”
The 2012 USA Basketball Junior National Select Team roster will be selected by the USA Basketball Men’s Developmental National Team Committee and is expected to be announced in the next few weeks. The 2012 World Select Team is expected to be announced in March. The USA Junior National Select Team will feature 10 players, while the World Select Team is expected to consist of 11 players age 19-years-old or younger from FIBA’s five geographic zones: FIBA Africa, FIBA Americas, FIBA Asia, FIBA Europe and FIBA Oceania, with the approved sanctioning of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the world governing body of international basketball.
Stay tuned for more announcements!