The next household names for USA basketball have a chance to prove themselves in Colorado Springs.  

For the last two weeks, 32 athletes have been participating in the 2026 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team training camp at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The training camp began Thursday, with the 12-team roster to be announced before the 2026 FIBA U18 Men’s AmeriCup set June 1-7 in Leon, Mexico. 

The team, represented by the classes of 2026 and 2027, will be selected by the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team Committee. Most players have previously attended USA Basketball junior national team training camps and minicamps. 

University of Dayton head men’s basketball coach Anthony Grant is leading the training camp and will serve as the 2026 USA Men’s U18 National Team head coach. Matt Langel (Colgate) and Nate Oats (Alabama) are the assistant coaches. 

Dennis Gates (Missouri), Greg Kampe (Oakland), Ritchie McKay (Liberty), and 2026 NCAA champion Dusty May (Michigan) are assisting as court coaches. 

The roster was narrowed to 27 finalists ahead of Tuesday’s practice at Pine Creek High School, which was a scrimmage against a team that includes members of Air Force’s men’s basketball team. It was the first time the players played with each other during camp, but the chemistry is already there. 

“All the coaches and players are uplifting and willing to push you,” guard Adan Diggs said. “At the end of the day it’s all love, it’s fun to be around them. Everyone is laughing and having fun. Today showed what to work on, which are quick fixes.”

Former Pine Creek girls star Brooklyn Stewart was present at the scrimmage after a successful freshman year at Oklahoma that included a Sweet 16 appearance. 

Most of the participants have international experience, with 30 having previously played for USA Basketball. One of them is 3×3 U18 World Cup gold medalist Bo Ogden, who was named “Mr. Basketball,” or the top Texas high school player, by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches in April. 

Ogden, a Texas commit, earned a gold medal at the 2024 FIBA U18 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary, and the training camp is his first 5-on-5 experience. The senior guard from Austin, Texas, averaged 22 points and 7.5 rebounds per game during his senior year while shooting 40% from 3-point range and 84% from the free-throw line. 

“It’s similar in action,” Ogden said of 3v3 and 5v5 basketball. “3v3 is faster, but 5v5 is the staple of basketball, a little different but still fun to come up here and compete. Basketball is just fun anywhere you play it.” 

Players noted the challenge of the altitude, but saw it as a tool to improve performance. The finalists hail from Texas, Missouri, Arizona, California, New York, Kentucky, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama. 

“It’s been kicking our butts,” guard Taylen Kinney said. “We are super tired, hands on the knees, but it helped us a lot so we are ready for Mexico.” 

Several players have already competed with each other this year, including seniors Bruce Branch III, Caleb Gaskins and Ethan Taylor, who helped the U.S. win a sixth straight victory over the World team at the Nike Hoop Summit, an international basketball all-star game.

That chemistry will help the future basketball stars on the world stage.  

“The energy is high,” Kinney said. “There are things to work on offensively, trusting things in certain situations, but at the end of the day Team USA should be really good.”

 2026 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team training camp finalists:

Class of 2026: Davion Adkins, Bruce Branch III, Quentin Coleman, Sam Funches, Caleb Gaskins, Jasiah Jervis, Taylen Kinney, Colben Landrew, Dhani Miller, Bo Ogden, Ethan Taylor, Kevin Thomas and Anthony Thompson.

Class of 2027: Scottie Adkinson, Dawson Battie, Chase Branham, Jaxson Davis, Adan Diggs (reclassified from 2028), Demarcus Henry, Ahmad Hudson, Jaydn Jenkins, Malachi Jordan, Moussa Kamissoko, Kevin Savage III, Davion Thompson, Josh Tyson and Darius Wabbington.