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Incoming Illini freshman Quentin Coleman named to USA Basketball U18 National Team

Photo: Associated Press


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Quentin Coleman, an incoming freshman for the U of I basketball team this fall, has been selected to the 2026 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team. He will represent the U.S. at the 2026 FIBA U18 Men’s AmeriCup from June 1-7 in Leon, Mexico.

Coleman was chosen following a six-day training camp in Colorado Springs among 32 participants and 19 finalists. The camp’s athletes were selected by the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team Committee.

A 6-foot-4-inch, 180-pound guard from St. Louis, Coleman will arrive in Champaign as one of the most decorated prep players in the country. As a senior at Principia School, he averaged 23.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.7 steals per game, leading the Panthers to a second consecutive state championship. He earned first-team MaxPreps All-American honors, second-team Naismith All-American recognition, and was named Missouri’s Gatorade Player of the Year, among other accolades. Coleman is rated as a five-star recruit, ranked No. 13 nationally by 247Sports, No. 15 by Rivals, and No. 23 by ESPN.

The U18 National Team will open Group A play against Argentina on June 1 at 6:30 p.m., followed by Mexico on June 2 at 9 p.m. and Brazil on June 4 at 4 p.m. Group winners advance directly to the semifinals on June 6, with medal games scheduled for June 7. The tournament will be streamed live on YouTube.com/FIBA.

The full 12-man roster also includes Bruce Branch III, Adan Diggs, Caleb Gaskins, Demarcus Henry, Jasiah Jervis, Malachi Jordan, Taylen Kinney, Colben Landrew, Ethan Taylor, Davion Thompson, and Darrius Wabbington. The team is coached by Anthony Grant of Dayton, with assistants Matt Langel of Colgate and Nate Oats of Alabama.

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