The inaugural FIBA u/17 Championships drew to a close this past weekend.
The United States of America are the first ever winner of the FIBA U17 World Championship. In an entertaining gold medal game the squad of coach Don Showalter emerged as deserving winners. The final score of 111-80 meant nothing less than an eighth victory in in as many games. Runners-up Poland came into this matchup unbeaten thus far, but once more delivered great heart and sportsmanship for 40 minutes.
Leading up to the Youth Olympic Games taking place in early August this year, and the FIBA Men’s World Championships of Basketball happening later in August 2010, the 
FIBA Mens u/17 championships are getting the action going this weekend.
The preliminary rounds start today, 2 July 2010, with group matches taking place. The finals will take place on 11 July 2010 (the same day as the soccer World Cup Final – wonder if this influence viewing levels, especially if those countries are represented in the Finals too as countries like Spain or Argentina might be).
You can follow the championship action on their dedicated website – hamburg2010.fiba.com.
"ready" by threecee, via flickr
I know you know how important youth basketball is since you’ve grown up playing the game. But even someone who doesn’t play can work it out if they have half a brain.
By youth, I am referring both to the real youngsters who struggle to get the ball up into a regulation hoop, as well as teenagers who play the game on full-size courts.
