This afternoon the USA Basketball twitter handle announced that incoming UNC freshman Coby White is now a member of their 2018 USA Men’s U18 National Team:
Introducing the 2018 USA Men's U18 National Team #USABMU18 pic.twitter.com/hdwl9fgF5l
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) June 5, 2018
Coby White will join the Team USA in competing in the 2018 FIBA Americas Championship in Saint Catharines, Canada starting June 10th. White will be joined by several UNC prospects including Armando Bacot, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Keion Brooks, and Matthew Hurt. This will be a huge opportunity for White to showcase his talents this summer, as this is the type of environment that he thrives in as opposed to the showcase-style games that he has been playing in for the past couple of months.
Coby White Will also be the first Tar Heel to play for a USA basketball team since James McAdoo, who helped his team to win the gold medal for the U17 team. The USA Basketball coaches raved about Coby’s performance during tryouts, including the Kansas and USA Basketball’s head coach Bill Self:
“I think he’s been one of the best players here and I think he’s had moments where he has definitely been the best player. He’s got a gift for scoring, but he also plays with a great pace. He’s beyond his years from a pace standpoint and most young kids are so sped up trying to play so fast and he knows how to play to his speed, but not out of control and he can really shoot and he’s really pleasant young kid to be around. He’ll have a heck of a career for UNC.”
On where he sees Coby fitting in with the USA team:
“I see him as a combo guard. You know he can play point, he can play ‘2,’ we may be so small we play three little guards out there together, maybe four, but no question, he is a point that can score in my opinion, but with this particular team I think he’s probably better off playing off the ball. He’s probably as good as we have shooting the ball off the catch.”
Making the USA team should go a long way for Coby White as he prepares for his UNC debut. Sharpening his skills as a combo guard under a Hall of Fame coach is an advantage that many seldom get going into their freshman year, and it could go a long way in his preparation to fight for a starting spot on Carolina’s roster. Even if he doesn’t start, White will likely earn see a good amount of minutes coming off of the bench. It is unknown whether or not he will mostly see time at the point guard or shooting guard spot, but what we do know is that White is a deadly offensive threat that should be able to produce for the Heels early.
Congratulations to Coby, we know that you will make Tar Heel Nation proud!