Isaiah Whitehead and Dakari Johnson are two of the elite players in the Class of 2014, yet they were left off the 2011 USA Men’s U16 National Team announced Monday.
Don Showalter, head coach of the team, told SNY.tv he liked both players but the committee didn’t feel either deserved a spot on the 12-man roster that will compete this month in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Cancun, Mexico.
“We had 27 really good players,” Showalter said by phone. “We were only going to take one true five man and the fellow [Jahlil] Okafor was a little more consistent [than Johnson]. Playing in a national camp there’s just not enough room for two strictly post players.
“It’s not a situation where Dakari by any means played poorly because he played well. The coaching staff and the committee felt that Okafor was a little more consistent in the practices. There is not room on a team for two true five men.”
The 6-foot-9, 235-pound Johnson remains part of the U16 Developmental Team. He played at Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick last season, but could move next year to play for former coach Kevin Boyle at Montverde (Fla.), or he could transfer to Blair Academy.
“I look for Dakari to have a great, great chance to make it next year [on the U17 team],” Showalter said. “His upside is better than better anybody’s here. We can’t take on upside, we’ve got to take on where they are right now.”
The 6-4, 193-pound Whitehead is the latest Lincoln High School star to follow Stephon Marbury, Sebastian Telfair and Lance Stephenson.
“Isaiah played well,” Showalter said. “He lacked a few skills that we were looking for. I don’t think he’s real consistent practice to practice. When he got tired a little bit he showed that a little bit on the court.
“We liked Whitehead a lot. He improved as the practices went on.”
Here’s the full roster:
| NAME |
POS
|
HGT
|
WGT
|
DOB
|
YOG
|
SCHOOL/ HOMETOWN |
| Larry Austin |
G
|
6-1
|
161
|
02/18/96
|
2014
|
Lamphier H.S. / Springfield, IL |
| Conner Frankamp |
G
|
6-0
|
152
|
07/16/95
|
2013
|
Wichita North H.S. / Wichita, KS |
| Aaron Gordon |
C
|
6-8
|
208
|
09/16/95
|
2013
|
Archbishop Mitty H.S. / San Jose, CA |
| Justin Jackson |
G
|
6-6
|
171
|
03/28/95
|
2014
|
Homeschool Christian Youth Ass. / Spring, TX |
| Stanley Johnson |
F
|
6-5
|
217
|
05/29/96
|
2014
|
Mater Dei H.S. / Fullerton, CA |
| Tyus Jones |
G
|
6-0
|
171
|
05/10/96
|
2014
|
Apple Valley H.S. / Apple Valley, MN |
| Kendrick Nunn |
G
|
6-1
|
175
|
08/03/95
|
2013
|
Simeon H.S. / Chicago, IL |
| Jahlil Okafor |
C
|
6-8
|
269
|
12/15/95
|
2014
|
Whitney Young H.S. / Chicago, IL |
| Jabari Parker |
F
|
6-6
|
225
|
03/15/95
|
2013
|
Simeon H.S. / Chicago, IL |
| Theo Pinson |
F
|
6-4
|
176
|
11/05/95
|
2014
|
Oakridge Military Academy / Greensboro, NC |
| Malik Price-Martin |
F/C
|
6-9
|
187
|
01/20/95
|
2013
|
Monsignor Edward Pace H.S. / Miami, FL |
| Johnathan Williams |
F/C
|
6-7
|
208
|
05/22/95
|
2013
|
Southwind H.S. / Memphis, TN |
