FIBA Photo
Kentuckian Jasper Johnson will have a chance to win his first golf medal with USA Basketball today at the 2024 FIBA U18 Men’s AmeriCup after his team beat Canada 107-69 in the semifinals Saturday in Buenos Aires.
The U.S. will play for its seventh straight U18 championship and 11th overall today.
The USA shot 51.2 percent (44 of 86) from the field and 71.4 percent (10 of 14 ) from the foul line.
Derrion Reid finished with his second straight double-double at the AmeriCup, logging 12 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and one steal. Reid tied Morez Johnson Jr. for the most double-doubles on the team.
The U.S. had eight players finish with 10-or-more points, including 11 by Johnson.
The former Woodford County High School star played 19 minutes and had 11 points on 4-for-10 shooting, including 3-for-8 from 3, along with three assists, one rebound and one turnover.
In five games, he has averaged 8.2 points in 14.8 minutes per game while shooting 47 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from 3. He also has 13 assists and five rebounds.
“He is really enjoying himself,” said Dennis Johnson, Jasper’s father, who is in Argentina with his wife. “He said they all feel like celebrities and it has just been a great experience. This is just a once in a lifetime experience. A lot of people helped Jasper along the way and it is just a surreal time for Jasper and our family.”
Kentucky coach Mark Pope has been in Buenos Aires and plans to watch the gold medal game today before flying back to the U.S. for the Top 100 Camp in Orlando that started Saturday.
Pope and Dennis Johnson have talked and the Kentucky coach has made it clear he wants to get Jasper Johnson and his family on campus for a visit as soon as possible.
