SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Glenn & Stacey Murphy Head Coach, Micah Shrewsberry, will soon embellish his office at the Rolfs Practice Facility with a new addition—a gold medal from the 2024 FIBA U18 Americup, where he played a pivotal role in guiding the U18 USA squad to victory. This achievement marks Shrewsberry’s debut on a USA staff, having been named as an assistant coach.
The U18 USA team’s journey unfolded over the past week in Buenos Aires, where they clinched the top spot in Group B by defeating Brazil. Subsequently, they breezed past Canada in the semifinals to secure a spot in the gold-medal game, where they triumphed over Argentina with a resounding 110-70 victory. Coach Shrewsberry will now return to South Bend to commence the summer session with the 2024-25 Fighting Irish squad.
Darius Acuff Jr., named the Most Valuable Player of the 2024 FIBA Men’s U18 AmeriCup, spearheaded the USA U18 National Team to their seventh consecutive gold medal. His standout performance included 26 points, nine assists, six rebounds, and three steals in the championship-clinching win over Argentina.
The game saw Argentina take an early lead of 10-4, but the U.S. swiftly responded, scoring eight unanswered points to seize control, a lead they maintained throughout the quarter. Acuff Jr. showcased his composure and skill, contributing 10 of his 26 points in the opening quarter.
Argentina briefly reclaimed the lead (30-28) in the second quarter, prompting a strong response from the U.S. squad. Their robust defensive effort fueled an 18-0 run, propelling them to a commanding 46-30 lead with under three minutes remaining in the quarter.
The momentum carried into the third quarter, with Nikolas Khamenia extending the U.S. lead to 22 points with consecutive three-pointers. The team’s full-court press stifled Argentina, as the U.S. capitalized on turnovers to secure a comprehensive 110-70 victory.
The U.S. showcased suffocating defense, forcing 22 turnovers and converting them into 41 fast-break points and 33 points off turnovers. Alongside Acuff Jr., key contributors on offense included Jasper Johnson (19), Daniel Jacobsen (11), and Nikolas Khamenia (11).
With nine assists each, Acuff Jr. and Mikel Brown Jr. orchestrated the offense adeptly, facilitating easy scoring opportunities for their teammates. The victory marked the United States’ 14th win in 15 encounters against Argentina and their 11th gold medal in 13 editions of the event.
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