USA Basketball has announced the launch of the 2018 U.S. Basketball Championships, a youth initiative with the goal of adding opportunity, standards, and quality to the ever-growing youth basketball environment. This announcement comes on the heels of USA Basketball expanding on their 14U National Tournament last year.
Leading up to the newly-formed Championships, it is expected that approximately 3,000 teams, 36,000 players and 6,000 coaches will take part in the selected qualifying tournaments across the country. All participating coaches must also possess a valid USA Basketball coaching license. The 2018 U.S. Open Championships will consist of six groups of play: eighth grade boys, eighth grade girls, 13 and under boys, 13 and under girls, 12 and under boys and 12 and under girls.
The 2018 U.S. Open Championships for qualified boys teams will be held June 30-July 3, and the girls championships will take place July 19-22. Both the boys and girls championships will be hosted at the Pacers Athletic Center at Grand Park located in Westfield, Indiana.
With basketball becoming more popular and global sport, the announcement of this tournament offers more opportunities for competition and the development of standards. “The U.S. Open Basketball Championships’ competition structure is designed to be inclusive and impart proper youth playing standards throughout the United States,” says USA Basketball Chairman Martin Dempsey. “By providing boys and girls and their coaches with quality playing options, USA Basketball can help ensure that young players and their coaches will experience the game in fun, safe and developmentally appropriate environments.”
Some of the most impressive NBA players have come through the USA Basketball program. Most recently, new Duke recruit Zion Williamson put on a show. With the growing popularity of the sport, this new championship will further enhance standards around the country and help include more and more young aspiring basketball players.
