The United States have dominated the history of the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup, but their recent blowout of China to close group play of the 2024 edition may be their most impressive display ever. Thanks to some impressive contributions from Grind Session stars AJ Dybantsa, JJ Mandaquit, and Tyran Stokes, the Americans shattered three all-time single game records – most points (143), most assists (43) and most steals (33).
Team USA rolled past China 146-62 to better the previous scoring record of 138 points held by Spain against United Arab Emirates in 2014. Nine USA players scored in double figures, including Stokes with 14 points, Mandaquit with 13 points, and Dybantsa with 11 points.
“We didn’t expect to go out there and score almost 150 points. That wasn’t the intention. But once we figured out the record in the locker room, we just went out there to get it,” said Stokes after the game.
The Americans also eclipsed their own record for most assists with 43, topped by Stokes with 10 dimes. Dybantsa was second on the team with six assists. The previous single game record for assists was 40, which was achieved by this same USA group earlier in the tournament against Guinea.
Yet another record broken was for the most steals in a game as Team USA swiped the ball 33 times.
These three records beg the question: Is this the greatest USA team in the history of the U17 World Cup?
USA improved their record to 47-0 all time and are four victories from another undefeated title run.
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