COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Anton Watson made the first round of cuts at for the U19 USA World Cup team on Tuesday.
With only 18 players left for the 12-man squad, we decided to break down what Watson's chances are to make the roster.
BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS
Watson is one of eleven players left listed as forwards. The good news for Watson is that he can play both on the wing and down below, so that means that he gives the staff a player who can play multiple positions.
Of the seven players who entered the camp who had already participated on USA Basketball gold medal winning teams, five made the first cut. Three of those gold medal winners are listed as forwards. I think it's safe to say that already playing on a USA Basketball team certainly doesn't hurt your chances to make it again. Watson has never played for USA Basketball, although he did make the first round of cuts for the U18 National Team tryouts last year.
Finally, it's obvious that the coaching staff doesn't really value college players versus high school players. Of the eight college players who were invited to the camp, four were cut Tuesday.
ANTON'S COMPETITION
More forwards than guards made the first cut (eleven forwards, seven guards). Because they have more forwards than guards making the cut, I think they bring seven forwards and five guards to the World Cup. That means four forwards will get cut.
I'm going to make an assumption that the three forwards already with gold medals make it (Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Jeremiah Robinson). That leaves four spots open.
I think that 6'11 Gonzaga recruit Walker Kessler will also make the squad. There's been a lot of chatter about his performance on social media.
2020 recruit Josh Christopher has also received a lot of hype on the twitter-sphere due to his performance at camp. That's five spots taken.
In my eyes, it seems Watson is battling for one of the two last forward spots. So, this is going to be close.
NOT ALL FOR NOT
No matter what happens this whole situation isn't all for not, and it's beyond the obvious reason that getting to participate in this high level environment is good for Watson.
Walker Kessler and guard Jalen Suggs, who also made the cut, both announced Tuesday they are planning official visits to Gonzaga. It can't hurt for those two and Watson to play together and perhaps envision what the future holds. Gonzaga is basically getting a free recruiter in Watson for a few weeks.
Just an aside- I think Suggs will make this team.
If Suggs, Kessler, and Watson all made it? What a phenomenal recruiting position for the Zags.
The final roster will most likely be announced on June 24th, so we sit and wait to see what will happen.
NOT JUST WATSON
There are four other Gonzaga players who are trying to make their U19 World Cup teams. Martynas Arlauskas with Lithuania, Joel Ayayi with France, Filip Petrusev with Serbia, and Pavel Zakharov with Russia.
The FIBA U19 World Cup is in Greece from June 29th to July 7th.