Arizona Basketball

Arizona Wildcats’ U19 MVP Aaron Gordon joins elite company

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Aaron Gordon is the second Arizona to lead Team USA in scoring in the U-19 World Championships

Aaron Gordon is the second Arizona player to lead Team USA in scoring in the U-19 World Championships

As leading scorer for Team USA in the U-19 World Championships, Arizona high-profile recruit Aaron Gordon is in some elite company.

Eight of the 10 previous leading scorers in the U-19 tournament for Team USA went on to play in the NBA, including the last three who are currently on NBA rosters — Jeremy Lamb (leading scorer in 2011), Tyshawn Taylor (2009) and Patrick Beverley) (2007). Lamb, Taylor and Beverley were all NBA rookies last season.

The only two leading scorers who did not stick in the NBA are former UA power forward Michael Wright in 1999 and Lance Miller in 1991.

Wright, who has played professionally mostly in Turkey, led Team USA with 11.5 points a game in 1999.

Gordon is only the fourth player to lead Team USA in scoring and rebounding average in the U-19 World Championships. The others are Paul Davis in 2003 (17.7 points and 8.7 rebounds), Lionel Simmons in 1987 (15.0 points and 7.0 rebounds) and Kenny Walker in 1999 (19.9 points and 11.0 rebounds).

Gordon will likely come to Tucson when he returns to the U.S. Arizona’s second summer session starts Monday (July 8).

RELATED LINK: Gordon earns the U19 MVP playing mostly power forward for Billy Donovan’s U.S. team

TEAM USA U-19 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS LEADING SCORERS

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* — Still active

WILDABOUTAZCATS.net publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes blogs for Lindy’s College Sports, TucsonCitizen.com and Sports Illustrated-sponsored site ZonaZealots.com.

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