The ninth-annual USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team October minicamp, which will take place Oct. 7-8 at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is expected to feature 54 of the USA's top, high school boys basketball players, including 15 gold medalists. The player invitations were sent by the USA Basketball Men's Developmental National Team Committee.

Eighteen participants are members of the high school class of 2018 and are eligible for the 2018 USA Junior National Select Team that will compete in the 21st annual Nike Hoop Summit in April 2018, while 36 athletes are members of the high school classes of 2019, 2020 or 2021 and are eligible for the 2018 USA Basketball Men's U17 World Cup Team, which will compete June 30-July 8 in Rosario and Sante Fe, Argentina.

Including morning and afternoon training sessions on Oct. 7-8, the minicamp will help USA Basketball develop its pipeline for both events.

Graduating high school this spring and eligible for the 2018 Nike Hoop Summit are: Darius Bazley (Princeton H.S./Cincinnati, Ohio); Bol Bol (Mater Dei H.S./Santa Ana, Calif.); Jordan Brown (Woodcreek H.S./Roseville, Calif.); Moses Brown (Archbishop Molloy H.S./Jamaica, N.Y.); Tyler Herro (Whitnall H.S./Milwaukee, Wis.); Darius Garland (Brentwood Academy/Brentwood, Tenn.); Quentin Grimes (College Park H.S./The Woodlands, Texas); Keldon Johnson (Oak Hill Academy/Mouth of Wilson, Va.); Tre Jones (Apple Valley H.S./Saint Paul, Minn.); Romeo Langford (New Albany H.S./New Albany, Ind); Nassir Little (Orlando Christian Prep/Jacksonville, Fla.); Reggie Perry (Thomasville H.S./Thomasville, Ga.); Immanuel Quickley(John Carroll School/Bel Air, Md.); Jahvon Quinerly (Hudson Catholic H.S./Hackensack, N.J.); Cameron Reddish (Westtown School/Norristown, Pa.); Anfernee Simons (IMG Academy/Altamonte Springs, Fla.); Emmitt Williams (IMG Academy/Lehigh Acres, Fla.); and Zion Williamson (Spartanburg Day School/Spartanburg, S.C.).

Attending from the high school classes of 2019, 2020 or 2021 and eligible for the 2018 USA U17 World Cup Team are: Jabri Abdur-Rahim (Seton Hall Prep School/Short Hills, N.J.); Posh Alexander (Our Saviour Lutheran School/Brooklyn, N.Y.); Scottie Barnes (University School/West Palm Beach, Fla.); Dudley Blackwell (Westminster Academy/Miramar, Fla.); Gregory Brown III (Vandegrift H.S./Austin, Texas); Vern Carey Jr. (University School/Southwest Ranches, Fla.); Noah Collier (Westtown School, Pa./Mullica Hill, N.J.); Jy'are Davis (Sanford School/Newark, Del.); Eric Dixon (Abington H.S./Willow Grove, Pa.); Anthony Edwards (Holy Spirit Prep School/Atlanta, Ga.); Xavier Foster (Oskaloosa H.S./Oskaloosa, Iowa); Juwan Gary (Gray Collegiate Academy/Columbia, S.C.); Jalen Green (San Joaquin Memorial H.S./Fresno, Calif.); Lynn Greer III (Roman Catholic H.S./Philadelphia, Pa.); RJ Hampton (Little Elm H.S./Little Elm, Texas); De'Vion Harmon (Denton Guyer H.S./Corinth, Texas); Zion Harmon (Bowling Green H.S./Bowling Green, Ky.); Jason Harris (Desert Ridge H.S./Mesa, Ariz.); Zachary Harvey (Hayden H.S./Topeka, Kan.); Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Adolfo Camarillo H.S./Camarillo, Calif.); David Johnson (Trinity H.S./Louisville, Ky.); Jalen Johnson (Sun Prairie H.S./Sun Prairie, Wis.); Justin Lewis (Calvert Hall College H.S./Baltimore, Md.); Nico Mannion (Pinnacle H.S./Scottsdale, Ariz.); Wendell Moore Jr. (Cox Mill H.S./Charlotte, N.C.); Ethan Morton (Butler H.S./Butler, Pa.); Joshua Nickelberry (Trinity Christian School/Eastover, N.C.); Isaac Okoro (McEachern H.S./Powder Springs, Ga.); Micah Peavy (DeKaney H.S./Houston, Texas); Jeremy Roach (Paul VI Catholic H.S./Leesburg, Va.); Isaiah Stewart (McQuaid Jesuit/Rochester, N.Y.); Julian Strawther (Liberty H.S./Las Vegas, Nev.); Jalen Suggs (Minnehaha Academy/Minneapolis, Minn.); Isaiah Todd (John Marshall H.S./Richmond, Va.); Romeo Weems (New Haven H.S./Haven, Mich.); and James Wiseman (The Ensworth School/Nashville, Tenn.).

The minicamp will be led by Don Showalter, head coach of the 2018 USA U17 World Cup Team and USA Basketball director of coach development.

"This minicamp will be extremely competitive as we are bringing the top seniors in the country along with the top U17 players together," said Showalter, who has guided USA Basketball to nine-straight gold medals as head coach of the USA Men's U16 and U17 National Teams since 2009. "These players will be competing against the best, so the scrimmages will be intense. They are all familiar with the FIBA rules and understand international competition to a degree, and most will come in with some knowledge of the USA Basketball culture having been to a training camp previously.

"Our goals are pretty simple," Showalter added. "We want to provide the players with skills that will help them to improve their game. We are not making any cuts, so the players do not need to feel any pressure for making a team."

Gold-medal winning 2017 USA U16 National Team assistant coaches Scott Fitch (Fairport H.S., N.Y.) and Stan Waterman (Sanford School, Del.) will serve as assistant coaches during the minicamp, while serving as court coaches will be Mike Jones (DeMatha Catholic H.S., Md.), Dave Hopla (professional shooting instructor) and 1996 U.S. Olympic gold medalist Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway (Memphis East H.S., Tenn.).

Thirty-nine of the expected minicamp participants boast of prior USA Basketball experience, including 15 gold medlists. While 18 athletes are members of the class of 2018, 13 will graduate high school in 2019, 22 belong to the class of 2020 and Zion Harmon will graduate in 2021.

Eighteen of the top 30 athletes on the 2018 ESPN 100 list are expected to attend minicamp, while 10 athletes are ranked among the 2019 ESPN 60, and 11 of the expected minicamp participants are from the 2020 ESPN 25 list.

The USA Basketball Men's Developmental National Team Committee is chaired by Sean Ford, USA Basketball Men's National Team Director, and includes Evan Daniels (At-Large), Eric Flannery (At-Large), Keith Langford (Athlete Representative), John Olive (NFHS), Damien Wilkens (Athlete Representative) and Boo Williams (AAU).

Senior Buddy Hayward is quite the student athlete at NSU University School, recently announcing his acceptance into Harvard University. Buddy has been playing baseball since he was 5 years old and credits his passion for baseball to his dad, who was also an outstanding athlete.

Buddy is honored to be a member of the NSU University School Varsity Baseball team, ranked 7th in the nation by USA Today with a record of 17-0. He is proud of the team's growth and unity.

As a student athlete at NSU University School, Buddy has appreciated the opportunity to take a rigorous course load while confidently succeeding as a three-year varsity baseball player.

Some of his academic awards include: induction into the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and the Spanish Honor Society; George Washington University Book Award, school-wide Scholar Athlete, and Career Headmaster's Honor Roll. As a student athlete, Buddy has been awarded: NSU University School Scholar Athlete, Pitcher of the Year, Miami Herald and Sun Sentinel All County, Under Armour 2 time Pre Season All American, and Perfect Game All Tournament Team recognition.

"NSU University School has taught me that it is possible to do it all, and do it all well. Teachers will walk you through even the most challenging subjects," said Buddy.

In helping current and perspective student athletes who have the passion to succeed, Buddy advises, "Stay positive through the process, don't get discouraged by adverse situations, stay focused and persevere—it will all be worth it in the end."

With a humble heart, Buddy is grateful for his overall NSU University School experience. "USchool allowed me to accomplish more than I could imagine," said Buddy.

Buddy is thankful for his teachers and the college counseling team who have helped him through his journey at NSU University School.

Outside of school, Buddy enjoys working on personal finance and managing stock portfolios. His time doesn't end there, as he also serves his community through helping youth baseball teams.

With success on and off the field, Buddy looks forward to earning a four year degree at Harvard University in Applied Mathematics, and will continue working on personal investment in his spare time.

Congratulations to senior and Left Handed Pitcher (LHP), Jack Schmidt, who has committed to Dartmouth College to further his academic and baseball career. Congrats to Jack and his family on this great accomplishment!

Congratulations to senior, Alli Kopas, on her commitment to swim at the University of Nebraska. We are very proud!