Dennis Gates Joins USA Basketball Coaching Staff
Missouri’s men’s basketball head coach Dennis Gates has been named a court coach for the 2026 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team Training Camp, a program that will convene 35 of the nation’s top prospects beginning on Thursday, May 21, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The camp will be overseen by veteran coach Anthony Grant, who will lead the effort alongside Gates and fellow assistants Greg Kampe, Dusty May and Ritchie McKay. Their combined experience, spanning college and international basketball, aims to shape a competitive roster ahead of the upcoming FIBA U18 Men’s AmeriCup.
Preparing for the 2026 FIBA U18 AmeriCup
The 2026 FIBA U18 Men’s AmeriCup is scheduled for June 1‑7 in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, where the finalized 12‑player team will be announced after the training camp concludes. The tournament will test the squads prepared during the Colorado Springs sessions.
Gates, now in his fifth season leading the Missouri Tigers, has already guided the program to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including back‑to‑back bids in the most recent two years. His elevation to a USA Basketball role marks a significant milestone in his coaching career.
While this will be Gates’s debut with the national staff, the collaboration with Grant and the assistant coaches promises a dynamic approach to player development. The upcoming camp offers a rare glimpse into the preparation that precedes international competition, underscoring the depth of talent emerging from U.S. college basketball.