A Milestone Selection
Jarrod Uthoff, a former University of Iowa basketball star, has been selected for the 12‑man USA Men’s World Cup Qualifying Team that will convene in July 2026. This marks the first time the 28‑year‑old will wear the national jersey, adding a new chapter to his professional journey after stints in the NBA, the G‑League and three seasons in Italy.
Uthoff’s path to the national team follows a collegiate career that produced 1,298 points, 177 blocks and 137 three‑point field goals over three seasons in Iowa. A consensus second‑team All‑American as a senior, he averaged 18.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, numbers that helped cement his reputation as a defensive anchor and versatile scorer.
Training Camp in Miami
The USA will hold a training camp from June 26 to July 1 in Miami, Florida, where Uthoff will join teammates for intensive preparation. The camp serves as a final evaluation point before the squad travels to the Dominican Republic for a July 3 matchup in Santo Domingo, scheduled for 7 p.m. Central Time.
After going undrafted, Uthoff signed professional contracts that began with brief NBA appearances for the Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards, followed by a stint in the G‑League before moving overseas. Since 2024 he has been playing in Italy, where his defensive presence and shooting have drawn attention from national team scouts.
Road Games Ahead
Following the Santo Domingo game, the team will head to Zacatecas, Mexico, for a July 6 contest at 9 p.m. local time. Both games are part of the second window of the FIBA Americas qualifying schedule, a stage that has already seen the United States post a 3‑1 record alongside the Dominican Republic.
The broader qualification process spans six windows from November 2025 to March 2027, with 80 national teams competing for 32 spots at the 2027 FIBA Men’s World Cup in Doha, Qatar. In FIBA Americas, 16 teams will contest across the windows, with seven advancing to the global tournament. The United States, historically a powerhouse with titles in 2010 and 2014, currently tops Group A with seven points.
USA Basketball and its governing partner FIBA will oversee the campaign, which will regroup for Windows 4 through 6 later in the year. The upcoming fixtures represent a critical step for Uthoff and his teammates as they aim to secure one of the coveted berths for the Doha event.