USA Opens Tournament With Convincing Win
The United States opened its campaign at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup in Istanbul with a commanding 115‑84 victory over France, a result that highlighted the team’s depth and execution.
France’s recent rise in international basketball over the past decade made the matchup especially intriguing, but the Americans answered with a balanced attack that left little doubt about the final margin.
Among the standout performances was that of incoming Duke freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, who logged 12 points in 21 minutes, shooting 5‑of‑8 from the field and 2‑of‑3 from three‑point range while also contributing a smart pass and a powerful rebound.
Duke recruiting targets AJ Williams and Beckham Black also made their mark, with Williams posting 14 points and eight rebounds and Black finishing with 23 points and four assists, underscoring the Blue Devils’ strong presence in the game.
The win not only sets a positive tone for the U.S. squad but also offers a preview of how the trio could mesh at the collegiate level, raising expectations for Duke’s upcoming season.
What It Means for Duke
For Duke, the performances of Boumtje Boumtje, Williams and Black serve as an early indicator of the talent pipeline arriving on campus, suggesting that the program’s recruiting efforts are paying immediate dividends as the team looks to build on this momentum in the coming months.