Grant named to USA Basketball U18 coaching staff

VCU men’s basketball head coach Anthony Grant The following item just came in from Mike Harris, the former sports editor at the Richmond Times-Dispatch and now an assistant athletic director at VCU: COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Virginia Commonwealth University’s Anthony Grant has been named an assistant coach for USA Basketball’s U18 Team, which will compete in the […]

May 21, 2008; 1:44 PM • by FTRea

VCU men’s basketball head coach Anthony Grant

The following item just came in from Mike Harris, the former sports editor at the Richmond Times-Dispatch and now an assistant athletic director at VCU:

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Virginia Commonwealth University’s Anthony Grant has been named an assistant coach for USA Basketball’s U18 Team, which will compete in the 2008 FIBA Americas Championship July 14-18 in Formosa, Argentina.

Grant and Georgetown Head Coach John Thompson III will assist Bob McKillop, who led Davidson to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in 2007-08.

“It’s a great honor,” Grant said. “Any time you have the chance to represent the United States and work with the caliber of people that are involved with USA Basketball – from the selection committee, to the coaches and the players – it’s a joy for me and I feel blessed to have the opportunity.”

Grant is 52-15 in two seasons with the Rams. In 2007-08, he directed VCU to a 24-8 mark and a Colonial Athletic Association regular season title. For their efforts, the Rams earned a bid to the NIT, where they met UAB in the first round.

In 2006-07, Grant led VCU to a school-record 28-7 ledger, as well as an NCAA First Round Tournament victory over Duke.

Grant is not the first Rams’ coach to receive and appointment from USA Basketball. In 2005, Jeff Capel served on Jay Wright’s staff at the World University Games in Izmir, Turkey.

The 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship will qualify the top four finishing teams for the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship that is slated to be held July 2-12 in New Zealand.

Trials for the USA U18 National Team will be held July 1-3 at the Verizon Center, home to the Washington Wizards, in Washington, D.C., with approximately 30 U.S. hopefuls, born on or after Jan 1, 1990, participating. Following the selection of finalists, the Americans will continue to train July 4-10 in Washington before departing for Argentina.

Congratulations to VCU and to Coach Grant are in order.

In his two years of being a head coach anywhere, Grant has already put himself in the position of being considered one of the best coaches in college basketball. The VCU basketball program has never been in better hands and it seems Grant is happy to be in Richmond.

With CAA Player of the Year Eric Maynor returning for his senior year of play at the Siegel Center, Grant’s Rams are likely to be considered the team to beat in the conference.

– Phoo by F. T. Rea

May 21, 2008 1:44 PM 0