Mandaquit Earns National Team Spot, Plays in Switzerland Next Week

Originally posted on Washington Huskies on SI
By Dan Raley | Last updated Jun 20, 2025 5:01 PM ET

The University of Washington basketball team didn't really have a clearcut point guard last season.

It has a legitimate one now in freshman in incoming freshman JJ Mandaquit, who on Friday was selected to the USA team that will compete in the FIBA U19 World Cup on June 28-July 6 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The 6-foot-4 Mandaquit from Hilo, Hawaii, earned one of 12 roster spots for what is an overly impressive collection of American teenaged basketball players. He is now a three-time national team recipient.

His USA team opens against Australia on June 28. He previously played for U16 and U17 teams over the past two summers. He came home with gold medals won in Mexico in 2023 and in Istanbul a year ago.

JJ will represent Team USA at the @FIBA U19 World Cup!@jjmandaquit23 x @usabjnt pic.twitter.com/y9yJNcOQ3Y
— Washington Men's Basketball (@UW_MBB) June 20, 2025

Mandaquit is one of eight players who have settled on a college program, with two of his teammates having already spent a season at the NCAA level.

The players aligned with schools as incoming freshmen are Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville), AJ Dybantsa (BYU), Daniel Jacobsen (Purdue), Jasper Johnson (Kentucky), Morez Johnson Jr. (Michigan), Nik Khamenia (Duke), Koa Peat (Arizona) and Mandaquit (UW).

USA Basketball has released its U19 roster for the 2025 FIBA World Cup. pic.twitter.com/jLZpyMpAj6
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 20, 2025

Jacobsen, a 7-foot-4 center, played two games for the Boilermakers last season before breaking his leg.

Morez Johnson Jr. broke his wrist at Illinois last season and since has relocated to Michigan.

The four players still unattached as they head overseas are Caleb Holt, Brandon McCoy Jr., Jordan Smith Jr. and Tyran Stokes. McCoy, a 6-foot-4 guard from St. John Bosco High in the Los Angeles area, holds a UW offer among 23 that have come his way.

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This article first appeared on Washington Huskies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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