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Report: John Calipari to coach USA U-19 teams

State Farm Champions Classic

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 15: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts against the Michigan State Spartans in the second half during the State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by xc)

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John Calipari will coach Team USA at the U-19 World Championships this summer in Egypt, according to a report from ESPN.com.

That team is generally made up of players ranging from rising college sophomores through rising seniors in high school. The event is held every other year. In 2015, the U-19 team was coached by Sean Miller and included Terrence Ferguson, Jayson Tatum, Harry Giles III and Josh Jackson. All four were uncommitted at the time. Ferguson, if you remember, was going to Arizona before he opted to turn pro in Australia.

Part of the allure of coaching Team USA at this level is the access to some of the most talented uncommitted high school prospects, and Coach Cal is sure to earn some criticism for that. It’s not a secret that coach the Senior Men’s National Team has aided Mike Krzyzewski on the recruiting trail.

This isn’t the first time that Coach Cal has dipped his toes into the international waters, either. In 2011 and 2012, he was the head coach of the Dominican National Team, who had a player by the name of Karl-Anthony Towns on the roster. That worked out pretty well for him.