Princeton 3x3 wins Sin City Classic

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Princeton3x3
July 18, 2023

Welcome to the latest edition of The Drive! This is your inside pass into the world of 3×3, where we bring you behind-the-scenes access, game updates, and all the latest news straight from the court.

Today we are recapping the Sin City Classic event in Las Vegas as well as other 3×3 events over the weekend.

Tyrone Nash, Isaiah Wilkerson, Henry Caruso and Jerome Desrosiers celebrate the win.

Princeton 3x3 wins Sin City Classic

Princeton 3x3 emerged as the champions of the Sin City Classic in a thrilling final matchup against Team LA, sealing their victory with a 22-20 overtime win. It was an intense showdown as Princeton battled back from a two-point deficit in the final moments of regulation.

Trailing 18-20, Princeton’s Henry Caruso drove to the basket for a layup, narrowing the gap to 19-20 with only 32 seconds left on the clock. After Team LA’s Max Montana missed a potential game-winner, Caruso drove to the basket for another running layup with 10 seconds remaining, but this time missed long. Princeton’s Jerome Desrosiers was there for the big putback, knotting the game at 20.

In the waning seconds of regulation, it seemed as though Montana would secure the victory for Team LA with a hard drive to the basket, but Caruso had other plans. The 6'6" forward unleashed a game-saving chase-down block, denying Montana and sending the game into overtime. Princeton's Tyrone Nash opened the scoring on a tip-in during the first-to-score-2 overtime period. Nash later sealed the victory with a clutch free throw, solidifying Princeton's come-from-behind victory.

Caruso wins MVP

Henry Caruso (middle) takes home the MVP.

The standout player of the tournament was Henry Caruso, who continued to impress with his exceptional performances. A first-year 3x3 player, Caruso showcased his versatility and playmaking abilities throughout the competition. In addition to his title-saving block in the final, he treated fans to a number of dunks, further solidifying his claim to the MVP trophy.

Note: Dunks are an official FIBA 3x3 stat. (see FIBA 3x3 Statisticians’ Manual)

Team LA spotlight

Josh Cohan, Max Montana, AJ West, and Jeremy Lieberman place 2nd.

Team LA, despite falling short in the championship game, earned themselves an invitation to the upcoming San Juan Challenger in October. Composed of four lifelong friends who have honed their skills on the court for years, Team LA boasts the sharpshooting and seasoned 3x3 player Max Montana as their leader. Montana, a 35% 3-point shooter at Indiana/San Diego State, has previously played for other US-based teams in the pro circuit, but decided to reunite with his old pals in a bid to challenge the world's best teams. Alongside Montana, Jeremy Lieberman (Wyoming), Josh Cohan (Chapman), and Justin Bessard (Westmont) form a team that has already left a mark on the US 3x3 Circuit. It is only a matter of time before they make their presence felt on the prestigious FIBA 3x3 Pro Circuit.

Team Chicago showcases new talent for the circuit

Meanwhile, Team Chicago's 4th place finish in the Sin City Classic was an impressive feat for a roster that had only one player with prior 3x3 experience entering the event. Gabe Knutson, a 6'7" forward who played for Lehigh, debuted in 3x3 back in 2019. At Lehigh, he teamed up with Zahir Carrington, a seasoned Princeton 3x3 veteran. The team's roster also includes Ethan Wright, a 6'3" guard from Princeton/Colorado, and Drew Friberg, a 6'6" forward from Princeton/Belmont. Both Wright and Friberg played integral roles in Princeton University's basketball program and are now looking to embark on professional careers. Additionally, Justin Pierce, a versatile 6'6" forward from William & Mary/North Carolina, brings a wealth of experience and close ties to the Princeton 3x3 community.

Note: For the 2 teams that lose in the semifinals, 3rd and 4th place standings are determined by most tournament wins, and then the total points scored.

Sin City Classic Goes International

The 11-team Sin City Classic showcased the growing international appeal of 3x3 basketball, with teams from five different countries participating in the tournament. Alongside the US representatives, led by Princeton (#19 in World), teams from Canada (Toronto, #25 in World), Puerto Rico (Caguas, #2 in Puerto Rico), Jamaica (Montego Bay), and the Dominican Republic (La Romana) demonstrated their skill and contributed to the tournament's vibrant atmosphere.

Challengers recaps

In the European scene, Novi Sad, Serbia, renowned for producing some of the best 3x3 players in history, hosted its third annual Challenger event. Once again, a Serbian team emerged victorious, with Partizan, known for their success in 5v5 club basketball, claiming the championship. Additionally, Pristina, Kosovo, hosted its second Challenger event, featuring two US-based teams: Miami (finishing 7th) and NY Harlem (finishing 6th). The third-ranked team in the world, Amsterdam, triumphed in Pristina, showcasing the formidable skills of Dutch teams and the effective player development strategies implemented by their federation.

Despite sliding one spot in the World Team Rankings, dropping from 18th to 19th, Princeton 3x3's World Tour Bid secured during the Sin City Classic places them in a favorable position to climb higher in the rankings in the near future.

Upcoming Princeton schedule

USA Wins FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Pristina Stop

In the FIBA 3x3 Women's Series Pristina Stop, Team USA secured a hard-fought victory against France in a rematch of the FIBA 3x3 World Cup final. Led by the impressive 2-time gold medalist, Cierra Burdick, USA displayed their dominance throughout the tournament. USA's unbeaten run included commanding wins against Azerbaijan and Gyor in the group stage. Burdick was a force in the quarter-finals against the Netherlands, where she contributed 10 points and 6 rebounds. In the semi-finals against Israel, Camille Zimmerman stepped up with an impressive 8 points and 10 rebounds to secure USA's place in the finals.

In the final showdown against France, USA scored the first 5 points on their way to a commanding 7-1 lead. However, France fought back valiantly, cutting the lead to 1 with 23 seconds remaining, and the ball. USA got 2 defensive stops to close out the game and secure a 14-13 victory, resulting in them being crowned the champions of the Pristina Stop.

Cierra Burdick (Tennessee) was named the tournament's MVP, averaging 5.2 points per game and a tournament-high 7.4 rebounds per game. Camille Zimmerman (Columbia) led the team in scoring at 5.4 points per game. Blake Dietrick (Princeton) averaged 5.0 points per game and tied for the tournament-high with 10 key assists. Carlie Littlefield (Princeton/UNC), averaged 2 offensive rebounds a game, helping USA pull down 30 more offensive rebounds than their opponents (41 - 11).

As the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series moves to Bordeaux, France for the next stop on July 19-20, all eyes will be on Team USA as they aim to build on their success and maintain their winning streak.

Drive 3x3’s Damon Huffman is an assistant coach of the US Women’s Series team. You can watch France vs USA Final here.

Note: Key Assists (KAS) are an official FIBA stat and defined as “a pass that gives a teammate a positional advantage to directly score a field goal from the restricted area.” (see FIBA 3x3 Statisticians’ Manual)

Thanks for reading!

- Drive 3×3 Team