Gonzaga-bound Anton Watson earns invite to USA U19 World Cup training camp

Anton Watson, Gonzaga Prep standout and incoming Gonzaga Bulldogs freshman, has been invited to the USA U19 World Cup training camp.

Watson, part of GU’s nationally ranked 2019 recruiting class, is one of 34 players who will gather June 15-18 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The U.S. team’s 12-player roster departs June 24 for the FIBA World Cup in Greece. The World Cup tournament runs from June 29-July 7.

Watson was invited to the U18 national team tryouts last year. He made the initial cut to 18 but didn’t make the final roster.

Kansas State’s Bruce Weber is head coach of the U19 team. He’ll be assisted by Washington’s Mike Hopkins and North Carolina Central’s LeVelle Moton.

Training camp invites include Class of 2020 guard Jalen Suggs, a two-sport standout from Minneapolis being recruited by Gonzaga. There are seven rising college sophomores, including Pepperdine’s Kessler Edwards.

The 6-foot-9 Watson led Gonzaga Prep to two State 4A championships. He averaged 21.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists last season and was named “Mr. Basketball” by the state coaches association. He scored 33 points in a 69-43 victory over Mt. Si in the state championship.

Watson is a two-time Greater Spokane League Most Valuable Player and two-time state tournament MVP.