Good Morning, Illini Nation: Quentin Coleman, Team USA playing for gold

Jun. 7—A third double-double in four games from Quentin Coleman helped push Team USA to the gold medal game of the 2026 FIBA U18 AmeriCup. The 6-foot-4 Illinois guard put up 15 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday’s 102-56 victory against Brazil in the tournament semifinals, sending the U.S. into today’s 9 p.m. gold medal showdown with Canada in Leon, Mexico.

Team USA is playing for its 12th U18 gold medal and eighth straight dating back to 2010. The Americans are 9-0 overall and 3-0 in gold medal games against Canada in U18 action. Should the U.S. win, Coleman would match former Illini Ayo Dosunmu, Ty Rodgers and Morez Johnson Jr. as Brad Underwood-era players with U18 gold.

And should the U.S. win, it will likely be Coleman out front leading the charge. The O’Fallon native and Principia (Mo.) grad is averaging 12 points and 11.8 rebounds for the tournament, ranking him ninth and first, respectively, in those statistical categories.

Coleman had 11 points and 15 rebounds in his USA Basketball debut on June 1 against Argentina. He followed that up with seven points, 10 rebounds and five assists against Mexico in his only non-double-double performance before going for 15 points and 12 rebounds against Brazil in the final pool play game Thursday and then 15 and 10 on Saturday.