North Carolina-bound Harrison Barnes leads US junior team to 101-97 victory over world players

Barnes has 27 in US junior team’s 101-97 win

PORTLAND, Ore. — North Carolina-bound Harrison Barnes scored 27 points and the U.S. Junior National Select Team beat a team of young international players 101-97 at the Nike Hoop Summit on Saturday night.

Barnes, a 6-foot-8 guard from Ames (Iowa) High School, hit a key 3-pointer that put Team USA up 94-92 with just over a minute left — after trailing by 74-62 going into the fourth quarter.

Although Canadian Cory Joseph’s layup tied it at 94, the world team could not pull back ahead.

Enes Kanter, a 6-foot-10 center from Turkey who is committed to play for Kentucky, had 34 points and 13 rebounds. Kanter surpassed the Hoop Summit world team record of 33 points set by Dirk Nowitzki in 1998.

“I played with my team,” said Kanter, who is still working on his English. “I had 34 points because of my team.”

The U.S. team is part of USA Basketball’s development program and coached by Bob Cimmino of Mount Vernon High School in New York.

Last year’s team, which included such players as Kentucky’s John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, fell to the world team 97-89 in the Hoop Summit.

Seven former Hoop Summit players were among the top 20 draft picks in last year’s NBA draft. Overall, 53 former Team USA and 15 former world players were on current NBA rosters.

On the international side, the game is a showcase for future Olympians.

Local favorite Terrence Jones of Portland’s Jefferson High school hit a jumper that put the U.S. team up 31-22 early in the second quarter. Jones, a 6-foot-8 forward who has led Jefferson to three straight state titles, hasn’t yet decided on a college.

After trailing 50-41 at the half, the world team rallied. Nikola Mirotic of Spain hit a 3-pointer that narrowed it to 50-48.

Kanter’s reverse layup put the world team ahead 54-53, but Barnes put the U.S. back in front with a dunk.

China’s Sui Ran answered with a 3-pointer and the world team was off on a 15-5 run that gave them a 74-62 lead going into the final quarter.

The U.S. team quickly rebounded, narrowing it to 80-78 on Jared Sullinger’s put-back before Barnes’ 3-pointer pulled the U.S. ahead 81-80.

It was back-and-forth before Barnes hit a 3-pointer with 1:09 left to put the U.S. ahead and the world could not re-claim the lead.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to come here and not only represent my country, but represent the Midwest and the state of Iowa,” Barnes said. “I’m so humbled an honored by the experience.”

Sullinger, a 6-foot-9 center headed for Ohio State, had 22 points and eight rebounds for Team USA.