Bradley Beal earns MVP honors as 17U World Championships

Chaminade's Bradley Beal scored 19 points and grabbed five rebounds as the USA defeated Poland 111-80 to win the gold medal at the FIBA 17U World Championships in Hamburg, Germandy.

 The 6'3" Beal was voted Most Valuable Player of the World Championships at the end of the tournament. Presenting the MVP trophy to Beal was Dallas Mavericks star and German basketball icon Dirk Nowitzki.

 In helping the USA win its second consecutive gold medal in international competition, Beal hit seven of his 13 field goal attempts, including two of four from the 3-point line in 31 minutes of action.

 Team USA finished the tournament with a perfect 8-0 record. In those eight games, Beal averaged 18.3 points a game to lead Team USA in scoring. He was third-leading scorer in the entire tournament. He shot 51 percent from the field and a sizzling 47 percent from 3-point range of 31 of 65 shooting from beyond the arc. Beal also averaged 3.5 rebounds, two assists and one block per game.

 The gold medal was Beal's second in as many years. Last summer, he averaged 19 points a game to lead the USA to the gold medal of the FIBA Americas 16U Tournament in Argentina.

 With his second gold medal in hand, Beal will now head back to the States to play in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Playoffs (a.k.a., Nike Peach Jam) in Augusta, Georgia with the St. Louis Eagles.

 Congratulations to Bradley Beal on winning another gold medal and representing the St. Louis area in a big way.