Robert Woodard, USA Basketball Win Gold Medal at FIBA Americas

BAHIA BLANCA, Argentina (WCBI/USA Basketball) — Columbus High School sophomore Robert Woodard II is a world champion.

(USA Basketball)
Columbus High School sophomore Robert Woodard II holds up the FIBA Americas trophy following USA’s 77-60 victory over Canada in the gold medal game.

The talented 6’5″, 210 lb. guard was one of twelve players that competed in the FIBA under-16 Americas Championship for USA Basketball over the course of the past week. The U.S. finished undefeated in the Tournament and won the gold medal by defeating Canada, 77-60.

Woodard finished the game versus Canada with two points and one rebound in four minutes of play. His best game of the Tournament came versus the Dominican Republic where he scored 11 points and pulled down 8 rebounds.

The U.S. had to fight back versus Canada after falling behind by as many as 20 points in the second quarter of the gold medal game. Woodard’s teammate, Gary Trent Jr., scored 19 points in the second half to spark the rally versus the Canadians.

Over the course of the 5-game tournament, Woodard averaged 5.6 points per game, just under 4 rebounds per game and shot 45% from the field. He and Team USA now own a perfect 20-0 overall record in U16 play since the FIBA Americas Tournament began in 2009.

Woodard joins Callaway High School’s Malik Newman, now playing at Mississippi State, as Mississippi natives who have won a gold medal playing for USA Basketball in the past three years.