Columbus High’s Woodard II Named to USA U16 National Basketball Team

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (WCBI) — Mississippi will be well-represented in South America this month.

Columbus High School sophomore Robert Woodard II made the final cuts at Tuesday’s USA Basketball U16 tryouts and will compete for the stars and stripes in the upcoming FIBA Championships.

(Courtesy: USA Basketball)

The Men’s USA Junior National Team camp started with 29 players this past Thursday and was whittled down to 12 on Tuesday with the Mississippi native joining 11 others of the best in the U.S.

Woodard is the first Magnolia State native to be named to a USA Basketball roster since Callaway High School’s Malik Newman, who won gold for the U.S. playing in the FIBA Championships in 2013 and 2014.

A 6’5, 215 lb. swing forward, Woodard is rated as one of the best basketball prospects in the class of 2018. He started every game for the Columbus Falcons during his freshman year last season and averaged 15 points and 7 rebounds per game. He’s the son of former Mississippi State basketball player Robert Woodard Sr., who played for the Bulldogs from 1986-1990.

The U16 National team will continue to practice in Colorado Springs before leaving the country to compete in the 2015 FIBA U16 Basketball Championships on June 16th.