USA Announces Men’s Under 23 Wheelchair Basketball Team for International Championships
By NWBA Staff
The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) has unveiled its final roster for the U.S.A. Men’s Under 23 Wheelchair Basketball Team following an intensive selection camp at the United States Olympic & Paralympic Training Center.
The team, featuring twelve talented athletes from across the nation, will represent the United States at the upcoming IWBF Americas Men’s U23 Championship in Bogota, Colombia, this April. Their primary objective will be to secure a coveted spot in the 2025 IWBF Men’s U23 World Championship, scheduled for June in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Leading the roster is AJ Fitzpatrick from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who brings Paralympic experience to the squad. Fitzpatrick, currently attending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, played a crucial role in Team USA’s third consecutive Paralympic Games gold medal and contributed to their victory at the 2023 Parapan American Games. His collegiate achievements include First Team All-America honors and helping secure the 2024 NWBA Intercollegiate National Championship.
The roster also features several accomplished collegiate athletes, including Tim Houston and Collin Lancaster from the University of Alabama, both part of the 2023 national championship team. Houston, making his second appearance on the U23 squad, earned Second Team All-American honors in 2024.
The University of Illinois is well-represented with Ryan Fitzpatrick, Sebastian Milan, and Martrell Stevens. Fitzpatrick, who began his career with the Ryan Martin Foundation, earned NWBA All-Rookie Team honors in 2013. Milan, a freshman from the Bronx, joins the team following a successful stint with the New York Rolling Fury.
The complete roster includes:
– Drew Beutel (Naperville, IL)
– AJ Fitzpatrick (Cedar Rapids, IA)
– Ryan Fitzpatrick (Sherman, CT)
– Jude Hiley (Atlanta, GA)
– Tim Houston (Ponte Vedra, FL)
– Collin Lancaster (Dacula, GA)
– Sebastian Milan (Bronx, NY)
– Kesean Paire (Woodville, TX)
– Gavin Peterson (Heber City, UT)
– Adam Smith (Waxhaw, NC)
– Martrell Stevens (Chicago, IL)
– Davis Taylor (Columbia, MO)
Head Coach Scott Meyer will lead the team, supported by Assistant Coaches Ron Lykins (Columbia, MO) and Michael Auprince (Tuscaloosa, AL). Preston Howell will serve as Team Leader, with Camden Bentley joining as Athletic Trainer.
The IWBF Men’s U23 World Championship, established in 1997, is held quadrennially and serves as a crucial platform for developing elite wheelchair basketball talent. Teams must qualify through their respective regional tournaments, with zones including Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia Oceania.
Eight athletes have been named as alternates: Kaden Bagley, Daniel Clements, Shaun Doss, Ben Edwards, Jason Foster, Eric Randolph Francis, Zach Gorecki, and Preston Howell.