PhD Hoops Announces Coaching Staffs and Teams for 2024 Paris World Games Tour
LOS ANGELES, CA – April 26, 2024 – PhD Hoops USA announces the teams, coaches and players who will represent the USA in the Boys (U20 & U15) Basketball divisions at the 2024 Paris World Games. Both teams will be on tour from June 24 – July 1, 2024 traveling to Paris while competing at the PWG, the largest youth tournament in France! The group will experience both high-level basketball and cultural sightseeing before and after the event.
PhD Hoops USA (U20 Boys Team)
HEAD COACH: Matt O’Brien (Winfield, KS)
PLAYERS
Levi Ashurst (Wheeler, TX)
Logan Churchill (Moundridge, KS)
Tiki Cowans (Oklahoma City, OK)
Tre Murray (Ft. Worth, TX)
Dale Neugebauer (Nocona, TX)
Chase Orton (Kansas City, MO)
Domenic Prince-Lasicki (Endicott, NY)
Eli Sawyers (Salina, KS)
Wyatt Thompson (Broken Arrow, OK)
Connor van der Sommen (Sidney, NY)
Coach Matt O’Brien, Head Coach (Winfield, KS), has proven to be one of the best college basketball coaches in the nation. Currently, he is the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Southwestern College (KS) and is the all-time winningest coach in program history. He has coached Southwestern to 20+ win seasons in 9 of the last 10 years, 15 straight winning seasons, several conference championships and numerous National Tournament appearances. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, he also serves as the Director of Athletics. Coach O’Brien was awarded the Kansas Basketball Coaches College Coach of the Year in 2019. He has coached numerous All-Americans and is 15-4 overall when representing the USA internationally from the sideline, including with PhD Hoops USA. He graduated from Friends University with both a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and a Master’s Degree in Management.
PhD Hoops USA (U15 Boys Team)
HEAD COACH: Trentton Ray (Corning, NY)
PLAYERS
Brylan Adams (Clermont, FL)
Heath Churchill (Moundridge, KS)
Cason Davis (Austin, TX)
River Gonzalez (Austin, TX)
Jonah Hinson (Greensboro, NC)
Dominik Karapetian (Woodland Hills, CA)
Wyatt Nix (Lawton, OK)
Max O’Connor (Ithaca, NY)
Rocco Sayers (Newfield, NY)
August Stadler (Austin, TX)
Coach Trentton Ray, Head Coach (Corning, NY), has been heavily involved in coaching basketball for nearly a decade. Currently, he is an Assistant Coach at the high school varsity level, Program Director & Head Coach for Empire Elite AAU, Skills Trainer, Certified Speed & Agility Trainer and Personal Trainer. Additionally, he helps run an athletic facility and serves as a PhD Hoops USA Recruiting Coordinator. Coach Ray is known for his energetic passion on the court and has used those traits to help many young players continue their career at the college level. He played at both Seton Hill University and Corning Community College, graduating with a degree in Liberal Arts.
ASSISTANT COACH - Cody Ripato (Tollesboro, KY)
Cody Ripato is an aspiring college basketball coach who recently completed his 5-year collegiate playing career. Over the last few years, he has kickstarted his coaching career by serving on staff at several PGC Basketball Camps and coaching on the AAU circuit with the Bulls Basketball Club. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from William Patterson University of New Jersey with his Bachelor's Degree in Sports Management.
TRIP LEADER - Richie Schueler (Los Angeles, CA)
Richie Schueler is the Founder of PhD Hoops USA and a College Basketball Analyst for both ESPN and Fox Sports. He spent 10 years as a college basketball coach at all NCAA levels, including St. Andrews University, where he served as Head Men’s Basketball Coach. He is a USA Basketball Gold Licensed Coach, a licensed FIBA-approved coach (International Basketball Federation), a longtime member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), an honorary member of the Hoop Historians and is actively involved in basketball camps, clinics, showcases around the United States. He played collegiately at the University of Evansville, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education. He earned his Master’s Degree in Health & Human Performance with a specialization in Sports Administration from Austin Peay State University.
Every PhD Hoops USA player goes through an extensive Player Profile process. Click here for more information on PhD Hoops USA and our Upcoming Tours or contact us at [email protected] or (310) 620-6639.
