Dampier Jr. to play for US National Team

MRA basketball star Erick Dampier Jr. was named to the U16 USA National Team on Tuesday, which will compete in the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup in June.

Dampier battled his way through a training camp that included 36 of the top high school players in the country at the USA Basketball headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Dampier came out of that field as one of the 12 players selected to compete in next month’s AmeriCup and the only player from Mississippi to be selected.

The FIBA AmeriCup will take place from June 2-8 in Juarez, Mexico, and will feature other top national teams from North and South America. The top four finishing teams will qualify for next year’s U17 World Cup in Turkey, potentially allowing Dampier to showcase his talents on the world stage. 

Dampier, a 6’10 center,  had a phenomenal freshman season for MRA averaging 13.5 points per game, 11.9 rebounds per game, and two blocks per game in his second year playing varsity basketball for the Patriots.

Dampier is the son of former Mississippi State basketball star and 16-year NBA veteran, Erick Dampier. 

Team USA and Dampier are scheduled to take on Mexico on June 2nd, the Dominican Republic on June 3rd, and Argentina on June 4th in group play. Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Canada will also have their national teams represented in the event. 

The tournament will conclude with bracket play, with the first round on June 5th, semifinals on June 6th, and the championship on June 8th.