Frankamp named to USA Basketball National Development Team

For the second summer in a row, Wichita North basketball star Conner Frankamp is probably going to have a better summer vacation story to tell than you.

Frankamp was named to the USA Basketball U17 National Development Team. For the past three days, Frankamp has participated in a training camp at the US Olympic Training Complex in Colorado Springs, and found out on Sunday morning he had made the final roster.

Click here to see a photo gallery of Conner Frankamp with Team USA

“It’s another dream come true,” said Frankamp.

Making the selection even sweeter was that it happened on Father’s Day, and just like last year when Frankamp made the U16 team, his first call was to his father, Marty.

“I told him Happy Father’s Day, I made the team.”

Marty Frankamp is also the assistant coach at Wichita North, where Conner recently finished his junior year.

“He was really excited for me, because of all the hard work we put in. Sometimes we bump heads, because he’s my dad, but he always pushes me.”

Leading the U17 team will be Iowa City High School head coach Don Showalter. According to Showalter, Frankamp immediately showed he belonged on the team.

“From day 1, the first practice, he showed that his basketball IQ is really high,” said Showalter. “He immerses himself in team play. He is a complete team player. First and foremost, he cares about winning the game.”

Frankamp and Showalter had just finished their Sunday evening practice, the first since announcing the final selections when they spoke with CatchItKansas.com by telephone.

For Frankamp, the experience was easier because of last summer.

“It’s nice to not be my first time, I know the process. This year, there is a little more pressure, because the tournament is much bigger. Last year was a qualifier, but this is the real deal.”

Team USA will open play in the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship on June 29 against Australia. They will also play the Czech Republic, Egypt, France and China in the preliminary rounds. The top 4 teams from each group will advance to the medal round, which begins with quarterfinals on July 6, then semis and finals to follow on June 7 and 8. All of the World Championship will be played in Lithuania.

Before the tournament begins, Team USA will spend four days in the Canary Islands, practicing and participating in the Spain U17 International Invitational. This tournament will serve as the tune-up for the World Championships.

Frankamp was a member of the 2011 National Development Team that went 5-0 on its way to winning the FIBA Americas Championship tournament. Frankamp averaged 8.6 points per game, along with 3.6 assists per game, which ranked 8th in the tournament.

Between training camp in Colorado Springs, a four-day stop in the Canary Islands and an international basketball tournament in Lithuania, all while wearing a jersey that says U-S-A, it’s pretty safe to say Conner Frankamp will have a better summer story than most when he returns to school this fall.