USA Volleyball has officially named the 20-athlete roster for the Boys U17 National Team that will compete at the 2024 NORCECA Boys’ U17 Continental Championship. The tournament, scheduled for November 19–24 in Guatemala City, serves as a qualifier for the 2025 FIVB Boys’ U17 World Championship. Athletes selected for the squad participated in a rigorous selection process, including the USA Volleyball Boys’ Holiday Training Program and regional high-performance camps held throughout the year.
The 2024 Boys U17 National Team Roster
The roster features a mix of talent from across the United States, representing various club programs and regions. According to USA Volleyball, the selected athletes are:
- Setters: Kellen Gentry (Laguna Beach, Calif.), Sean Kelly (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
- Opposites: Finn Hinkley (Huntington Beach, Calif.), Grant Lamoureux (Wake Forest, N.C.)
- Outside Hitters: Jack Costello (Redondo Beach, Calif.), Josiah Gentry (Laguna Beach, Calif.), Tyler Hoke (Newport Beach, Calif.), Evan Kellar (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Cooper Poteet (Laguna Beach, Calif.), Jace Saso (San Diego, Calif.)
- Middle Blockers: Micah Anderson (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Adam Hilario (Laguna Beach, Calif.), Thomas Kellar (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Kaleb Loo (Honolulu, Hawaii), Owen Manke (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Kaden Schmidt (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
- Liberos: Thomas Fraychineaud (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Rylan Kellar (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
Tournament Stakes and Qualification
The NORCECA Continental Championship is the primary pathway for North American, Central American, and Caribbean teams to reach the FIVB World Championship stage. For this age group, the stakes involve securing one of the top finishing spots to earn an automatic bid to the global event.
USA Volleyball program directors emphasize that this tournament is a key component of the pipeline for the U.S. Men’s National Team. By competing at the U17 level, these athletes gain international experience against top-tier regional competition, including traditional powerhouse programs from Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
Coaching and Preparation
The team will be led by head coach Charlie Sullivan, who brings extensive experience from the collegiate and high-performance levels. The staff has focused on technical consistency and team chemistry, given the limited window between the final roster announcement and the start of play in Guatemala.
Training sessions prioritize the tactical systems used by the senior men’s national team, ensuring that players are acclimated to the speed and physicality required at the international level. The group will finalize their preparations in the days leading up to the opening match, with a focus on serving pressure and defensive transition, two areas identified by the coaching staff as critical for success in the U17 division.
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