Toledo, Ohio – Former Rocket Jaelan Sanford will be competing in the 2019 USA Basketball Men's 3x3 National Championship on May 3-4 in Las Vegas. Sanford will be part of the Mid-American Conference's 3x3 squad that placed third in the Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship at the Mall of America in early April.

Sanford will be joined by Larry Austin Jr. (Central Michigan), Tayler Persons (Ball State) and Jaylin Walker (Kent State). The Evansville, Ind. native averaged 5.3 ppg in seven games in the 3X3U event while shooting 53.6 percent (15-of-28) from three-point range. A two-time All-MAC selection Sanford completed his senior season at Toledo in March by leading the Rockets to a second-straight outright MAC West Division title, an NIT appearance and the second-most wins (25) in a season in program history.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held for the first time outdoors at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. The USA 3x3 Nationals will tip-off with preliminary games from 3:00-10:30 p.m. PDT on Friday, May 3. The preliminary round will continue from 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PDT on May 4, and, after teams are seeded based on preliminary records, the knockout round will begin Saturday at 5:40 p.m. The men's championship game, which will be streamed live online at usab.com/live, is set to tip at 10:20 p.m. 

In addition to the lure of a national championship, the event also will serve as the 2019 USA Basketball Men's 3x3 National Team trials, as all eligible athletes will be in consideration for selection to the 2019 USA Men's 3x3 World Cup and 2019 USA Men's 2019 U.S. Pan American Games 3x3 Basketball teams.

Olympic fans will see the launch of a new basketball discipline with the inclusion of 3x3 in 2020. The exciting and fast-paced game officially was unveiled in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games and has since become a fan favorite at FIBA 3x3 World Cup events. Played on a half court with a 10-minute clock, and a 12-second shot clock, the first team to 21 points, or the team in the lead at the end of regulation, is the winner. The non-stop action of 3x3 will ensure it is one of the hottest tickets in Tokyo, and fans in Las Vegas will get an early taste of that excitement during the USA Basketball 3x3 Nationals.

Held annually since 2012, this year marks the eighth edition of the USA Basketball 3x3 National Championships, and the first time the nationals will be held outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

About USA Basketball

Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and chaired by retired Gen. Martin Dempsey, USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA national teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored five-on-five and 3x3 international competitions, as well as for some national competitions and for the development of youth basketball. Connect with USA Basketball at USAB.com and on Facebook (USABasketball and USABYouth), Twitter (@usabasketball, @USABYouth, @USAB3x3, @USABJNT), Instagram (@USABasketball) and YouTube (therealusabasketball).

USA Basketball has conducted 3x3 National Championships in the U18 and open divisions since 2012 and has seen incredible growth in the level of competition over that time. At the international level, USA Basketball has been represented by at least one national team in every FIBA 3x3 World Cup, FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup and Youth Olympic Games held since 2010.