Okay, now it is the U-19 squad, not the U-21 team that was originally indicated. Coach Jamie Dixon needs to make sure his passport is in order.

Pitt’s Jamie Dixon will replace Davidson’s Bob McKillop as the head coach of the U.S. men’s U-19 team at the FIBA World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand. Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, who is the chair of the junior national team selection process, confirmed that Dixon will replace McKillop, who withdrew last week after junior Stephen Curry decided to declare and stay in the draft.

Dixon was already chosen to be an assistant under McKillop. So, too, was Southern Illinois’ Chris Lowery. The championships will be held July 2-12 and the U.S. is in a group with Egypt, France and Iran and will open with the Iranians in the 16-team competition. Some of the top freshmen and possibly sophomores in college are expected to be invited to the trials, which will be held in Colorado Springs in mid-June. A year ago, McKillop led the U.S. to the silver medal in Argentina. Dixon said he met with McKillop at the Final Four and they discussed the team at length, but then at the end of the talk McKillop told him he might coach the team.

Dixon said he had been looking forward to getting involved with USA Basketball. This trip piqued his interest since he played professionally in New Zealand for two years after a brief stint in the CBA following his college career at TCU. Dixon said he can’t wait to get back to New Zealand, a country he called one of the most beautiful on earth.

Not sure if he can get to Australia to check on some possible recruits there.

The US’s first game will be against Iran on July 2. Just eyeballing the groupings, USA is in Group B, with Egypt, Iran and France. France would obviously the toughest oppenent in the group.