Ex-iowa Player Selected for Jamaica's World Cup Qualifying Team
WHO:
Hawkeyes Wire - Drew Thelwell, a former Iowa basketball player.
University of Georgia Athletics - Abson, a former Georgia Bulldog basketball player.
WHAT:
Hawkeyes Wire - In the 2024-25 season with the Hawkeyes, Drew Thelwell averaged 9.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 29 games played, shooting around 50% from the field and 41.2% from 3-point range.
University of Georgia Athletics - Abson averaged 5.7 points and 7.7 rebounds in the FIBA Americas World Cup Pre-Qualifying tournament last August.
University of Georgia Athletics - Abson blocked 51 shots last season, ranking No. 3 in the SEC and No. 58 nationally in blocks at 1.7 rejections per game.
Hawkeyes Wire - Drew Thelwell has been named to Team Jamaica’s qualifying team for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Hawkeyes Wire - Thelwell recorded 10.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals in 31 games during his first season in France's Élite 2 league.
University of Georgia Athletics - Abson will represent Jamaica in a pair of qualifying games for the 2027 FIBA World Cup.
University of Georgia Athletics - Jamaica will face the Bahamas in Nassau and then travel to Canada for a game in Hamilton, Ontario.
University of Georgia Athletics - Abson averaged 2.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game over 59 games at Georgia.
WHERE:
Hawkeyes Wire - Thelwell is currently playing in Pau-Lacq-Orthez, France.
University of Georgia Athletics - Jamaica will play in Nassau, Bahamas, and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
WHEN:
University of Georgia Athletics - The qualifying games will take place this weekend and on Tuesday.
University of Georgia Athletics - The 2027 FIBA World Cup will be held from August 27 to September 12, 2027.
WHY:
University of Georgia Athletics - Abson is eligible to compete for Jamaica because his mother, Cheryl McDonnough, is a native of Jamaica.
HOW:
University of Georgia Athletics - Abson helped Jamaica compile a 2-1 record in the FIBA Americas World Cup Pre-Qualifying tournament in Ciudad Obregón, Mexico, last August.
University of Georgia Athletics - Abson helped Jamaica compile a 2-1 record in the FIBA Americas World Cup Pre-Qualifying tournament in Ciudad Obregón, Mexico, last August.
In the 2024-25 season, Drew Thelwell of the Hawkeyes averaged 9.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists over 29 games, shooting about 50% from the field and 41.2% from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Abson made a significant impact during the FIBA Americas World Cup Pre-Qualifying tournament last August, averaging 5.7 points and 7.7 rebounds while helping Jamaica achieve a 2-1 record. Additionally, Abson showcased his defensive skills by blocking 51 shots last season, ranking third in the SEC and fifty-eighth nationally with an average of 1.7 rejections per game.