LEON, Mexico — The USA U18 team made 13 3-pointers and raced to a big early lead on Tuesday against host Mexico in the 2026 Americup, eventually easing to a 107-50 victory.

BYU’s Bruce Branch III turned in a double-double for the Americans with 10 points and 11 rebounds, going 3 for 5 from the field and 4 of 4 from the foul line. Branch added four assists and one block, which came on the perimeter against a Mexico 3-point attempt.

Six players were in double figures for Team USA, led by Caleb Gaskins with 13 points, Taylen Kinney and Adan Digg with 12 each, Colben Landrew with 11 and Davion Thompson and Branch with 10 apiece.

Team USA (2-0) shot 53% from the field and went on a 19-0 scoring run to run away from Mexico.

The Americans, who have won their two games by an average of 43.5 points, play Brazil on Thursday in the final Group Phase contest. The quarterfinals begin Friday.

More accolades for Akina

BYU golfer Kihei Akina was named the recipient of the 2026 NCAA Division I Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award presented by StrackaLine, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) in partnership with the Golf Channel announced on Tuesday.

Annually, this award honors the National Freshman of the Year in men’s collegiate golf.

Akina is the first Cougar in school history to achieve this honor since the award’s creation in 1992. Akina’s reception of this award automatically put him on the GCAA All-Freshman Team, composed of five freshmen players.

The Lone Peak product garnered several other awards and accolades leading up to this prestigious honor. Akina nabbed Big 12 Freshman of the Year, was named to the All-Big 12 First Team and was recognized as one of 10 Fred Haskins Award Finalists. He also earned a roster spot on team USA for the Arnold Palmer Cup at Tralee Golf Club in Ireland. Akina ranked No. 8 on the latest individual rankings on Scoreboard and No. 22 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).

In his rookie campaign, the Utah Open winner picked up two individual victories back-to-back at the R.E. Lamkin and Bridgestone Collegiate Invitationals. Akina’s win at the Bridgestone was a 21-under 195 (65-67-63), the lowest 54-hole score in Cougar history since the 1999-00 season. The star freshman also locked up two runner-up, seven top-5, and 11 top-10 finishes this season, with all seven top-5 placements coming in an eight tournament span from October 28 at The Preserve Golf Club Collegiate to April 29 at the Big 12 Championship. A 69.05 scoring average for Akina is the record of the lowest single-season scoring average in program history.

With head coach Bruce Brockbank’s final year at the helm, Akina capped off his freshman resume by tying for 8th place in the NCAA National Championship, with each round producing a below-par score.

BYU golfer Kihei Akina was also selected to the 2026 NCAA Division I PING All-America First Team on Wednesday by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) in partnership with the Golf Channel.

“I think, in all sports, consistency is a true testament to greatness,” director of golf Todd Miller said. “If you look at Kihei’s season from the outside, it’s easy to recognize that he’s one of the top players in the country. What we get to see as coaches is his ability to manage the course and his game when things aren’t going perfectly. That ability usually comes with experience and maturity especially in golf. That is why it is so unique in our sport for a freshman to be named as a first team [All-American].”

Akina joined a list of 85 other Cougar All-American honorees as the 16th first-team selection in program history. The last time a BYU golfer received an All-American honor was Carson Lundell in 2022, and the last first-team recipient was Peter Kuest in 2020. Akina is the 11th BYU freshman to receive this honor and only the second one ever to earn first-team honors. Cougar Hall of Famer Bobby Clampett was the other golfer to accomplish that, doing so in his 1978 rookie season.

Akina displayed the most decorated freshman season in the nation. The No. 7 ranked golfer in the NCAA earned the Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award on Tuesday due to being the top-ranked freshman in the country. On his way to a school record 69.05 scoring average, Akina won two collegiate events in back-to-back fashion, the R.E. Lamkin then Bridgestone Collegiate Invitationals.

The Bridgestone victory marked the lowest 54-hole tournament score in program history with a 21-under 195 (65-67-63). The Utah Open winner also accumulated two runner-up finishes, which were at The Goodwin and Big 12 Championship, in addition to seven top-5 and 11 top-10 finishes. Akina wrapped up his campaign with a T8 finish in his NCAA Championship run.

Akina took home Big 12 Freshman of the Year and All-Big 12 first team honors in May. Later in that month, he was named a Fred Haskins Award finalist. The star freshman will join team USA for the Arnold Palmer Cup on July 3-5 at Tralee Golf Club in Ireland.

“I am so happy for Kihei, his family and all of his supporters as he received this incredible honor,” Miller added.

Out of the 10 All-America first team members, Akina is the lone freshman on the list. The second and third teams will consist of 10 golfers each, with 20 more players to earn honorable mention honors.