When Henry Caruso lifted the gold medal at the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup 2025 in León, Mexico, he was not just celebrating a title. He was marking the end of a journey that had begun years earlier, far from the spotlight and filled with uncertainty. That victory, which helped secure his recognition as USA Basketball’s 3×3 Male Athlete of the Year, was, in his own words, “the perfect way to finish the season”.
At Princeton University, Caruso learned to understand basketball beyond individual talent. Movement, collective sacrifice and reading the game became the foundation of his identity as a player. “The biggest connection to 3×3 is how you can be a great teammate and help others”, he would later explain. His final collegiate season, however, ended abruptly when a foot injury forced him out early and left him facing an uncertain future.
Unable to continue at Princeton, he found a new opportunity at Santa Clara University, returning to his native California. Going home carried personal meaning. His parents had studied there, and his sister Mamie attended his games whenever possible. “It’s nice to look up and see her there, to have someone close”, he recalled.
Uncertainty and the shock of 3×3
Caruso’s first contact with 3×3 basketball came in 2019, but his path in the discipline did not take shape until years later, following his professional experience in Europe. In 2023, he returned to the format with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. His first international tournament, in Clermont-Ferrand, France, was difficult. Two quick losses after more than twenty hours of travel. “I was stunned”, he admitted. “I’m thinking, this is 3×3”.
One week later, in Baoding, China, everything changed. With only three players on the roster and facing established teams, his squad won the tournament. The experience reshaped his perspective. “That’s why you play”, he explained. “One week you’re out, and the next week, even with three players, you win it all. You never know what’s going to happen”.
His progression continued with his integration into the USA Basketball programme, where he began to establish himself within the national structure. In 2024, he participated in the selection process for the Olympic Games but was ultimately not included in the final roster. That same year, he won gold at the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup, marking the beginning of a new phase in his career. Representing his country carried deep meaning. “It means everything”, he said. “It’s something you earn every day”.
The year that changed his career and USA Basketball recognition
The decisive turning point came in 2025. Caruso became the highest-ranked American player in the global standings and secured his second consecutive gold medal at the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup. He was named USA Basketball’s 3×3 Male Athlete of the Year, a recognition that reflected not only his results, but the journey that had led him there.
During one of the most difficult moments of that season, at a tournament in Shanghai, his team was on the verge of elimination. During a timeout, the players gathered in a circle and breathed together for a few seconds. The simple act shifted the momentum of the game. That moment reflected one of the lessons Caruso had learned in 3×3: emotional control can be as important as physical preparation. “Things can change very quickly”, he explained. “You can be down and come back. You learn to accept everything and keep moving forward”.
For Caruso, 3×3 became more than a discipline. It became a way of life, defined by constant travel, adaptation and personal growth. “3×3 is the ultimate team sport”, he said. “You build bonds on the road, you compete, you grow and you enjoy the process”. That process, which began with uncertainty and difficult decisions, led him to become USA Basketball’s 3×3 Male Athlete of the Year, a recognition that reflects a career shaped by persistence, resilience and belief.
