USA Basketball names SELECT TEAM (comprised of young & upcoming NBA talent).

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

USA Basketball Names Select Team

By Jason Fleming
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Aug 6, 2007, 17:29 
 
 
Ten NBA players were named today to a USA Basketball Select team that will be coached by new Seattle head coach P.J. Carlesimo.

Players named to the USA Basketball Select Team include: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers); Aaron Brooks (Houston Rockets); Monta Ellis (Golden State Warriors); Channing Frye (Portland Trail Blazers); Jeff Green (Seattle SuperSonics); Devin Harris (Dallas Mavericks); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); Al Jefferson (Minnesota Timberwolves); Jason Kapono (Toronto Raptors); and David Lee (New York Knicks).

Portland's Brandon Roy was rumored to also be in the mix, but had a prior engagement.

"By definition this is a select team, one primarily made up of young NBA players. We have the Rookie of the Month from the 2007 NBA Summer League in Aaron Brooks, we have the best 3-point shooter in the league last season in Kapono, and we have others whose NBA futures are very promising. Basically this select group are players we felt would give our senior national squad the best possible opportunity to prepare for the FIBA Americas Championship," said USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team managing director Jerry Colangelo.

Carlesimo was an assistant on the 1992 Olympic "Dream Team" featuring Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and others. The select squad will begin training Aug. 14 in Las Vegas and will scrimmage against the USA Senior National Team from Aug. 15-20.

The purpose of the select squad - while also to give the A team someone to scrimmage against other than themselves - is to get younger players involved with the program early on, to provide a framework or conduit of talent heading towards the top team.

This Select team is an interesting mix of players, featuring a lot of talent most analysts have pegged for break-out seasons in 2007-08. Portland's Aldridge is likely to be the starting power forward with Zach Randolph in New York; Toronto's Kapono should thrive in their European-styled game plan; Jefferson is replacing a legend (Kevin Garnett) in Minnesota; Green is doing the same (Ray Allen) in Seattle; and Ellis is the reigning Most Improved Player.

This team could very well be a glimpse into the All-Stars of tomorrow - or in some of their cases it could be as soon as this year.
 

PG Devin Harris...Aaron Brooks
SG Monta Ellis...Jason Kapono
SF Andre Iguodala...Jeff Green
PF Lamarcus Aldridge...David Lee
C Al Jefferson...Channing Frye


Looks pretty decent...Could use a pure center (Andrew Bynum) though.

[Don Jacob]

looks strong

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Aldridge done with USA team

Posted by jfreeman August 13, 2007 17:34PM
Categories: Breaking News

Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge is not going to play on the USA Basketball Select Team after all, the Trail Blazers announced on Monday.

The 6-foot-11 forward, who played in just two Summer League games last month because of a sore left heel, is experiencing more pain in the heel and has decided to withdraw from USA competition. Aldridge and teammate Channing Frye had been invited to compete and scrimmage with the national team as it prepares for the FIBA Americas Championship that starts later this month.

The severity of Aldridge's injury was not immediately known and there was no immediate indication on how long he would be out of basketball activities. I watched Aldridge work out earlier this month with Greg Oden and Josh McRoberts in Indianapolis, and Aldridge showed no signs of discomfort. In fact, he pushed the rookies hard in the practice and appeared fully healthy.

The Blazers are counting on Aldridge to fill the large offensive void left by the trade of Zach Randolph, so a serious injury to Aldridge could be devastating to the rebuilding franchise. He averaged averaged 9.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season as a rookie and averaged 21.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in his two Summer League games.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

The Select Team beat Team USA in the scrimmage a couple days back...