Plumlee Brothers Named to USA Select Team
13 Players Picked to Train with National Team
Per Duke Sports Information
Tuesday, July 22
DURHAM, N.C. — Duke’s Mason and Miles Plumlee were selected along with 11 other NBA players for the 2014 USA Men’s Select Team that will train July 28-31 with the 2014 USA Basketball Men’s National Team during its training camp in Las Vegas, Nevada as announced by USA Basketball today. The Select team features eight players owning USA Basketball experience, including four members of the 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie first team.
Joining the Plumlees on the 2014 USA Basketball Select squad are: Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors); Trey Burke (Utah Jazz); Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls); Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), Tim Hardaway Jr. (New York Knicks); Tobias Harris (Orlando Magic); Doug McDermott (Chicago Bulls); Victor Oladipo (Orlando Magic); Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics); Dion Waiters (Cleveland Cavaliers); and Cody Zeller (Charlotte Hornets).
Mason Plumlee is coming off a rookie campaign in which he averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, while playing in 70 regular season games (22 starts). He proved to be a key component to Brooklyn’s run to the playoffs, earning first team All-NBA Rookie Team honors in the process. Plumlee shot 65.9 percent from the field on the year and became a fan favorite with his high flying dunks and defensive energy.
Miles Plumlee witnessed a breakout season in Phoenix averaging 8.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game for the Suns. He started 79 of 80 games on the year, while shooting over 50 percent from the field and recording 11 double-doubles. Plumlee led the Suns in rebounds and blocks in his first year with the team.
“USA Basketball’s Select Teams are critical for getting some of the game’s brightest and most promising young players experience at the USA National Team level, and getting them into our pipeline,” said Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball National Team managing director. “Again this summer, as was done in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012, the members of the USA Select Team will play an important role in helping prepare the USA National Team for the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
“Being chosen for the Select Team is an honor and an important step in becoming involved in USA Basketball’s National Team program in the future. In the past, current national team players like Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, as well as many other outstanding players got their USA National Team start through the Select Team.”
Members of the USA Select Team will assemble in Las Vegas and train with the USA National Team July 28-31 (12:00-3:00 p.m. PDT). All practices will take place at UNLV’s Mendenhall Center.
The USA National Team opens its 2014 training with the Las Vegas training that concludes with the Aug. 1 (6:00 p.m. local time) 2014 USA Basketball Showcase that features a Blue-White intrasquad game at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center. Tickets for the 2014 USA Basketball Showcase start at $10, and can be purchased by calling 702-739-FANS or online at www.UNLVtickets.com.
The 2014 Select Team features five players who completed their rookie NBA season in 2013-14, three who wrapped up their second NBA season, two three-year NBA players and two players who will make their NBA debut in 2014-14.
Burke, Hardaway, Oladipo and Mason Plumlee were named to the 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie first team, while Zeller earned All-Rookie second team honors. Butler was named 2013-14 NBA All-Defensive second team, while Barnes and Waiters earned All-Rookie first team honors in 2012-13.
While Barnes, McDermott, Smart and Waiters participated in the 2013 USA National Team mini-camp, McDermott and Smart were the only two collegians involved in the camp. Smart was the number six overall pick by Boston in the 2014 NBA Draft, while McDermott was selected number 11 overall.
Since the development of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team program in 2006, USA Basketball has selected and utilized four USA Select teams to help the USA National teams prepare for its major international competitions.
The first USA Select Team was fielded in 2007 and featured up and coming players like Andre Iguodala, Al Jefferson, David Lee and J.J. Redick. USA Basketball assembled another Select squad in 2008 and this time it featured future NBA All-Stars like LaMarcus Aldridge, Durant, Iguodala, Love, Rose, and Westbrook. In 2010 and to help prepare the USA for the FIBA World Championship, a 20-member Select Team was assembled and was comprised by top returning collegiate players. Among players on the 2010 roster were BYU guard Jimmer Fredette; Syracuse guard Scoop Jardine, Wisconsin center Jon Leuer, Butler guard Shelvin Mack, Duke’s Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith, Florida State forward Chris Singleton, UConn’s Kemba Walker and others. Most recently, the 2012 Select squad featured 2014 USA National Team members DeMarcus Cousins; DeMar DeRozan; Paul George; Gordon Hayward; Kyrie Irving; and Klay Thompson.
USA National Team members who are confirmed to participate in the 2014 Las Vegas training camp include: Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors); Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons); Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets); George (Indiana Pacers); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); James Harden (Houston Rockets); Hayward (Utah Jazz); Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers); Kyle Korver (Atlanta Hawks); Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers); Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Chandler Parsons (Dallas Mavericks); Rose (Chicago Bulls); and Thompson (Golden State Warriors).
The 2014-16 USA Basketball National Team coaching staff features USA head coach and Duke University’s Naismith Hall of Fame mentor Mike Krzyzewski. Serving as assistant coaches are USA Basketball and Syracuse University and Naismith Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau and New Orleans Pelicans head coach Monty Williams.
