USA Men's Select Team

[beav]

Aldridge and Frye make the junior varsity squad

Posted by Casey Holdahl August 06, 2007 14:32PM

Joe Freeman was all over it a week ago, but now it's official: LaMarcus Aldridge and Channing Frye have been named to the USA Basketball Men's Select Team, whose sole purpose is to scrimmage against Team USA. From the press release:

Portland Trail Blazers LaMarcus Aldridge and Channing Frye were named to the USA Basketball Men's Select Team, it was announced today by USA Basketball.

The USA Select Team, assembled with a group of young NBA players, will help prepare the 2007 USA Senior National Team for the Aug. 22-Sept. 5 FIBA Americas Championship that is being held in Las Vegas, Nev.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for LaMarcus and Channing to gain some additional experience as we get closer to training camp," said Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard. "Additionally, it gives them a chance to showcase their talents for future consideration as members of Team USA while helping our country gain a spot in next year's Olympics."

Aldridge and Frye will join Aaron Brooks (Houston), Monta Ellis (Golden State), Jeff Green (Seattle), Devin Harris (Dallas), Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia), Al Jefferson (Minnesota), Jason Kopono (Toronto) and David Lee (New York) on the 10-man roster, which will be coached by Seattle's P.J. Carlesimo.

The FIBA Americas Championship, featuring 10 men's national teams, is one of five FIBA Olympic qualifying zone tournaments and will determine the two men's teams from the American zone who will earn a qualification spot for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan is an assistant coach on the USA Senior National Team.

That's a rather size-deficient team, so you have to imagine that both Frye and (especially) Aldridge well be getting a lot of playing time. Who knows, maybe they can steal a few scrimmages from the varsity squad.

[Dexmethylphenidate]

That sucks. Not even Josh Smith got an invite.

[roezag]

Josh Smith might be too established from the looks of that roster. They went really young on that squad.

[djcorley]

He's no more established then Al Jefferson or even Kapono for that matter. If that's the case then Marvin or Chillz or even Al Horford would get and invite.

[AHF]

Quote:

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He's no more established then Al Jefferson or even Kapono for that matter. If that's the case then Marvin or Chillz or even Al Horford would get and invite.

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Why not? Green got an invite and he was a lower rated rookie.

[shug94]

I would like to see the Hawks go up against that team. I reckon we would slaughter them!