Staff Report
MaxPreps.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Not long after completing their respective high school careers, 10 of the nation’s top seniors will represent the United States on the Junior National Select Team at the 12th Annual Nike Hoop Summit on April 11 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore.
Tip for the event is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets are available through the Rose Quarter Ticket Office (www.rosequarter.com).
The Nike Hoop Summit is the country's premier annual basketball game featuring America's top male high-school-age players taking on a World Select Team comprised of the top international players, 19-years-old or younger.
Nike Hoop Summit Junior National Select Team
Name, Height, Weight, Position, High School (City, State) – College
Avery Bradley, 6-2, 165, G, Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) – Texas
DeMarcus Cousins, 6-9, 250, F, LeFlore (Mobile, Ala.) – Undecided
Derrick Favors, 6-9, 220, F, South Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.) – Georgia Tech
Abdul Gaddy, 6-3, 175, G, Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.) – Washington
Xavier Henry, 6-5, 190, G, Putnam City (Oklahoma City, Okla.) – Memphis
John Henson, 6-9, 200, F, Sickles (Tampa, Fla.) – North Carolina
Leslie McDonald, 6-4, 193, G, Briarcrest Christian (Memphis, Tenn.) – North Carolina
Mike Moser, 6-7, 180, G/F, Grant (Portland, Ore.) – UCLA
Mason Plumlee, 6-10, 210, F, Chris School (Arden, N.C.) – Duke
John Wall, 6-1, 184, G, Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) – Undecided
"The challenge is to put together a roster of players that not only excel as individuals, but also a roster that can come together as a team in just a few days," said Don Showalter (Mid-Prairie High School, Iowa), chair of the player selection committee. "This team is extremely strong in the back court, with Bradley, Gaddy, McDonald and Wall, and that will be a real strength. But also, you join Cousins, Favors and Henry with our other forwards and you have some very solid combinations.
“Even though we don't have that seven-footer, I think this team lends itself to exactly what we want to do, which is play an up-tempo game. We want to make the international team play our style."
Named head coach of the 2009 USA Team was John Olive (Torrey Pines/San Diego, Calif.), who returns to the USA sideline after helping the red, white and blue to a 98-78 win as an assistant coach in the 2008 Nike Hoop Summit. Assisting Olive will be Antwan Harris (Washburn/Minneapolis, Minn.), who first coached for USA Basketball as an assistant coach under Olive at the 2007 Youth Development Festival.
"John is a great choice for this year's head coach because he knows this level of play, and he understands this competition," Showalter said. "And Antwan Harris actually was John's assistant coach in the 2007 Festival, so we know they work well together. They have the experience it will take to produce a win for USA Basketball."
The World Select Team roster, which is expected to be announced in March, will consist of 11 players, age 19-years-old or younger from FIBA's five geographic zones: FIBA Africa, FIBA Americas, FIBA Asia, FIBA Europe and FIBA Oceania, with the approved sanctioning of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the world governing body of international basketball.
