USA Basketball released a list of 13 NBA players to practice against and train with the US Men’s National Basketball Team in Las Vegas July 28-31. Duke alums Miles and Mason Plumlee were named to the practice team roster. The National Select Team is a chance for younger players to gain experience playing against some of the best players in the country and possibly get the chance to represent Team USA in the future. USA Basketball National Team managing director Jerry Colangelo has this to say about the National Select 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. 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.”
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The two older Plumlee brothers will be joined on the practice squad by Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors/North Carolina), Trey Burke (Utah Jazz/Michigan), Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls/Marquette), Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors/Michigan State), Tim Hardaway Jr. (New York Knicks/Michigan), Tobias Harris (Orlando Magic/Tennessee), Doug McDermott (Chicago Bulls/Creighton), Victor Oladipo (Orlando Magic/Indiana), Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics/Oklahoma State), Dion Waiters (Cleveland Cavaliers/Syracuse), and Cody Zeller (Charlotte Hornets/Indiana).
Miles Plumlee, class of 2012, is currently a member of the Phoenix Suns and was their starting center last season. At Duke, Miles was a part of the 2010 National Championship Team. Mason Plumlee, class of 2013, plays for the Brooklyn Nets. Mason is coming off an NBA All-Rookie First Team season, finishing 4th in Rookie of the Year voting, and was also a part of the 2010 Duke team that won the championship. The youngest brother, Marshall Plumlee, will be entering his Junior year at Duke and has utilized his brothers to prepare for the upcoming season.
Another former Blue Devil, NBA All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, was a part of the 2012 National Select Team. This year, Irving was invited to training camp in Las Vegas to try out for the US National Team coached by Mike Krzyzewski that will compete in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain August 30th-September 14th.