Kentuckians Shelvin Mack and Scotty Hopson were among 20 players named Thursday to the USA Men's Select Team that will train against the 2010 USA Basketball Men's National Team later this month.
Mack, a point guard from Bryan Station High School, helped lead Butler to the NCAA Tournament championship game in April. Mack, who is entering his junior year this fall, averaged 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a sophomore.
Hopson, a shooting guard from University Heights Academy in Hopkinsville, helped lead Tennessee to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. Hopson, who will also be a junior this fall, averaged 12.2 points and 3.4 rebounds as a sophomore.
The USA Men's National Team, consisting of many of the NBA's biggest stars, will train July 19-24 in Las Vegas in preparation for the FIBA World Championship Aug. 28-Sept. 12 in Turkey.
Washington's Lorenzo Romar and Villanova's Jay Wright will serve as co-coaches for the Select Team.
"We believe bringing in a USA Basketball Select Team will help the USA National Team be better prepared for the upcoming FIBA World Championship," said Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball chairman. "We had USA select teams comprised of young, up-and-coming NBA players train against the national team in 2007 and 2008.
"That proved not only beneficial for our national team, but also for the select-team players who got a great training opportunity and became involved in USA Basketball's pipeline. This will be a tremendous opportunity for these collegians to be involved in USA Basketball and to get a look at the next level."
