While the news found it’s way to the press yesterday, we now have official confirmation that DeMarcus Cousins is one of the 28 players named to the initial list for the 2014-16 USA Basketball Men’s National Team pool.
“I am humbled by the invitation and opportunity to compete for a spot on Team USA,” Cousins said in the Kings official press release this morning. “It would be a huge honor for me to represent my country.”
Cousins is one of 13 newly added members to the National Team pool. The 28 member team will vie for spots on the 2014 World Championship Team that will compete in Spain later this year and, if the U.S. qualifies, the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team.
“This roster has been carefully combed over, and we’re very happy and pleased with the depth that we have at the various positions,” USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo said in a teleconference this morning. “It is a very talented group of players, and it speaks well for where we are in terms of our country and the quality of players that are now available.”
This is not the first time that Cousins has participated in Team USA competition. He was a member of the USA Junior National Select Team that participated in the Nike Hoop Summit in 2009. Cousins also played for the 2012 USA Select team that practiced against the 2012 U.S. Olympic team and he took part in the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s National team mini-camp last July.
Cousins is having a breakout season for the Kings. The 23-year-old out of the University of Kentucky is averaging 22.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals in 32 minutes per game – all career bests. He has 28 double-doubles in 40 games this season, including a streak of 15 straight that ended last night in Houston when he went down with a sprained left ankle.
Here is the complete list of the 2014-16 USA Basketball Men’s National Team roster:
- LaMarcus Aldridge
- Carmelo Anthony
- Bradley Beal
- Tyson Chandler
- DeMarcus Cousins
- Stephen Curry
- Anthony Davis
- Andre Drummond
- Kevin Durant
- Kenneth Faried
- Paul George
- Blake Griffin
- James Harden
- Gordon Hayward
- Dwight Howard
- Andre Iguodala
- Kyrie Irving
- LeBron James
- Kyle Korver
- David Lee
- Kawhi Leonard
- Damian Lillard
- Kevin Love
- Paul George
- Derrick Rose
- Klay Thompson
- Russell Westbrook
- Deron Williams
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
