Drummond Named to USA Development National Team
Andre Drummond is heading to Colorado Springs, Colorado later this week along with 16 other top players from around the country as part of the USA Development National Team.
The players will train from June 6th – 12th at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. At the end of the week 12 of those 17 will be selected to represent the U.S. this summer at the inaugural 2009 FIBA Americas U16 Championships June 17-21 in Mendoza, Argentina where they hope to qualify for the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship.
“I think this is a good opportunity for me to get better and see another country,” said Drummond. “It’s going to feel great knowing that I’m representing my country, myself, my family, and my school.”
Also included on the 2009-10 USA Basketball Men’s Developmental National Team are: Sterling Gibbs (Seton Hall Prep / West Orange, N.J.); Kyle Anderson (Paterson Catholic / Paterson, N.J.); Justin Anderson (Montrose Christian School, Md. / Montross, Va.); Brad Beal (Chaminade College Prep H.S. / St. Louis, Mo.); K.C. Caudill (Brea Olinda H.S. / Brea, Calif.); Angelo Chol (Herbert Hoover H.S. / San Diego, Calif.); Quinn Cook (DeMatha H.S. / Bowie, Md.); Perry Ellis (Wichita Heights H.S. / Wichita, Kan.); Brandan Kearney (Southeastern H.S. / Detroit, Mich.); James McAdoo (Norfolk Christian H.S. / Norfolk, Va.); Johnny O’Bryant (Eastside H.S. / Cleveland, Miss.); Tony Parker (Miller Grove H.S. / Lithonia, Ga.); Norvel Pelle (Dominguez H.S. / Long Beach, Calif.); Chasson Randle (Rock Island H.S. / Rock Island, Ill.); L.J. Rose (Second Baptist School / Houston, Texas); Mike Shaw (De La Salle Institute / Chicago, Ill.); Marquis Teague (Pike H.S. / Indianapolis, Ind.); Adonis Thomas (Melrose H.S. / Cordova, Tenn.); Kevin Ware (Rockdale County H.S. / Conyers, Ga.); and Anthony Wroten, Jr. (Garfield H.S. / Renton, Wash.).
“I think we’ve got a very talented group of guys,” said 2009-10 USA Developmental National Team head coach Don Showalter of Mid-Prairie High School (Iowa). “Everyone I’ve talked to at the major college level, the scouting services and from the kids I’ve seen personally, pretty much agrees that these are the top kids in the under 16 age group. They’re all going to be high major college players. It’ll be a great chance for them to play together and see how they stack up against the best kids in their grade.”
“One of the things that we need to do from the start is make it clear that this is about building a team. We’re not playing an all-star game. We have to make sure the kids understand about how difficult the competition is going to be. It’s not like we’re going out and playing another AAU team or just another tournament. It’s a very, very high level of competition and as soon as we make the kids understand that, we’ll be better off.”
Andre Drummond