USA Basketball announced on Tuesday that Utah Jazz guard/forward Rodney Hood is among 25 players chosen for the 2016 USA Men’s Select Team that will train July 18-21 with the 2016 USA Basketball Men’s National Team, which includes his teammate Gordon Hayward, during training camp in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Rodney Hood (6-8, 206, Duke) played in and started 79 games in his second NBA season in Utah, averaging 14.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.9 steals in 32.2 minutes per game. Originally selected by the Jazz (No. 24 overall) in the 2014 NBA Draft, the former Duke Blue Devil significantly improved his averages across the board from his rookie season and finished second on the team in total points and assists. Hood scored in double figures on 61 occasions, including scoring 20-or-more points 15 times. During NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto, he was selected to participate in the 2016 BBVA Compass Rising Starts Challenge. For his 2-year career, Hood has appeared in 129 games (110 starts), where he has averaged 12.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 27.9 minutes per game. Rodney Hood started demonstrated some great play during this last season. This will be a great experience for Rodney Hood. It will only help him be a better player when he returns for his 3rd season.
“The 2016 USA Basketball Select Team continues to our tradition of featuring some of the game’s brightest and most promising young players. Participation in this camp provides them with valuable experience at the USA Basketball National Team level, while helping prepare the 2016 USA National Team for its upcoming international competition. For many of the Select Team players this is a continuation of their USA Basketball experiences and for others it is an introduction into our pipeline,” said Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball National Team managing director.
“Being chosen for the Select Team is an honor and it is an important step in becoming involved in USA Basketball’s National Team program in the future. Current national team players like Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, as well as many other outstanding players, got their USA National Team start through a Select Team.”
In addition to Hood, the other players named to the 2016 USA Basketball Select squad include: Malcolm Brogdon (University of Virginia); Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Detroit Pistons); Willie Cauley-Stein (Sacramento Kings); Kris Dunn (Providence College); Aaron Gordon (Orlando Magic); Jerami Grant (Philadelphia 76ers); Gary Harris (Denver Nuggets); Brandon Ingram (Duke University); Brice Johnson (University of North Carolina), Stanley Johnson (Detroit Pistons); Zach LaVine (Minnesota Timberwolves); CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers); Doug McDermott (Chicago Bulls); Emmanuel Mudiay (Denver Nuggets); Jahlil Okafor (Philadelphia 76ers); Jabari Parker (Milwaukee Bucks); Julius Randle (Los Angeles Lakers); D’Angelo Russell (Los Angeles Lakers); Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics); Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers); Denzel Valentine (Michigan State University); Justise Winslow (Miami Heat) and Cody Zeller (Charlotte Hornets).
The 2016 USA Select Team features eight players who completed their rookie NBA season in 2015-16, nine who wrapped up their second NBA season, three third-year NBA players and five players who are eligible for the 2016 NBA Draft.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, who on Oct. 23, 2015, was named head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team for the 2017-20 quadrennium, will oversee the Select Team and Spurs assistant coach Ime Udoka and Villanova University head coach Jay Wright will serve as assistant coaches. Members of the USA Select Team will train daily with the USA National Team from July 18-21.
The 31 finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team include: LaMarcus Aldridge; Carmelo Anthony; Harrison Barnes; Bradley Beal; Jimmy Butler; Mike Conley; DeMarcus Cousins; Stephen Curry; Anthony Davis; DeMar DeRozan; Andre Drummond; Kevin Durant; Kenneth Faried; Rudy Gay; Paul George; Draymond Green; Blake Griffin; James Harden; Gordon Hayward; Dwight Howard; Andre Iguodala; Kyrie Irving; LeBron James; DeAndre Jordan; Kawhi Leonard; Damian Lillard; Kevin Love; Chris Paul; Klay Thompson; John Wall; and Russell Westbrook.
