USA Basketball announced today that Hornets forward/center Cody Zeller is among 25 players that have been chosen for the 2016 USA Men’s Select Team that will train July 18-21 with the 2016 USA Basketball Men’s National Team during training camp in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Zeller, who was previously a member of the 2014 USA Men’s Select Team, averaged career highs in points per game (8.7), rebounds per game (6.2) and field goal percentage (.529) in 73 games (60 starts) in 2015-16, which marked his third NBA season. He totaled a career-best five double-doubles and 28 games with double-figure scoring, helping the Hornets to the fifth-best record in Charlotte NBA history (48-34) and the best since the 1999-2000 season. The Indiana product saw action in all seven of Charlotte’s playoff games, averaging 8.4 points on .553 shooting and 5.3 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game.
“Our organization is excited that Cody has again been selected by USA Basketball as one of 25 top young NBA players to be a part of the 2016 USA Men’s Select Team,” said Hornets General Manager Rich Cho. “This is a great opportunity for Cody to continue to grow and develop as a player and compete at the highest level with some of the best players in the country.”
Along with Zeller, the 24 other players selected for the 2016 USA Basketball Select squad were: Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns); Malcolm Brogdon (University of Virginia); 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); Rodney Hood (Utah Jazz); 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); and Justise Winslow (Miami Heat).
“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.”
Members of the USA Select Team will train daily with the USA National Team from July 18-21 (12:00-2:00 p.m. PDT) at UNLV’s Mendenhall Center. All practices are closed to the public.
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.
2016 USA BASKETBALL SELECT TEAM
NAME POS HGT WGT *AGE NBA TEAM / COLLEGE
Devin Booker G 6-6 206 19 Phoenix Suns / Kentucky
Malcolm Brogdon G 6-5 215 23 Virginia
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope G 6-5 205 23 Detroit Pistons / Georgia
Willie Cauley-Stein C 7-0 240 23 Sacramento Kings / Kentucky
Kris Dunn G 6-3 181 22 Providence College
Aaron Gordon F 6-9 220 20 Orlando Magic / Arizona
Jerami Grant F 6-8 210 22 Philadelphia 76ers / Syracuse
Gary Harris G 6-4 210 21 Denver Nuggets / Michigan State
Rodney Hood F/G 6-8 206 23 Utah Jazz / Duke
Brandon Ingram F 6-9 195 18 Duke
Brice Johnson F 6-9 230 22 North Carolina
Stanley Johnson F 6-7 245 20 Detroit Pistons / Arizona
Zach LaVine G 6-5 189 21 Minnesota Timberwolves / UCLA
CJ McCollum G 6-4 200 24 Portland Trail Blazers / Lehigh
Doug McDermott F 6-8 225 23 Chicago Bulls / Creighton
Emmanuel Mudiay G 6-5 200 20 Denver Nuggets / Prime Prep Academy
Jahlil Okafor C 6-11 275 20 Philadelphia 76ers / Duke
Victor Oladipo G 6-4 210 24 Orlando Magic / Indiana
Jabari Parker F 6-8 250 21 Milwaukee Bucks / Duke
Julius Randle F 6-9 250 21 Los Angeles Lakers / Kentucky
D’Angelo Russell G 6-5 195 20 Los Angeles Lakers / Ohio State
Marcus Smart G 6-4 220 22 Boston Celtics / Oklahoma State
Myles Turner F/C 6-11 243 20 Indiana Pacers / Texas
Denzel Valentine G 6-6 223 22 Michigan State
Justise Winslow G/F 6-7 225 20 Miami Heat / Duke
Cody Zeller F/C 7-0 240 23 Charlotte Hornets / Indiana
2017-20 USA National Team Head Coach: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
Select Team Assistant Coach: Ime Udoka, San Antonio Spurs
Select Team Assistant Coach: Jay Wright, Villanova University
Select Team Athletic Trainer: Jon Ishop, Detroit Pistons
Select Team Athletic Trainer: Eric Waters
*Age is as of the last day of the Las Vegas training, July 21, 2016.
