Five Former Big Ten Players Make 2014 USA Men's Select Team

Earlier today USA Basketball announced it's roster of thirteen players for the 2014 USA Basketball Men's Select Team. The team, which includes eight players with NBA experience, will train in Vegas next week with the 2014 USA Basketball Men's National team. Following a training camp that will run from the 28th to the 31st will be a showcase between the 2014 National Team and Select Team on the 1st.

Out of the thirteen players selected for the team, five came from the Big Ten:

• Trey Burke (Michigan)
• Draymond Green (Michigan State)
• Tim Hardaway Jr. (Michigan)
• Victor Oladipo (Indiana)
• Cody Zeller (indiana)

The remaining roster also includes Harrison Barnes, Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris, Doug McDermott, Mason Plumlee, Miles Plumlee, Marcus Smart and Dion Waiters.

The first USA Select Team was created in 2007 to help the USA National Team prepare for international competition and former players of note selected for the team include Andre Iguodala, David Lee, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Kyrie Irving among others. Typically the team consists of young talent and rookies with quite a bit of potential, as evident in the teams fielded previously.

"USA Basketball’s Select Teams are critical for getting some of the game’s brightest and most promising young players experience at the USA National Team level, and getting them into our pipeline," stated Jerry Colangelo. The managing director of the USA Basketball National Team also mentioned the previous success stories for players that made the Select Team and ultimately moved on to the National Team, "Being chosen for the Select Team is an honor and an important step in becoming involved in USA Basketball’s National Team program in the future. In the past, current national team players like Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, as well as many other outstanding players got their USA National Team start through the Select Team"