Basketball: Team USA features strong local contingent of players

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It was an announcement Malcolm Lee from Riverside North (shown at left) and David and Travis Wear from Mater Dei, had been waiting for. A dream come true. A goal achieved. The Southland trio learned Tuesday morning that they were officially members of USA Basketball.

Lee and the Wear brothers were three of 12 players selected to the under-18 national team, which hopes to defend its gold medal at the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship on July 14-18 in Formosa, Argentina. The group plans on practicing the next two days before departing.

“The coaching staff is so pleased with the way the team is developing a sense of chemistry, a sense of team and we’re also pleased with their willingness to work hard and get better each day,’’ USA and Davidson College Coach Bob McKillop said via press release.

Hollis Thompson from Loyola and UCLA-commits Drew Gordon of San Jose Mitty and Reeves Nelson of Modesto Christian were among the 18 other players invited to attend tryouts, held July 1-3 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, they didn’t make the cut.

-- Sean Ceglinsky