Two players with Utah Jazz ties could join Team USA for FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Also — the upcoming ‘Hot Rod’ Hundley doc now has broadcast dates.
In less than two weeks time, qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA World Cup of Basketball will resume in Havana, Monterrey and Santa Cruz, California. After a 2-0 run in November, USA Basketball will aim to lock-up two more wins in Cental Cali.
Last time around, former Utah Jazz wing Elijah Millsap was part of the action. Two more players with Jazz ties could join Team USA for the second wave of games.
14 players will vie for roster spots during team training camp from February 15-20. Among them will be Jazz camp player and Salt Lake City Stars sharpshooter Taylor Braun and former Sacramento Kings/current Reno Bighorns point-man David Stockton, the son of Jazz legend and two-time Olympic gold medalist John Stockton.
Congrats to Taylor Braun on being selected to participate in the USA World Cup Qualifying Team training camp. 🇺🇸
— Salt Lake City Stars (@slcstars) February 8, 2018
More info: https://t.co/1AjpOkN5RN pic.twitter.com/5BVapd8ukD
https://twitter.com/renobighorns/status/961716075237851136
The rest of the camp invitees are as follows —
Semaj Christon (Free Agent)
Larry Drew II (Sioux Falls Skyforce)
Travis Wear (South Bay Lakers)
Alonzo Gee (Sioux Falls Skyforce)
Aaron Harrison (Reno Bighorns)
Terrence Jones (Santa Cruz Warriors)
Trey McKinney Jones (Fort Wayne Mad Ants)
Rodney Purvis (Lakeland Magic)
Xavier Silas (Northern Arizona Suns)
Rashawn Thomas (Oklahoma City Blue)
Marcus Thornton (Canton Charge)
Devin Williams (Maine Red Claws)
The team will be coached by former NBA headman Jeff Van Gundy. With only three players returning from the first wave of games, he’ll have his work cut out for him in compiling a new roster. Said Van Gundy —
"“The USA team for the February FIBA World Cup Qualifying games will have some new faces. A lot of the players involved in the November World Cup Qualifying games were unavailable because of call-ups to the NBA. We’re really excited for those players, but it does make our job of putting together another team more difficult.”"
In 37 games with the Stars this season, Braun is averaging 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per contest. He’s also connecting on 39 percent of his 3-point attempts. Stockton, meanwhile, is putting up 15.5 points, 5.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game for Reno.
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Following camp, Team USA will take on Cuba on Feb. 23, which will be followed by a bout with Puerto Rico on Feb. 26.
13 of the 14 players will also participate in the G-League International Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend.
Hot Rod documentary update
Just last month, Pikewood Creative announced the release of a feature documenting the life and times of college hoops stalwart, former No. 1 overall pick and legendary Utah Jazz broadcaster Rod Hundley. Now, we have broadcast dates for the doc.
The film — “Hot Rod” — is set to hit the airwaves in the Greater Salt Lake area on April 8. Fans can catch it at 7 PM MT (with a 12 AM encore) on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain. Here’s the complete broadcast schedule —
The dates for the broadcast premiere of the "Hot Rod" documentary have been released! pic.twitter.com/T6h6WYGxKe
— Hot Rod Hundley (@HotRodTheMovie) February 13, 2018
Stay turned to The J-Notes for more information on the project in the coming weeks.