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The Utah Jazz have been having a banner summer, and the team has never seen more national press in the last decade. Drafting high profile players, and having them be selected to represent their home nations is always something special. Raul Neto will likely be making the cut for Brazil. Dante Exum is going to be relied upon for Australia. Rudy Gobert is a virtual lock for the size needing French. Enes Kanter is sitting this one out for Turkey. And Gordon Hayward is on the short list for Team USA.
With Team USA what they like to do is pit their "A Team" against up and coming players. They've been doing this sort of thing since 1992, and it appears as though they will never stop doing what works. So this "B Team" roster just added another Utah Jazz players -- Trey Burke.
I first found out about this story from this tweet! (And thanks)
@DJJazzyJody, @tribjazz, @Tjonessltrib, @slcdunk, @billylea Here some "breaking news" 4 ya' fellas. wanted 2 share http://t.co/tywKkmQoRk
— I Am A Utah Jazz Fan (@IAmAUtahJazzFan) July 22, 2014
And Jody tweeted out that the source of this story is Freep legend Mark Snyder.
Ex-Michigan star Trey Burke, basketball weary, but invited to USA Select Team http://t.co/fXdxZ9i4rH
— Mark Snyder (@Mark__Snyder) July 21, 2014
Yaay!
As Jody points out, in this series of tweets -- this is not only a good thing, but something other Jazz young'uns have done before.
Jazz point guard Trey Burke will participate on the USA Select Team, his camp confirmed. The squad will prep Team USA for World Cup action.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) July 22, 2014
Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors were on the USA Select team in 2012, helping prep the U.S. squad for the Olympics.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) July 22, 2014
As a reminder, Gordon Hayward is among the American players who will try out for Team USA's 12-man roster later this month in Las Vegas.
— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) July 22, 2014
Instead of just carpet bombing this post with other peoples' tweets . . . here's an excerpt from Jody's article on the subject. (ProTip: Professionals do it better)
SALT LAKE CITY - Trey Burke's basketball summer isn't over yet.
The Utah Jazz point guard has been invited to participate on the USA Select team to help prep the U.S. national squad ahead of the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, his camp confirmed.
Burke, an All-Rookie first-teamer, will have a chance to catch up with former Michigan teammate Tim Hardaway Jr. during his second extended trip to Vegas this summer. Hardaway is also on the USA Select team, according to the Detroit Free Press, which first reported on the former Wolverines.
Other players on the nation's prep squad include Marcus Smart, Doug McDermott, Victor Oladipo, Tobias Harris, Miles Plumlee and Mason Plumlee, according to NBCSports.com.
Burke's inclusion on the Select team will give him a chance to impress USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and head coach Mike Krzyzewski for future national team consideration. All 19 players invited to try out for the World Cup team have previous experience with USA Basketball.
So thanks Jody, Mark, and @IamAUtahJazzFan! And this is an awesome experience for Trey Burke. I hope this does not interfere with his fight for peace thingy he has back home in Ohio. Playing against the best of the best is the right thing for him to do. It keeps him in the national spotlight. And over all, it's good for his game, and good for our team going forward.
I just hope he gets some time to really relax before the season starts -- and thing for the rest of our guys playing extending basketball this off-season!