COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – USA Basketball today announced that Utah Jazz guard/forward Gordon Hayward will participate in the 2016 USA Basketball Showcase which features the USA Basketball Men’s National Team playing five domestic exhibition games and conducting training camps in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Chicago and Houston.
Last summer Hayward was named to the 2015 USA Men’s National Team minicamp roster and was also a finalist for the 2014 USA Men’s World Cup Team. His previous USA Basketball experience also includes participating in the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s National team mini-camp, as well as playing for the 2012 USA Select Team that trained against the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. Hayward also helped lead Team USA to a 9-0 record and a gold medal in the 2009 U19 World Championship in New Zealand. He ranked second on that team in rebounding (5.7) and third in scoring (10.0), adding 1.8 assists, 1.1 blocks, 1.4 steals and shooting 41.4 percent (12-29) from 3-point range en route to being selected to the U19 World Championship’s “Best of the Best Team."
Hayward (6-8, 225, Butler) appeared in 80 games (all starts) for the Jazz this season, and lead the team in scoring (19.7) and assists (3.7), while adding 5.0 rebounds in a team-high 36.2 minutes per game. He finished the season as one of five players in the NBA to average 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting over .345 on three-point field goals. The 25-year-old career Jazzman was originally selected by Utah in the first round (ninth overall selection) of the 2010 NBA Draft.
Tickets for the USA Basketball Showcase exhibition games will go on sale starting April 29. VIP ticket packages available in select markets. For ticket information visit USAB.COM/SHOWCASE.
The USA Men’s National Team will open the 2016 USA Basketball Showcase facing South American rival and FIBA’s No. 4 ranked world power Argentina in Las Vegas at a site to be announced on Friday, July 22 (all game times are to be announced).
The U.S. will play two exhibition games versus 2015 FIBA Asia zone champ China, the first at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on July 24 and the second will be held July 26 at Oracle Arena in Oakland.
Continuing its exhibition tour in Chicago, the USA will play on July 29 at the United Center versus 2015 FIBA Americas gold medalist Venezuela and will conclude the USA Basketball Showcase facing 2015 FIBA Africa zone champion Nigeria on Aug. 1 in Houston at the Toyota Center.
The 2016 Olympic Games men’s basketball competition will feature national teams from 12 countries competing Aug. 6-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. USA and Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski will be assisted on the USA bench by Syracuse University’s Jim Boeheim and NBA coaches Tom Thibodeau (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Monty Williams (Oklahoma City Thunder).
Including Hayward, the 31 finalists for the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team also include: LaMarcus Aldridge; Carmelo Anthony; Harrison Barnes; Bradley Beal; Jimmy Butler; Mike Conley; DeMarcus Cousins; Stephen Curry; Anthony Davis; DeMar DeRozan; Andre Drummond; Kevin Durant; Kenneth Faried; Rudy Gay; Paul George; Draymond Green; Blake Griffin; James Harden; Dwight Howard; Andre Iguodala; Kyrie Irving; LeBron James; DeAndre Jordan; Kawhi Leonard; Damian Lillard; Kevin Love; Chris Paul; Klay Thompson; John Wall; and Russell Westbrook.