Damjan Rudez

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The Indiana Pacers will attend the Cathedral at Center Grove high school football game tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 17. Dubbed #TouchdownPacers, Pacers players along with Boomer, members of the Pacemates and Boom Babies, Pacers TV and radio broadcasters, and Pacers Sports & Entertainment employees will all be in attendance. 

The first 2,000 fans in attendance will get a one-of-a-kind Pacers rally towel in school’s colors. Each game will have two rally towels – one for each team playing. Plus, during timeouts and breaks in action, fans in the stands should look for the players, Pacemates and Boom Babies to pass out a variety of Pacers swag, including Pacers gold T-shirts and Pacers-branded mini footballs. Fans are encouraged to arrive early as the Pacers players will arrive prior to kickoff.

Center Grove High School
Center Grove vs. Cathedral
Players: Paul George, George Hill, Damjan Rudez and Adonis Thomas
Gates Open: 6:00pm
Kickoff Time: 7:30pm

Need Directions? Use the map below to find out how to get to Center Grove.

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#TouchdownPacers: Center Grove vs. Cathedral

Wheat Hotchkiss

Pacers.com's Wheat Hotchkiss catches you up on all the latest storylines from Pacers' training camp. Don't forget that Pacers FanJam presented by CNO Financial Group is free and open to the public this Sunday from 4:00-7:00 PM at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The first week of Pacers training camp is nearly in the books. The Blue-and-Gold has hit the hardwood for four days as they begin preparing for the 2014-15 season. They had two practices on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday and a longer afternoon session on Thursday.

It’s probably too early to gain any insight as to how individual players or the team as a whole might look this season. Veteran power forward David West said the first week of camp is mostly about doing conditioning work to get rid of “summer legs” and installing the coaching staff’s system.

“Just having a defensive approach to the game,” West said of the early focus, “trying to get an understanding of our offense as we tweak it and alter it for the guys that are here.”

With the preseason schedule tipping off with the Pacers hosting Minnesota on Tuesday, we’ll soon get a better feel for how the team is meshing and the roles different players might fill.

In the early going, Rodney Stuckey seems to be the odds-on favorite to win the starting shooting guard spot. In the portions of practice open to the media, Stuckey has been working with the starters each day, mostly playing off the ball but occasionally running the point as well.

Stuckey would seem to be a nice compliment to starting point guard George Hill, who is comfortable (and on occasion, prefers) sliding over to shooting guard in spurts.

“It’s always good to have another guy next to you that can play the 1 (point guard) and give you a little bit of break,” Hill said about Stuckey.

Hill also was quick to mention that Stuckey’s strengths (he excels in transition and at getting to the rim) are similar to those of departed shooting guard Lance Stephenson, who started next to Hill in the Pacers' backcourt the past two seasons. Head coach Frank Vogel believes Stuckey could take a similar role in the team’s offense.

“We’ve talked about that direct comparison,” Vogel said. “Not that he’s going to come in and try to be Lance Stephenson, he’s going to be Rodney Stuckey. But a lot of sets will be similar and possibly how the rotation looks could be similar as well.”

Last season, Stephenson would typically start games but come out midway through the first quarter. He would then start the second quarter with the second unit to give them an offensive spark. Reading between the lines with Vogel’s comments, Stuckey could have a similar role.

A (mildly) educated guess would be that C.J. Miles starts at small forward, though he’ll face competition from both Solomon Hill and Chris Copeland. Miles has sat out portions of practice with a mild calf strain, but it’s not believed to be serious.

Vogel: No Timetable for Paul George’s Return

While injured All-Star forward Paul George is holding out hope that he can return to the floor this season, Vogel isn’t expecting to have him in uniform in 2014-15.

George told broadcasters Chris Denari and Mark Boyle on the Pacers.com live show on Media Day that “it’s very possible” he could play at some point this season, though he also said he had  “come to peace” with the possibility that he could miss the entire year.

“I want him to push his rehab to try to get back as soon as is safe, but we’re going forward like he’s not going to play this year,” Vogel said Friday. “…If he makes it back sooner than then, we’ll cross that bridge when it comes to it.”

George remains very involved with the team – he has been present and in uniform for every practice so far this year – and his teammates are making a concerted effort to keep his spirits up during his rehab. Hill said he’s gone fishing with George multiple times and made it clear that he’s not on his own.

“We go out there and fish and clear our minds, talk about things that (are) either good or bad or basketball-related or not basketball-related,” Hill said. “Just showing that I’m there. I’m a brother that he can count on to talk to no matter what.”

Backup center Ian Mahinmi cannot participate in contact drills at the start of training camp as he recovers from a shoulder injury suffered while practicing with the French national team two days before the start of the FIBA World Cup.

Mahinmi’s absence has created an opportunity for Lavoy Allen to get an extended look at center, and so far, the coaching staff has liked what they’ve seen.

“(Allen looks) really good,” Vogel said. “We’ve got a joke that if you need a rebound, Lavoy will get it for you. He goes and gets the ball at a really high level.”

The 25-year-old Allen is a proven commodity in the NBA – he started 54 games in two and a half seasons in Philadelphia before he came to Indiana last February in the Danny Granger-Evan Turner trade. He averaged 5.8 points and 5.0 rebounds in just over 21 minutes per game in 2012-13.

But the Pacers have plenty of depth in the post, returning starters West and Roy Hibbert, as well as their primary backups, Luis Scola and Mahinmi. Still, the Pacers liked Allen so much that they re-signed him over the summer.

“I think his skill set and abilities suggest that he’s really a backup 4 (power forward) in this league or backup 5 (center),” Vogel said. “So for us to have him as a third center or a third option at either position, that’s quite a luxury.”

Allen, who says he has a much better feel for the Pacers system than he did last spring, is ready to make an impact whenever he gets an opportunity.

“If they call me, if they need me, I’ll be ready to go,” Allen said. “Whenever my time comes, I’m ready.”

Allen also seems to be a good fit in the locker room with his comic personality. Over the course of a short interview on Friday, he declared himself “the best-looking big on the team” and said he was barred from the dance contest at this Sunday’s FanJam because he was “too good.”

It’s been hard not to notice new Pacers forward Damjan Rudez the first week of training camp. You’ll find a wide smile across the Croatian’s face at nearly all times, whether he’s posing for pictures on Media Day, listening to Vogel in the post-practice huddle, or doing an interview.

For the 28-year-old who has played for seven European clubs in his professional career, his first NBA camp is a dream come true.

“This is something I worked for my whole life,” Rudez said. “I’m enjoying every second. Being around all these great players, trying to compete with everybody every day, trying to get better, it’s really an opportunity of a lifetime.”

So far, Rudez is playing primarily at small forward, though he can also play the power forward position. A shooter first and foremost, Rudez’s game is very similar to his new teammate Chris Copeland, who also made his NBA debut at the age of 28.

Vogel admitted that Rudez is still adjusting to the speed of the NBA game, but the sharpshooter has left a positive first impression with his work ethic.

“Good looking shooter, really good basketball IQ, he’s picking things up really quickly,” Vogel said.

Rudez is also very personable off the court. He speaks three languages fluently (English, Croatian, and Spanish). He’s an avid reader of the website Grantland, but his fondness for the site isn’t limited to their NBA coverage. Rudez also enjoys keeping up with American pop culture, and listed The Wire and The Sopranos as two of his favorite television shows.

“Croatia being a small country, it’s really influenced a lot by exterior influence,” Rudez said. “…We watched a lot of American television and sports.”

Rookie center Shayne Whittington was held out of Friday’s practice after getting kicked in the leg on Thursday.

Vogel said it was the same leg Whittington broke in the spring while getting ready for the NBA Draft, but this injury isn’t believed to be serious.

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Notebook: Storylines from the First Week of Training Camp

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The Pacers held their annual Media Day on Monday, Sept. 29 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Training camp begins Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Perhaps the most encouraging sign during the Pacers' media day activities was the sight of Paul George walking around the Bankers Life Fieldhouse floor.

Without crutches. Without a boot. While wearing shoes on both feet.

George, who broke the fibula in his right leg on Aug. 1, put on both shoes for the first time since his injury on Monday. He was not made available to the general media, but did chat casually with reporters and was in good spirits throughout the session He was photographed with his teammates for the standard array of publicity and media guide photos, and was interviewed by Chris Denari and Mark Boyle live on Pacers.com.

“Everything happens for a reason,” George said. “It gave me a chance to be in the weight room and spend some time there. I've got to use this as a blessing. It's tough to say you got hurt for a reason, but I honestly think I did. Now everything is starting to come back for me. I'm feeling great. I've been cleared to be in the weight room and work out. That's been keeping me positive and sane.”

George said he will not travel with the Pacers early in the season, but is likely to do so on most of the road trips later. He reiterated his hope that he might come back at the end of the upcoming season, although the Pacers as an organization are operating under the assumption he won't.

“It's very possible that I can play (this season),” George said. “I've talked to all the guys and said, 'Man, you guys have to get in the playoffs. That's the best chance I've got of coming back and playing this year.' I've already got it in mind that I could miss this whole year. I'm come to peace with that, but I'd love to be able to come back and play again.”

The Pacers managed to play 46 seasons without someone named C.J. donning a uniform. Now, suddenly, they have three of them.

C.J. Watson was signed as a free agent last season, and now C.J. Miles and C.J. Fair have been added to the roster. That's sure to cause some confusion among the coaching staff when addressing players. “C.J., get in the game!” just won't get it done any longer.

Miles, a nine-year NBA veteran, has laid claim to the name.

“I've got seniority,” he said. “I get to keep mine. C.J. Fair has to take whatever he can get. He's the  rookie.”

Assistant coach Dan Burke has solved the problem by referring to each by his hometown. So Miles is “Dallas” and Watson is “Vegas” and Fair is “Baltimore.”

The irony is that none of the three have a middle name beginning with the letter J. Miles is Calvin Andre, Watson is Charles Akeem and Fair is Carl Keith. All three have fathers with the same name, however, so the J comes from Junior.

When George Hill was asked what he worked on this summer, the assumption was that the topic was basketball. Hill had something else, in mind, however.

“I worked on a '62 Impala,” he said. “It's running pretty good. I have 575 horsepower behind the engine.”

More seriously, he did indeed put in time on his occupation.

“I was in the gym every day, working on my shot, watching a lot of film,” Hill said. “It's a work in progress. I'm not where I want to be, but I know I've put in a great deal of work this year and hopefully it pays off.”

Damjan Rudez will wear jersey number 9 with the Pacers. That was the number his older brother had worn, and was his original number when he began playing organized basketball at the age of 7.

“He was really good, and you know how it is with older brothers,” Rudez said. “You look up to older brothers. If he had been a soccer player, I would have been a soccer player, too.”

Rudez was born in in Zagreb, Croatia in 1986, six years before Pacers president Larry Bird retired, but counts himself as a major fan of Bird, the player. He's spent countless hours watching video of NBA greats from Bird's era, as well as fellow Croatians Drazen Petrovic and Toni Kukoc.

“I'm an NBA freak,” Rudez said. “I've followed the NBA since I was seven years old. I know pretty much all about him.

“It's strange coming to work every day and seeing Larry Bird, but it's definitely something, you know?”

Moments later, Bird walked by and offered a handshake to Rudez. “Hey, I was just talking about you!” Rudez said. “Oh, boy,” Bird deadpanned as he walked away.

Rudez is a 28-year-old NBA rookie, having played professionally in Europe since 2006. So far he's played just one week of informal scrimmages with his new teammates, but has one distinct impression.

“Watching NBA every day on TV, you can't get the perception of how strong and quick everybody is,” he said. “I was really impressed by the speed and athleticism.”

Which is not to say his confidence has taken a hit.

“Pretty much it's basketball,” he said. “I don't think it's nuclear science. Of course there's going to be aspects I have to adjust or get better. With my shooting, I think I'll make a smooth transition.”

Rudez is a career 40 percent three-point shooter, and hit 43 percent of his three-pointers last season while playing in Spain.

Coach Frank Vogel said he has a starting five in mind, but not one that he wants to announce yet.

“We’re going to wait till we go through camp and see how it all plays out,” he said.

David West, Roy Hibbert and George Hill appear to be locks as returning starters. The two spots vacated by George and Lance Stephenson will likely be filled from the group of C.J. Miles, Rodney Stuckey and Solomon Hill.

Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Indiana Pacers. All opinions expressed by Mark Montieth are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Indiana Pacers, their partners, or sponsors.

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Mark Montieth's Media Day Notebook

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In the wake of Paul George’s injury, Larry Bird was asked by a reporter if his opinion on players competing for national teams had changed. But Bird, whose own career included a gold medal playing for Team USA, remained a staunch supporter, saying, “I think it’s good for these young men … They get an opportunity to showcase their talents all over the world.”

For Bird and the Pacers, this mentality is evident, as three players on the roster will be competing in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which will take place in Spain from Aug. 30-Sept. 14.

These players – Luis Scola of Argentina, Ian Mahinmi of France, and Damjan Rudez of Croatia – will all be filling different roles for their respective national teams. Here at Pacers.com, we took a closer look at what to expect from each player on the court as they showcase their skills in front of an international audience.

Playing for the Argentine national team, Scola has amassed enough hardware to open a Home Depot. The 6-foot-9 power forward owns 15 medals in all, including seven golds, and has consistently been one of the best international competitors in the world.

Scola, 34, has played for Argentine national teams for nearly 20 years. And while he has always been a leader on his teams, Scola will be looked up to even more with the absence of offensive catalyst Manu Ginobli, who is recovering from a stress fracture in his right leg.

As a captain of his team, Scola will be expected to do just about everything for third-ranked Argentina. While his rebounding and passing panache will be appreciated, his scoring is where his team will need him the most. Scola rewrote the Argentine record books in 2010 by scoring 37 points in one game and becoming the tournament’s top scorer.

Rudez is typically labeled as a “stretch-4,” a power forward capable of leaking out into the corners and burying 3-pointers at a hearty clip. One look at Rudez’s highlight reel as a forward for CAI Zaragoza, a team in Spain’s premier basketball league, shows both an aptitude for long range shooting, as well as an ability to drive the baseline and get to the rim.

At 6-foot-10, there isn’t much room between Rudez and the hoop, which increases the value of his long range shooting even more. With a nice array of back-to-the-basket post moves and a penchant for finding an open space on the floor beyond the arc, look for the 28-year-old Rudez to provide Croatia with a high volume of 3-pointers and a healthy amount of rebounding.

UPDATE: Ian Mahinmi left Team France just before the start of the FIBA World Cup. The news first was reported by French website BeBasket.fr on Thursday, Aug. 28:

Mahinmi then seemingly confirmed the news with the following Tweet in France, which translated says in part: "So close to the beginning of the competition, this is really difficult..."

Mahinmi is no longer listed on France's roster on FIBA's website.

If it wasn’t for Mahinmi’s participation in international play, he might not have gotten his chance in the NBA. As a member of France’s U-18 team in 2004, Mahinmi impressed NBA scouts, which eventually led to him being drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 2005. Six years later, he was an NBA Champion with the Dallas Mavericks.

As a member of France’s national team – which is headlined by Spurs point guard Tony Parker – Mahinmi is the starting center. The last time Mahinmi played for France’s national team, he averaged 4.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. However, with other French big men like Kevin Seraphin (denied permission to play by Washington), and Alexis Ajinça (pregnant wife) skipping the tournament, Mahinmi will likely be getting more playing time that he has in the past. So expect those averages to inflate quite a bit, especially since the 6-foot-11 center has improved his game while playing on the Pacers over the past two seasons.

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Pacers Trio Set To Play in FIBA World Cup

For Paul George and Team USA, the quest for gold begins in earnest today.

George is one of 19 players scheduled to attend the USA Basketball Men’s National Team Training Camp in Las Vegas from Monday-Friday. George, who participated in USA Basketball’s mini-camp last summer, is striving to make the 12-man roster for the 2014 FIBA World Cup, which will take place in Spain from Aug. 30-Sept. 14.

PHOTO GALLERY: 2014 USA Basketball Training Camp Roster »

The full training camp roster includes guards Bradley Beal, Stephen Curry, DeMar DeRozan, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, Derrick Rose, Klay Thompson, and John Wall; wings Kevin Durant, George, Gordon Hayward, Kyle Korver, and Chandler Parsons; and big men DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Kenneth Faried, and Paul Millsap.

George seems likely to make the roster because of his size, shooting, and ability to defend multiple positions. If he makes Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s team, George would likely spend the bulk of his time at the small forward position, due to the number of quality guards on the roster. He also could be asked to occasionally play some at power forward in “small-ball” lineups.

Even with several high-profile names absent (players like LeBron James and Chris Paul never planned to play this summer, while Blake Griffin and Kevin Love recently dropped out), Team USA still figures to remain the favorite to take home the gold medal for the fourth straight major international competition.

Headlining the roster is Durant, the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player and a member of both the 2010 World Championship and 2012 Olympic squads. Four other players in camp have previously donned the red, white, and blue at a major tournament – Curry and Rose in 2010, Davis and Harden in 2012.

This week is the first of four scheduled training camp sessions for the Americans over the next month. After a week of practice, the 19 players will take part in the USA Basketball Showcase, a nationally-televised intrasquad scrimmage on Friday night at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Photo Gallery: USA Basketball Holds First Practice »

According to NBA.com’s John Schumann, the tentative plan is to cut the roster down to 15 players after this week.

The remaining players will reassemble in Chicago on Aug. 14 for two days of training leading up to an exhibition game against Brazil on Aug. 16. They’ll then head to New York from Aug. 18-22, with exhibitions against the Dominican Republic on Aug. 20 and Puerto Rico on Aug. 22. The team’s final training camp will take place in Gran Canaria from Aug. 24-26, with a scrimmage against Slovenia on the last day.

The 2014 FIBA World Cup (formerly known as the World Championships) features 24 teams. In the first stage, the teams are divided into four groups of six and play each team in their group once. Team USA’s group also includes the Dominican Republic, Finland, New Zealand, Turkey, and Ukraine.

The four top teams in each group then advance to a 16-team single-elimination tournament. Other favorites for medals include host Spain, Argentina, Lithuania, France, Australia, and Brazil.

Be sure to check back with Pacers.com for updates on George and other Pacers players playing internationally over the next several weeks.

Damjan Rudez

#TouchdownPacers: Center Grove vs. Cathedral

Notebook: Storylines from the First Week of Training Camp

Mark Montieth's Media Day Notebook

Pacers Trio Set To Play in FIBA World Cup

George Joins USA Basketball for Start of Training Camp

Damjan Rudez Career Photo Gallery