Now You Are Talking My Language
Da'Love Woods
April 9, 2014
No matter what their native tongue, it was clear every player on the Nike Hoop Summit's World Team were all fluent in Basketball. With players traveling from all over the world to come together in hopes of piecing together the 3rd consecutive win over team USA, the language barrier is not going to get in their way.
Gathered together on the court at the Portland Trail Blazer practice facility, they were all in one accord. Turkish Foward, James Metecan Birsen, is a 6'10' threat from 3-point range. Combine his talents with a backcourt of Brandone Francis (Dominican Republic / Florida Commit) a scoring point and Jamal Murray (Canada) a savvy floor general, these guys are a tough group to be reckoned with.
Tough break for the USA, because that group was on the White Squad in practice! The Black team, which appeared to possibly be the World's starting line up, consisted of University of Kentucky commits, and No. 6 player in the nation Trey Lyles (Canada), and No. 9 Karl Towns (Dominican Republic) according to ESPN's Top 100. Playing general for the black, was Emmanuel Mudiay (Dem. Rep. of Congo), who apprears to be heading to Southern Methodist University to suck Larry Brown dry of all knowledge and resources on his way to the NBA. Mudiay can flat out play and has great court awareness and ball control.
Look for the World Team to make a lasting impression on fans here in Portland at the Moda Center on April 12th during Nike's Hoop Summit. Tip off is at 4pm (PST).
USA and World rosters listed below courtesy of www.nikehoopsummit.com For more information on Nike Hoop Summit visit www.usabasketball.com
Tyus Jones (Minnesota Timberwolves / Duke)
USA Roster 2014
| PLAYER NAME | POSITION | HEIGHT / WEIGHT | DATE OF BIRTH | HIGH SCHOOL / COLLEGE | HOMETOWN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cliff Alexander | F | 6-9 / 230 | November 16, 1995 | Curie Metropolitan H.S. / Kansas* | Chicago, IL |
| Joel Berry II | G | 6-1 / 185 | April 1, 1995 | Lake Highland Prep School / North Carolina* | Apopka, FL |
| James Blackmon, Jr. | G | 6-2 / 175 | April 24, 1995 | Marian H.S. / Indiana* | Fort Wayne, IN |
| Stanley Johnson | F | 6-7 / 226 | May 29, 1996 | Mater Dei H.S. / Arizona* | Fullerton, CA |
| Tyus Jones | G | 6-0 / 171 | May 10, 1996 | Apple Valley H.S. / Duke* | Apple Valley, MN |
| Jahlil Okafor | C | 6-10 / 260 | December 15, 1995 | Whitney Young H.S. / Duke* | Chicago, IL |
| Kelly Oubre | F | 6-7 / 190 | December 9, 1995 | Findlay Prep (NV) / Kansas* | Fort Bend, TX |
| Theo Pinson | F | 6-6 / 185 | November 5, 1995 | Wesleyan Christian Academy / North Carolina* | Greensboro, NC |
| Myles Turner | C | 6-11 / 240 | March 24, 1996 | Trinity H.S. / Undecided | Bedford, TX |
| Justise Winslow | F | 6-6 / 210 | March 26, 1996 | St. John’s School / Duke* | Houston, TX |
| Reid Travis | C | 6-7 / 215 | November 25, 1995 | DeLaSalle H.S. / Stanford* | Minneapolis, MN |
HEAD COACH: Mike Jones, DeMatha Catholic High School, MD
ASSISTANT COACH: Cory Alexander, Boo Williams AAU, VA
Cliff Alexander (Portland Trailblazers / Kansas)
Dos Mundos, Two Worlds
Da'Love Woods
April 11, 2014
With less than 24 hours until tip-off, the World team had their final practice before Nike Hoops Summit - but it did not end well in the eyes of Southern Methodist commit Emmanuel Mudiay.
The No. 1 ranked point guard in USA, who will be playing for the World Team as a natural citizen of the Democratic Replubic of Congo, Mudiay felt like the World Team could have closed out practice on a better note. Coach Roy Rana (Canada) felt his troops were ready for Saturday's battle as he wrapped up practice 30 minutes early.
With the intensity and aggressiveness the World Team has shown over the past serveral days, Coach Rana has plenty of reason to believe his guys are going to coming out blazing at Moda center. Mudiay feels confident, and says the World team guards are going to come out strong and "punch 'em in the mouth first."
On the other side, Team USA looks to bounce back from a two year loosing streak at Nike Hoops Summit, after going 14-2 the first 16 years of the event. Arizona commit, Stanley Johnson has looked like a well oiled machine as he powers Team USA's defensive attack. Johnson, will have plenty of help behind him, as the front court of the Red, White, and Blue includes the top 3 players in the Nation respectivly with big men Jahlil Oakfor (Duke commit), Myles Turner (Undecided), and Cliff Alexander (Kansas commit).
Team USA front court looks far more intimidating physically than the World team, so it will be up to the Dominican Republic's Karl Towns and Trey Lyles (Canada), both headed to Kentucky, to manage the boards for the World. Towns has looked solid in practice all week long, and if he can manage to defend well against the USA, it is likely the backcourt of Mudiay, Brandon Francis, and sharp shooter James Birsen (Turkey) can score the World team another victory.
Come watch as Team USA battles the World at Nike Hoop Summit at the Moda Center tomorrow, April 12th. Tip off is at 4pm (PST).
For more information on Nike Hoop Summit log on to NikeHoopSummit.com and USABasketball.com
Brandone Francis (Florida Gators)
World Team Roster 2014
| PLAYER NAME | POSITION | HEIGHT | COUNTRY | CURRENT TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Metecan Birsen | F | 6-9 | Turkey | Fenerbache Ülker |
| Clint Capela | C | 6-9 | Switzerland | ES Chalon-sur-Saone |
| Brandone Francis | G | 6-5 | Dominican Republic | Arlington Country Day School, Fla. / Florida* |
| Damien Inglis | F | 6-9 | France | Chorale de Roanne Basket |
| Nikoa Jokic | F | 6-10 | Serbia | KK Mega Vizura |
| Trey Lyles | C | 6-9 | Canada | Arsenal Technical H.S., Ind. / Kentucky* |
| Emmanuel Mudiay | G | 6-5 | Democratic Republic of Congo | Prime Prep Academy, Texas / Southern Methodist* |
| Jamal Murray | G | 6-6 | Canada | Athlete Institute |
| Gao Shang | G | 6-6 | China | Guangdong Southern Tigers |
| Karl Towns, Jr. | C | 6-11 | Dominican Republic | St. Joseph H.S., N.J. / Kentucky* |
HEAD COACH: Roy Rana (Canada)
ASSISTANT COACH: Marin Sedlacek (Serbia)
USA BASKETBALL
Nike Hoop Summit
Emmanuel Mudiay (Denver Nuggets / SMU)
Dorell Wright (Portland Trailblazers) discusses the action at Nike Hoop Summit.
Jahlil Okafor (Philadelphia 76ers / Duke)
Jamal Murray of Canada is having a blast as he prepares for tomorrow's game against Team USA. Watch as Da'Love and Jamal battle it out USA vs. Canada before the interview.
Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers / Texas)
Kelly Oubre (Washington Wizards / Kansas)
It's all about the foundation.
Stanley Johnson (Detroit Pistons / Arizona)