 |
Magic's Dwight Howard Makes the Cut
Orlando Magic forward Dwight Howard will be the youngest of the 15 players heading overseas next month to represent the United States in the FIBA World Championship.
Dwight Howard, who finished second in the NBA in rebounding during his second season with the Magic, was among the finalists announced Tuesday by USA Basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski and managing director Jerry Colangelo. The final 12-man roster doesn't have to be submitted until Aug. 18, the day before the start of the tournament in Japan that runs through Sept. 3.
|
Magic coach Brian Hill spent three days last week at USA Basketball's training camp in Las Vegas observing Dwight Howard and said he feels "quite certain" the 20-year-old forward will make the final roster.
"He's probably the best rebounder they have on the team," Hill said. "And he's playing extremely well."
Chris Bosh of Toronto, Brad Miller of Sacramento and Amare Stoudemire of Phoenix are the only players other than Dwight Howard who could be used at power forward or center. Stoudemire missed almost all of last season because of knee problems, but Krzyzewski said he has raised his level of play noticeably in the past week.
Although Dwight Howard has started in all but one of his 164 games with the Magic, he will probably come off the bench in one or more of the exhibition games leading up to the tournament.
The Americans will play Aug. 3 in Las Vegas against a Puerto Rican team, which will include Magic point guard Carlos Arroyo, and then have two games in both China and Korea.
"I think we're going to be OK with that," Krzyzewski said about the division of minutes. "But you don't know that until you start playing games."
NBA Future:
Daequan Cook
Daequan Cook, a 2006 McDonald's All-American, averaged 25 points a game as a senior in leading Dayton (Ohio) Dunbar High School to the Ohio Division II state title. Cook averaged 24.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.5 steals in 30.5 minutes of action in a pair of Wolverine victories at Ohio State's Value City Arena to claim the state championship.
NBA Future:
Eric Gordon
Eric Gordon has an excellent scoring touch and confidence on the perimeter. Mid-range game and athleticism to boot. Elite level player.
SOPH Played on loaded AAU team that captured major titles in N.C. and Las Vegas. FR Put up good numbers as a freshman in Indy. Looks like a big time scorer.
|
