DURHAM, N.C. - New Orleans Hornets forward and former Blue Devil Lance Thomas was added to the 2012 USA Men's Select Team roster, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo announced on Wednesday.
This is the second stint with Team USA for Thomas, who helped Team USA capture the bronze medal at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. As a member of the USA Men's Select Team, he will train against the Mike Krzyzewski-led 2012 USA Basketball Men's National Team during its July 6-12 training camp in Las Vegas, Nev. Thomas joins fellow former Blue Devil Kyrie Irving on the USA Select Team.
"We made a commitment back in October that we would select two players from the 2011 USA Pan American Games Team and invite them to be part of the 2012 USA Select Team," said Colangelo. "Greg (Stiemsma) and Lance (Thomas) were valuable contributors to the USA's bronze medal showing at the 2011 Pan American Games and both earned their way on to NBA rosters this season and demonstrated they can contribute at that level. I'm pleased to have both players join the USA Select Team."
Thomas helped Duke capture the 2010 NCAA Championship as a senior before embarking on his professional career. He spent his first season with the Austin Toros in the NBA Development League and made the Hornets' opening day roster for the 2011-12 season. After another brief stint in the NBA D-League, Thomas rejoined the Hornets in February and finished the year averaging 4.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.
Thomas came off the bench for USA at the 2011 Pan American Games and in five games averaged 8.2 ppg. and 7.6 rpg. In the USA's opening game victory over the Dominican Republic, he posted team highs of 15 points, 16 rebounds and three assists.
Other members of the 2012 USA Select squad include: DeJuan Blair (San Antonio Spurs / Pittsburgh); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings / Kentucky); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors / USC); Derrick Favors (Utah Jazz / Georgia Tech); Paul George (Indiana Pacers / Fresno State); Taj Gibson (Chicago Bulls / USC); Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz / Butler); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers / Duke); Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs / San Diego State); Jeremy Lin (New York Knicks / Harvard); Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors / Washington State); and John Wall (Washington Wizards / Kentucky).
Serving as co-head coaches of the USA Select Team are 2010 USA Basketball World Championship assistant coach Jay Triano and longtime Syracuse University assistant coach Mike Hopkins.
The USA National Team will open its 2012 training with a July 6-12 training camp in Las Vegas, Nev., that concludes with the July 12 (6:00 p.m. local time) USA Basketball Showcase that features the USA facing the Dominican Republic at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center. Tickets for the exhibition game can be purchased by calling 702-739-FANS or online at http://www.UNLVtickets.com/eventInfo/spe/310/usa-basketball/.
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