WASHINGTON, D.C. – The USA U18 team cut three players Wednesday night, and they weren’t much of a surprise. Uncommitted forward Ari Stewart of Marietta, Ga.; Georgetown commit Hollis Thompson, a 6-6 forward out of Los Angeles Loyola; and Tennessee commit Kenny Hall, a 6-8 big man out of Stone Mountain Ga. Redan, were let go, paring the roster to 14. Reeves Nelson, a 6-7 UCLA commit from Modesto (Ca.) High, is injured and out of the mix as well. Head coach Bob McKillop said they will keep that number until July 7, when two more players will be cut.
New York area players Lance Stephenson, Kemba Walker and Dominic Cheek all seem locks to make the team, barring some unforseen circumstances.
Lance is telling reporters here that his top three schools are Kansas, Memphis and Tennessee, which is different from the list his father recently gave out of Kansas, USC, UCLA and maybe St. John’s.
Cheek, the best player here Tuesday night, says Villanova and Tennessee are recruiting him the hardest.
The team begins play July 14 in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Formosa, Argentina against Rutgers commit Greg Echenique and Venezuela. Unfortunately, it sounds like the games will not be anywhere on TV or streamed on the Internet.
Jerry Meyer of Rivals, who just edged me in a game of Horse on the practice court here at the Verizon Center, has a nice roundup of last night’s scrimmage action.
Finally, you can read my feature on UConn’s Jerome Dyson and his experience at the Steve Nash Nike Skills Academy at UConnReport.com
I’ll have some more quotes and comments on Lance, Kemba and Dom once I get back on the train and have time to do some more work….
(Photo courtesy USA BAsketball)
