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Kentucky Wildcats Well Represented On Team USA Men's Basketball

Two Wildcats with the possibility of a third land on Team USA this time around.

Ethan Miller

The long-anticipated Team USA roster is out, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky in general and University of Kentucky in particular is very well represented on the squad. DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, and former Morehead St. star Kenneth Faried all made the 2014-2016 Men's National Team roster. From the Courier-Journal:

In all, the 28 players represent 20 NBA teams. Besides Davis, other 2012 Olympians are Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Andre Iguodala, LeBron James, Kevin Love, Chris Paul, James Westbrook and Deron Williams.

This is Anthony Davis' second go-round on Team USA. If you recall, he landed there right after college in 2012. But there is some bad news as well:

One snub from the list was UK product John Wall, who signed a max deal with the Washington Wizards last summer and participated in the minicamp. Wall is in the midst of his best NBA season, averaging 20 points and 8.5 assists per game.

A glut at point guard — Paul, Westbrook, Derrick Rose, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard — kept Wall off the team. Again, though, additions can be made, often in the event of injury or breakout NBA seasons such as Wall’s.

I just have one question here — would you rather have Damian Lillard or John Wall on your team? I'd rather have Wall any day, but hey, maybe it will yet happen.

I can foresee a day when Kentucky has an even more impressive list on Team USA as Calipari continues to stuff the professional ranks with former Wildcats. This is just one more of those situations that make a great recruiting tool for Coach Cal, as if he actually needs more tools. My minds eye can coaches around the USA crestfallen in dismal consternation at the very idea.