Cousins a Finalist at USA Training Camp

NORMAN — Following four practices involving 21 hopefuls, Oklahoma's Isaiah Cousins has been named one of 16 finalists for the 2015 U.S. Pan American Men's Basketball Team, USA Basketball announced Thursday.

Cousins, who is participating in the Pan American Games training camp at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., is one of 11 collegians still in the running for a spot on the 12-man roster, and one of two from the Big 12 (Baylor's Taurean Prince is the other). The 16 finalists range in age from 20 to 35 years old. One player played in the NBA in 2014-15 and four played professionally overseas last season.

The official 12-member roster that will represent the United States at the 2015 Pan American Games July 21-25 in Toronto, Ontario, is expected to be announced on or before July 12. The USA team is scheduled to train July 13-16 in Chicago, Ill., at the Chicago Bulls practice facility.

"We feel confident that we have identified players who can help us form a USA team capable of challenging for the Pan Am gold medal."
Jim Boeheim, chair of the USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee

"Making the decision on the finalists was very difficult. The competition at this training camp was especially impressive; very competitive," said Syracuse University head coach Jim Boeheim, chair of the USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee that is responsible for player and coach selections. "We believed coming into the training camp that we had assembled a tremendous collection of talented players and that proved to be the case. Making player selections is always a difficult thing, but we feel confident that we have identified players who can help us form a USA team capable of challenging for the Pan Am gold medal."

Cousins was a key component on OU's 24-11 team last year that advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. The guard from Mount Vernon, N.Y., averaged career highs of 11.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while leading the Big 12 with his .450 3-point percentage. A starter every game the last two years, he ranks fifth at OU with a .405 career 3-point field goal mark. He has been named the team's most improved player by teammates each of the past two seasons.

The U.S. men have been placed into Group A of the Pan American Games and will play all three of its preliminary round games at 8 p.m. CDT, including Venezuela on July 21, Puerto Rico on July 22 and Brazil on July 23. Competing in Group B will be Argentina, Canada, Dominican Republic and Mexico.

The top two teams from each preliminary-round group will advance to the medal-round semifinals on July 24, while the third- and fourth-placed teams will play for fifth through eighth places. The semifinal winners will compete for the gold medal on July 25, and the semifinal losers will play for bronze.

Mark Few of Gonzaga University will serve as head coach of the 2015 U.S. Pan American Games squad, and University of Colorado's Tad Boyle and longtime NBA coach Mike Brown were selected as assistant coaches.

2015 U.S. Pan American Games Men's Basketball Finalists
Ron Baker, Wichita State
Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia
Bobby Brown, Fullerton (former)
Isaiah Cousins, Oklahoma
Kellen Dunham, Butler
Nigel Hayes, Wisconsin
Ryan Hollins, UCLA (Sacramento Kings)
Keith Langford, Kansas (former)
Shawn Long, Louisiana
Taurean Prince, Baylor
Anthony Randolph, LSU (former)
Kaleb Tarczewski, Arizona
Romelo Trimble, Maryland
Denzel Valentine, Michigan State
Fred Van Vleet, Wichita State
Damien Wilkins, Georgia (former)