Jayson Tatum earns spot in Team USA starting five for Wednesday exhibition against Serbia

The United States men’s basketball team takes on Serbia for a Wednesday exhibition, and Duke’s Jayson Tatum made the starting five.

Former Duke basketball star [autotag]Jayson Tatum[/autotag]’s dream summer got a little better on Wednesday afternoon.

The United States men’s basketball team, with one eye on this summer’s 2024 Olympic Games, played the Serbian national team in an exhibition game. Team USA announced its starting five ahead of the competition, and Tatum got the nod as one of the first five Americans on the floor.

He joined four-time NBA champions LeBron James and Steph Curry, former NBA MVP Joel Embiid, and Boston Celtics teammate Jrue Holiday in the opening lineup.

Tatum would assuredly call 2023-24 the best season of his NBA career, winning his first career title while earning a third straight All-NBA First Team nomination in the process. He broke the league record for most playoff points scored before a player’s 27th birthday and led the Celtics in points, rebounds, and assists for their playoff run, the sixth NBA player to accomplish that feat.

Tatum already picked up a few highlights during an exhibition against Canada when he whirled past NBA finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for a bucket. He’s looking for a second straight gold medal after winning one in Tokyo during the previous Olympics.

Former Duke basketball star RJ Barrett set to play for Canadian Olympic team

RJ Barrett, who now plays for the Toronto Raptors, will play for Canada in Paris this summer in the country’s first Olympics since 2000.

For the first time since 2000, Canada will play in the Olympics for men’s basketball, and former Duke star [autotag]RJ Barrett[/autotag] made the 12-man squad.

Barrett will play alongside Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an MVP finalist from this past NBA season, and Denver Nuggets guard and 2023 NBA champion Jamal Murray. The Canadians finished third at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup to secure a spot in Paris this summer, defeating the United States in the bronze medal game.

Barrett, the No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2018 and one of the highest-rated Duke commits in program history, spent just one season with the Duke basketball program in 2018-19. He, predictably, had one of the best freshman campaigns in school history, averaging 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game while he and [autotag]Zion Williamson[/autotag] led the Blue Devils to the Elite Eight.

Barrett, after being the third overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, spent his first four full seasons with the New York Knicks before being traded to the Toronto Raptors in the middle of last season. He’s averaged 18.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game as an NBA player.

Barrett will join [autotag]Jayson Tatum[/autotag] (United States) and [autotag]Khaman Maluach[/autotag] (South Sudan) as Blue Devils in Paris for this summer’s games.

Jayson Tatum talks about what wearing Kobe Bryant’s former Olympic number means to him

Jayson Tatum will wear No. 10 at the 2024 Olympics, the same number NBA legend Kobe Bryant wore, and he spoke out what that means to him on Monday.

[autotag]Jayson Tatum[/autotag] will play for the United States at the Olympics for the second straight Games this summer in Paris, but he won’t wear his usual No. 0 from the Boston Celtics.

Tatum will wear the No. 10 again after he sported the number in Tokyo three summers ago. However, the number carries extra significance among NBA circles. NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who passed away in early 2020, wore the same number for the Olympic team.

Tatum has routinely spoken about what Bryant meant to him as a basketball role model, making multiple social media posts about the Lakers legend over the past four years.

During a media session on Monday, the former Blue Devil expanded upon what Bryant and the No. 10 mean to him in regards to the Olympics.

“It’s nothing short of an honor to be able to represent this uniform and wear number 10,” Tatum said. “Anybody that remotely knows me knows how much influence that he had on me as a kid and inspired (me) to reach my goals. So it’s definitely something that I don’t take for granted or take lightly.”

Tatum and the United States look to defend their gold medal from the previous Olympics back in 2021.

Cooper Flagg talks about his time with Team USA basketball as Select Team member

Ahead of Sunday’s opening scrimmage, future Duke basketball star Cooper Flagg talked about his first experiences with Team USA basketball.

[autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag]’s experience as the only collegiate player on the USA Basketball Men’s Select Team officially got underway this weekend, and he made an early impression with a dunk during Sunday’s opening scrimmage with the Olympic squad.

Hours before the scrimmage got underway, however, Flagg spoke about what the first part of the experience meant to him.

“It’s been a great experience,” Flagg said during a quick interview. “Being able to learn, talk, just see what their routine (is) and see what some of these guys do, so it’s been great just to be able to learn.”

The Sunday highlight included NBA stars like LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, and Anthony Davis (who actually blocked Flagg’s first jump shot). When asked which basketball legend most excited him, however, the future Blue Devil didn’t have an answer.

“I think everybody,” Flagg said. “I think everybody on that team, like growing up as a kid, is somebody that I kind of looked up to.”

Flagg, the top-ranked prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, currently sits as the projected favorite to go first overall in next year’s NBA draft.

Cooper Flagg throws down dunk in Team USA Basketball scrimmage highlight

While on a court with NBA stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg threw down a dunk during a Team USA scrimmage on Sunday.

[autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] remains the only collegiate basketball player on the USA Basketball Men’s Select Team this summer, but he still found a way to stand out on the court during Sunday’s scrimmage.

The Select Team is tasked with practicing against the country’s Olympic squad ahead of this summer’s tournament in Paris, so Flagg will share a basketball court with LeBron James and other NBA stars before he ever plays a college game. During the first scrimmage between the two squads over the weekend, a clip went viral of Flagg throwing down a dunk.

Flagg’s offensive possession actually started a little rocky when Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis blocked his mid-range jump shot attempt. Flagg recovered quickly, grabbing his own rebound and lofting the ball to Golden State’s Brandin Podziemski to save the possession.

Flagg then slashed back to the basket down the baseline, and Podziemski found him with a no-look pass for the assist.

And yes, that is LeBron in the paint and Minnesota star Anthony Edwards contesting Flagg’s pass on the perimeter, if you’re curious about how high the competition level is for the future Blue Devil.

First look of Cooper Flagg on USA Basketball Men’s Select Team ahead of Olympic prep

Duke fans got their first look at Cooper Flagg in a Team USA uniform on Sunday during the first Select Team scrimmages.

Before [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] wears a Duke basketball uniform during game action, he’ll spend some time with the best players on the planet during Olympic preparation for Team USA.

Last month, it was announced that Flagg would be the only active collegiate player on the USA Basketball Men’s Select Team tasked with sharpening the Olympic roster ahead of the Games in Paris this summer. On Sunday, Blue Devils fans got their first look at Flagg with the Stars and Stripes with some photos from Team USA scrimmages.

Flagg sported the number 31 in the pictures, and a viral video from the scrimmages showed him facing Anthony Davis in an offensive possession before throwing down a dunk.

The top-ranked prospect in the country and the presumed No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft spearheads an elite Duke basketball recruiting class. He, fellow presumed lottery pick Khaman Maluach, and four other top-40 prospects have the Blue Devils among the top national championship favorites.

Baylor freshman VJ Edgecombe put college basketball on notice during Olympic qualifiers

Baylor Bears incoming freshman VJ Edgecombe dominated for the Bahamas in the Olympic qualifiers.

Another year, another outstanding guard prospect for Scott Drew and the Baylor Bears.

Two years ago Keyonte George was among the best guards in the country, ultimately getting selected in the lottery of the 2023 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. Last year Ja’Kobe Walter had an outstanding season with Baylor, getting selected 19th overall by the Toronto Raptors last month.

Next year the story will be superstar guard VJ Edgecombe – and he has a real chance to be the best of the bunch.

Edgecombe played with the Bahamian squad as they competed for a spot in the 2024 Olympic Games, ultimately falling to Spain in the championship game on Sunday.

On a squad with NBA stars like Buddy Hield and DeAndre Ayton – and competing against much older professionals – the 18-year-old Edgecombe averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, including multiple 20+ point performances, high-flying dunks, and a dagger three pointer against Poland.

“Everything [Edgecombe] does contributes to winning – offensively, defensively, getting downhill and the way he talks [on the court],” Bahamian head coach Christopher Demarco said. “He stepped into our training camp right away, and he belonged.”

The Bahamas may not have secured a spot in Paris for the Olympic games, but Edgecombe certainly did his part and gained valuable experience against older players.

He’s now set to head to Waco to prepare for his freshman season with Drew and the Bears, who have a new look roster after bringing in transfer stars Jeremy Roach (Duke) and Norchad Omier (Miami) in a quest to challenge Kansas, Houston, Iowa State, and Arizona for a Big 12 title.

Duke basketball freshman Khaman Maluach joins South Sudan Olympic Training Camp roster

Duke freshman Khaman Maluach made South Sudan’s 25-man training roster as he begins preparations for the Olympics in Paris.

The Blue Devils will already have multiple alums in the 2024 Olympic Games this summer in Paris, with Jayson Tatum and Chelsea Gray already on the men’s and women’s teams for the United States, but a current Duke player might join them for the festivities.

[autotag]Khaman Maluach[/autotag], a 7-foot-2 center from South Sudan and a member of Duke’s esteemed 2024 recruiting class, officially made his home country’s Olympic Training Camp roster on Friday.

The 25-man squad, which features notable NBA names like Bol Bol, Wenyen Gabriel, and Thon Maker, will help South Sudan whittle down its Olympic roster.

Maluach has already earned hype for the 2025 NBA draft with multiple outlets hailing him as a likely lottery selection. He already represented his country at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, doing so when he was just 16 years old. His size and potential leave many to think of him as a shoo-in for the country’s Olympic roster once the Games begin in Paris later this summer.

Future teammate [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] (likely) won’t play for the United States in Paris, but he did make the Select Team squad meant to help the national team prepare for the Games. He was the only collegiate player to make the roster.

Former Blue Devil Lauren Hoffman qualifies for the 2024 Olympic Games

Lauren Hoffman, a five-year star on the Duke track team, will run the 400-meter hurdles for the Philippines this summer in Paris.

Former Duke track star Lauren Hoffman can call herself an Olympian.

Hoffman qualifies for the 400-meter hurdles with the Philippines on Wednesday, booking her first ticket to the Olympic Games in her illustrious career.

The five-year Duke track star specialized in 400m events during her years in Durham (2017-22). She earned her first two All-ACC First Team nominations in 2019, first as an individual in the 400m during the outdoor season before being part of a 4x400m relay during the indoor season.

Her 2021 season remains one of the most decorated campaigns in recent Duke track history. She made the USTFCCCA All-American First Team squad in the outdoor 4x400m relay and the USTFCCCA All-American Second Team in the 400m hurdles, and she won the ACC silver medal and made the All-ACC First Team squad in the latter event.

Hoffman also earned two All-ACC Second Team nominations in the indoor distance medley relay in 2019 and 2020.

Former Duke track star Maddy Price headed to her second Olympics

Price and her fellow Canadians get the chance to avenge their fourth-place finish from the Tokyo Games in the 4×400-meter relay.

For the second straight Games, former Blue Devil Maddy Price is headed to the Olympics.

Price made the women’s 4×400-meter relay team for her home country of Canada on Wednesday, and she also made the provisional 400-meter squad.

In Tokyo three summers ago, Price and her fellow Canadians finished fourth in the 4×400. They missed out on a medal by 0.6 seconds, narrowly beaten out by Jamaica.

“We wanted to bring home a medal for Canada and ourselves,” Price said after she and her team came within inches of the country’s first medal in the event since 1984. “We’ll be back.”

Price spent four years with the Blue Devils from 2014-18, and she made the Indoor First Team All-American squad in the same event as a freshman in 2015. Duke finished sixth at the NCAA Indoor Championships that season. She made four All-ACC teams and two other Second Team All-ACC rosters during her stint in Durham.