By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The addition of Will Davis II in place of Jordan Bell completes the roster of Team USA for the upcoming first window (28-29/11) of the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers. USA will play against Cuba on November 28 and Mexico on November 29.
Two-time NBA All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas headlines the 12-man squad in his return to the team after his participation in the FIBA Americas Qualifiers. The roster also features former EuroLeague players Chasson Randle (a EuroLeague champion with Real Madrid in 2018) and Emanuel Terry.
Per USA Basketball:
USA Basketball today announced that Will Davis II (Regatas Corrientes, Argentina/UC Irvine), who played for the USA during the February 2021 FIBA AmeriCup Qualifying window, has been added to the November 2021 USA World Cup Qualifying Team after it was learned that Jordan Bell (Santa Cruz Warriors/Oregon) would not be available to participate.
Davis as a member of the February 2021 USA Basketball Men’s AmeriCup Qualifying Team played in one game and helped the Americans to a 95-76 win over Mexico. He recorded 10 points (4-5 FGs, 2-2 FTs), five rebounds and one blocked shot in 20 minutes of action in the win. He was also selected as a finalist for the 2017 USA Basketball Men’s AmeriCup Team and participated in team’s August 2017 training camp.
Previously named USA team members include Justin Anderson (Fort Wayne Mad Ants/Virginia), Brian Bowen II (Iowa Wolves), Josh Gray (Long Island Nets/LSU), Shaq Harrison (Delaware Blue Coats/Tulsa), Haywood Highsmith (Delaware Blue Coats/Wheeling), BJ Johnson (Lakeland Magic/LaSalle), Luke Kornet (Maine Celtics/Vanderbilt), Chasson Randle (free agent/Stanford), Zavier Simpson (Oklahoma City Blue/Michigan), Emanuel Terry (Stockton Kings/Lincoln Memorial) and Isaiah Thomas (free agent/Washington).
Former NBA head coach Jim Boylen is serving as head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s World Cup Qualifying Team, and USA Basketball experienced coaches Ty Ellis and Othella Harrington are assistant coaches.
The USA squad is training through Nov. 25 at the University of Houston and will participate in the first competition window of the 2021-23 FIBA World Cup Qualifying games, which will be played in a bubble format in Chihuahua, Mexico. The Americans will face Cuba on Nov. 28 (5:30 p.m. EST) and will meet host Mexico on Nov. 29 (9 p.m. EST).