For further information contact Craig Miller, Caroline Williams, Jenny Maag or Cole Mickelson at USA Basketball (719) 590-4800.

*This release is also available on USA Basketball's World Wide Web homepage - http://www.usabasketball.com.

Anthony Davis And James Harden Added To
USA Basketball Men’s National Team Finalists Roster

            COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 3, 2012) – Anthony Davis, who led the University of Kentucky Wildcats to this year’s NCAA championship, and Oklahoma City Thunder standout guard James Harden have been added to the list of finalists for the 2012 USA Basketball National Team, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo announced today. The official 12-man U.S. Olympic team roster will be announced later this year.

 “After a lot of deliberations, after reviewing our roster, we think these two additions strengthen our National Team program immeasurably.  James Harden probably is the sixth man of the year in the NBA, and Anthony Davis brings a dimension to our pool we don’t have. He’s young, but it’s exciting to think about the possibilities,” said Colangelo.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be this young and have a chance to represent my country. This is a great opportunity and I’m excited to be a part of something like this,” said Davis.

            Davis played and started in all 40 UK games and as a freshman led the Wildcats to a 38-2 record, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) regular season title and the NCAA championship. The 6-10 forward averaged team highs of 14.2 ppg., 10.4 rpg. and 4.7 bpg., while adding 1.3 apg. and 1.4 spg. He shot 62.3 percent from the floor and 70.9 percent from the foul line. Named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player after leading Kentucky to the title and averaging 13.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.8 blocks in NCAA Tournament play, the Chicago native recorded 186 blocks which is the most in the history of the SEC and an all-time NCAA mark for freshmen. Davis owns UK freshman records for blocks (186) and rebounds (399) by a Kentucky first-year player. He also tied the UK freshman record for double-doubles (20). He won six National Player of the Year awards including the Adolph Rupp Trophy, U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), Basketball Times, Associated Press, Wooden and Naismith. In winning the 2012 Naismith Trophy, Davis became just the second freshman to ever capture the award.  Additionally, he was selected the 2012 SEC player, freshman and defensive player of the year.             

            Davis has represented USA Basketball previously. As a high school senior he was selected a member of USA Basketball’s Junior National Select Team that competed in the 2011 Nike Hoop Summit. Davis finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and two block shots to help the USA to a 92-80 win over the World Select Team.

            “Being named as a finalist for the USA Basketball National Team is an unbelievable feeling and an opportunity that is truly humbling. It is an honor to be included with such talented players and I look forward to the chance to represent my country this summer,” said Harden.

Harden completed in 2011-12 his third NBA season, all with the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Averaging career highs of 16.8 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 3.7 apg. and 31.4 minutes a game, Harden also shot career bests of 49.1 percent from the field, 39.0 from 3-point and 84.6 percent from the foul line. He helped lead the Thunder in 2011-12 to the West Conference’s second best record of 47-19, to a first place finish in the Northwest Division, and to the 2012 NBA Playoffs.

Harden, who becomes the third Oklahoma City Thunder player named to the USA finalists roster, played two seasons at Arizona State before entering the NBA Draft in 2009. Selected the Pac Ten Conference’s Player of the Year in 2009, during his two ASU seasons he scored 1309 points, and averaged 19.0 ppg., 5.4 rpg. and 3.7 apg.

USA Basketball announced on Jan. 16, 2012, a group of 20 finalists for the 2012 USA National Team from which the 2012 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team would be selected.

Named a finalist for the 2012 USA National Team were: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers); Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Chauncey Billups (Los Angeles Clippers); Chris Bosh (Miami Heat); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); LeBron James (Miami Heat); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Dallas Mavericks); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder); and Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets).

Since the finalists announcement, four players have been lost to injuries, Aldridge, Billups, Howard and most recently Rose.

Colangelo, who has served as managing director of the USA Men’s National Team since 2005, is again directing the USA Basketball Men’s National Team program in 2012. The USA coaching staff features Duke University Hall of Fame mentor Mike Krzyzewski, and back as USA assistant coaches are Syracuse University and Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, and former NBA head coaches Mike D’Antoni and Nate McMillan.

The USA National Team opens its 2012 training with a July 6-12 training camp in Las Vegas, Nev., that concludes with the July 12 (6:00 p.m. local time) USA Basketball Showcase that features the USA facing the Dominican Republic at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center. Tickets for the exhibition game can be purchased by calling 702-739-FANS or online at http://www.UNLVtickets.com/eventInfo/spe/310/usa-basketball/.

Following the USA’s training and exhibition contest in Las Vegas, the USA will move on to the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., to train July 13-15 and play an exhibition contest versus Brazil at the Verizon Center on July 16 (8 p.m. local time). The game will be part of a doubleheader with the USA Basketball Women’s National Team, which will face Brazil’s Women’s National Team (5:30 p.m. local time).

            The USA men will continue their preparations July 17-18 in Manchester, England, and on July 19 (7:30 p.m. local time) will play Great Britain at the Manchester Arena. The USA women will square off against the Great Britain women at the Manchester Arena on July 18 (7:30 p.m. local time). Tickets for both the USA men’s and women’s national team games against their respective Great Britain counterparts are available by calling +44 (0) 844 847 8000 or at www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

Twenty years after the USA Dream Team made its debut in Barcelona, Spain, the U.S. returns and will conclude its tour with a pair of exhibition games against FIBA’s No. 2 and No. 3 ranked world powers. Facing No. 3 ranked Argentina on July 22 (9:30 p.m. local time) at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, the USA will close out its exhibition tour against FIBA’s No. 2 ranked power Spain on July 24 (9:30 p.m. local time) at the Palau Sant Jordi. Tickets for the games in Barcelona are available at www.entradas.com/entradas/comprar-entradas-torneo-usa-espana-argentina.

USA Basketball

            Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the United States by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions.

Since 2008, USA Basketball men’s and women’s teams have compiled a sterling 134-6 win-loss record in FIBA or FIBA Americas competitions. USA teams are the current men’s and women’s champions of the Olympics and the FIBA World Championships; FIBA women’s U19 world champions; the men’s and women’s title holders for the FIBA U17 World Championships; and the men’s and women’s U18 and U16 FIBA Americas champions. USA Basketball currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA's world ranking categories, including combined, men's, women's, boys and girls.

For further information about USA Basketball, go to the official Web site of USA Basketball at www.usabasketball.com and connect with us on facebook.com/usabasketball, twitter.com/usabasketball and www.youtube.com/therealusabasketball.

2012 USA Basketball Men’s National Team Finalists

NAME                      POS      HGT    WGT        DOB       CURRENT TEAM / COLLEGE or HIGH SCHOOL

LaMarcus Aldridge      F/C        6-11     240        7/19/85      Portland Trail Blazers / University of Texas

Carmelo Anthony        F          6-8       230        5/29/84      New York Knicks / Syracuse University

Chauncey Billups          G          6-3       202        9/25/76      Los Angeles Clippers / University of Colorado

Chris Bosh                   F          6-10     230        3/24/84      Miami Heat / Georgia Tech

Kobe Bryant                G          6-6       205        8/23/78      Los Angeles Lakers / Lower Merion H.S. (PA)

Tyson Chandler           C          7-1       235      10/02/82      New York Knicks / Dominguez H.S. (CA)

Anthony Davis            F          6-10     220        3/11/93      N/A / Kentucky

Kevin Durant               G          6-9       230        9/29/88      Oklahoma City Thunder / University of Texas

Rudy Gay                     F          6-8       230        8/17/86      Memphis Grizzlies / University of Connecticut

Eric Gordon                 G          6-3       222      12/25/88      New Orleans Hornets / Indiana University

Blake Griffin                F          6-10     251        3/16/89      Los Angeles Clippers / University of Oklahoma

James Harden               G          6-5       220        8/26/89      Oklahoma City Thunder / Arizona State

Dwight Howard            F/C       6-11     265      12/08/85      Orlando Magic / Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy (GA)

Andre Iguodala             G/F       6-6       207       1/28/84      Philadelphia 76ers / University of Arizona

LeBron James              F          6-8       250      12/30/84      Miami Heat / St. Vincent-St. Mary H.S. (OH)

Kevin Love                  F          6-10     260        9/07/88      Minnesota Timberwolves / UCLA

Lamar Odom                F          6-10     230      11/06/79      Dallas Mavericks / University of Rhode Island

Chris Paul                    G          6-0       175        5/06/85      Los Angeles Clippers / Wake Forest University

Derrick Rose                G          6-3       190      10/04/88      Chicago Bulls / University of Memphis

Dwyane Wade              G          6-4       220        1/17/82      Miami Heat / Marquette University

Russell Westbrook        G          6-3       187      11/12/88      Oklahoma City Thunder / UCLA

Deron Williams            G          6-3       207        7/26/84      New Jersey Nets / University of Illinois

Managing Director:  Jerry Colangelo

Head Coach:  Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University

Assistant Coach:  Jim Boeheim, Syracuse University

Assistant Coach:  Mike D'Antoni

Assistant Coach:  Nate McMillan

2012 USA Basketball Men’s National Team Schedule

July 5-12                                Las Vegas Training / Exhibition - Las Vegas, Nevada

July 6-11 (12-3 p.m.)               USA Team Training                                University of Nevada-Las Vegas

July 12 (6 p.m.)                       USA vs. Dominican Republic                  Thomas & Mack Center, UNLV,

                                                Exhibition Game                                     Las Vegas, Nevada

July 13-16                              USA Training / Exhibition – Washington, D.C.

July 13-15                                USA Team Training                                Washington, D.C.

July 16 (5:30 p.m.)                  USA Women vs. Brazil Exhibition Game Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.

July 16 (8 p.m.)                       USA Men vs. Brazil Exhibition Game      Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.

July 17-19                              USA Training / Exhibition Games – Manchester, England

July 17-18                                USA Team Training                                Manchester, England

July 18 (7:30 p.m.)                  USA Women vs. Great Britain Exhibition Game           Manchester Arena, Manchester, England

July 19 (7:30 p.m.)                  USA Men vs. Great Britain Exhibition Game    Manchester Arena, Manchester, England

July 20-25                              USA Training / Exhibition Games – Barcelona, Spain

July 20-21                                USA Team Training                                Barcelona, Spain

July 22 (9:30 p.m.)                  USA vs. Argentina Exhibition Game       Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain

July 23                                     USA Team Training                                Barcelona, Spain

July 24 (9:30 p.m.)                  USA vs. Spain Exhibition Game              Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain

July 25                                     USA Team Training                                Barcelona, Spain

*All times listed are local times.​