Brewer to USA hoops mini-camp

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -Twenty-five top rising NBA players have accepted invitations from USA Basketball to participate in the 2009 USA Basketball Men’s National Team mini-camp, including former Arkansas Razorback Ronnie Brewer, who is a current member of the Utah Jazz.

The camp will be conducted July 22-25 in Las Vegas, Nev.The selections were announced by USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo.

The JulyUSA Basketball Men’s National Team mini-camp will feature practice sessions on July 23 and July 24 at Valley High School, and the mini-camp will be capped by the USA Basketball Showcase, a Blue-White intra-squad game, on Saturday, July 25, 8 p.m. (PDT) at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2009 USA Basketball Showcase, with seats priced at $10 to $75.Tickets can be purchased through www.UNLVtickets.comor 702-739-FANS.

Accepting an invitation to attend the July 22-25 mini- camp were: LaMarcus Aldridge(Portland Trail Blazers / Texas); Trevor Ariza (Los Angeles Lakers / UCLA); D.J. Augustin (Charlotte Bobcats / Texas); Jerryd Bayless (Portland Trail Blazers / Arizona); Ronnie Brewer (Utah Jazz / Arkansas); Glen Davis (Boston Celtics / LSU); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma CityThunder / Texas); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies / Connecticut); Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers / New Mexico); Jeff Green (Oklahoma CityThunder / Georgetown); Blake Griffin (University of Oklahoma); Devin Harris (New Jersey Nets / Wisconsin); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers / Arizona); Kyle Korver (Utah Jazz / Creighton); David Lee (New York Knicks / Florida); Brook Lopez (New Jersey Nets / Stanford); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves / UCLA); O.J. Mayo (Memphis Grizzlies / USC); Paul Millsap (Utah Jazz / Louisiana Tech); Greg Oden (Portland Trail Blazers / Ohio State); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls / Memphis); Brandon Roy (Portland Trail Blazers / Washington); Josh Smith (Atlanta Hawks / Oak Hill Academy, Va.); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder / UCLA); and Thaddeus Young (Philadelphia 76ers / Georgia Tech).

Brewer played for the Razorbacks from 2004-06 and ended his career as Arkansas’ 16th all-time leading scorer with 1,416 points. He averaged 15.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.4 steals for his career. He earned first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors in 2005 and in 2006. As a junior in ’06, he averaged 18.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and an SEC-leading 2.6 steals as the Hogs finished 22-10 and earned Arkansas’ first NCAA Tournament bid since 2001.

He started 80 of 81 games for the Jazz in 2009, and was fourth on the team in scoring with 13.7 points per game. He also averaged 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and a team-high 1.7 steals.

USA Basketball announced on May 21 that Toronto Raptors head coach Jay Triano, Utah Jazz assistant coach Tyrone Corbin, Detroit Pistons assistant Dave Cowens, former New Orleans Hornets assistant Kenny Gattison, and innesota Timberwolves assistant Jerry Sichting, would serve as the staff for the 2009 USA Basketball Men’s National Team mini-camp.

"While we look to continue to build continuity within the USA national team program and continue to improve, in 2009 we will get a look at some of the top young NBA players who haven’t been involved in USA Basketball at the top national program level previously. Although some of these players have represented USA Basketball in the past, this is their opportunity to be considered for the next generation of players who will help make up the USA Basketball National program. As was the case in 2005-08, the roster for the national team program will be fluid in 2010-2012 and we will make adjustments to the roster each year to help insure we have the strongest program and the strongest teams possible," said Colangelo.

Twenty-one of the expected 25 mini-camp participants have prior USA Basketball team experience.