Howard Thompkins Withdraws, Lavoy Allen Added To USA Men's Select Team

Colorado Springs, Colo. • August 5, 2010

• Men's Select Team - New York Roster

Temple University center Lavoy Allen (Morrisville, Pa.) was added to the USA Men’s Select Team that will train against 2010 USA Men’s World Championship Team finalists during training in New York City, USA Basketball announced today. Allen replaces forward Howard Thompkins (University of Georgia / Lithonia, Ga.), who withdrew because of a minor left foot injury.

The 2010 USA Basketball Select squad  that will participate in the USA World Championship Team training camp in New York is:  Allen; JaJuan Johnson (Purdue University / Indianapolis, Ind.); Jon Leuer (University of Wisconsin / Orono, Minn.); Shelvin Mack (Butler University / Lexington, Ky.); Kyle Singler (Duke University / Medford, Ore.); Chris Singleton (Florida State University / Canton, Ga.); Nolan Smith (Duke University / Upper Marlboro, Md.); Mike Tisdale (University of Illinois / Riverton, Ill.); Kemba Walker (University of Connecticut / Bronx, N.Y.); and Chris Wright (University of Dayton / Trotwood, Ohio).

Allen and all the other Select Team members gained USA Basketball experience during the July 19-24 USA National Team training camp in Las Vegas under the direction of University of Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar and Villanova University head coach Jay Wright. Wright will also return to lead the 2010 USA Select Team in New York.

The Select Team members will gather in New York on Aug. 9, and train against the USA World Championship Team finalists on Aug. 10 (1-3 p.m. EDT at John Jay College); Aug. 11 (1-3 p.m. EDT at John Jay College); Aug. 12 (time and site TBD); and Aug. 13 (11 a.m-12:30 p.m. EDT at the New York Knicks practice facility, Tarrytown, N.Y.).

The USA World Championship finalists will reassemble in New York City to resume training for the Aug. 28-Sept. 12 FIBA World Championship for Men that is being held in Turkey, and to take part in the first-ever World Basketball Festival, a four-day celebration of the game’s performance and culture hosted by NIKE Inc. and USA Basketball in New York City. The USA World Championship Team hopefuls will begin their training Aug. 10 with a 12 -3 p.m. (EDT) practice at John Jay College. The World Championship Festival tips off Aug. 12 in Radio City Music Hall with a special showcase featuring the USA Basketball World Championship team finalists and moves uptown to Harlem’s legendary Rucker Park basketball courts on Aug. 13 and 14.

The Festival concludes Sunday, Aug. 15, when the USA squad takes on France at Madison Square Garden, 1 p.m. (EDT), in the first game of an exhibition doubleheader. China will meet Puerto Rico at 3:30 p.m. (EDT) in the second contest. Tickets for the exhibition doubleheader, which start at $15, are available on the Web via www.Ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com, by phone at 1-800-4-NBA-TIX, and at the box office at Madison Square Garden.

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. For more information about USA Basketball, visit www.usabasketball.com.