Summer of Gold

By Brittany McCall
July 4, 2008 � Washington, D.C.

After the third session of trials, the 17 athletes invited to compete for a spot on the USA Basketball U18 National Team gathered in the nation�s capitol Wednesday night for a history lesson. Only this time, it was a different kind of summer school. There were no textbooks to be found and the only teacher was the story of those who came before.

Joined by their coaching staff, including USA and Davidson College head coach Bob McKillop, the 17 U.S. hopefuls watched the first showing of ESPN�s four-episode series, �Road to Redemption,� highlighting the 2008 USA Men�s Senior National Team�s quest for gold. The USA Senior Men head to China in late July on the heels of two bronze medals; the first came during the 2004 Athens Olympiad where Argentina bested the U.S., 89-81 in the seminfinal match and the second at the 2006 World Championship in Saitama, Japan, where the red, white and blue was forced to settle for bronze after falling to Greece in the semifinals, 101-95.

Interspersed with laughter and even moments of silence, the hopefuls for the latest U18 USA squad watched attentively as they learned the lessons that only experience can teach.

On the opening day of trials, USA Basketball Men�s Collegiate Committee chairman and Syracuse University head coach Jim Boeheim reminded the group of youthful prospects that three members of this year�s USA Senior National Team began their USA Basketball playing careers as members of the U18 National Team. The year was 2002 when three young faces belonging to Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Deron Williams, joined nine other 18-and-unders in Isle de Margarita, Venezuela, to compete for gold. Although they did not claim their prize, they did capture a 4-1 record and returned to the U.S. with a bronze medal. Despite what happened in the past, the 2008 squad hopes to re-write their own prologue to this year�s story.

After listening to Anthony, Bosh, Williams and other �08 U.S. team members share their experiences of playing for their country, the 14-member finalists were notified of their selection. The next morning at practice, the team would embark on the road to gold. If there is one thing the athletes took away from the first of the ESPN series, it is that success is mined in the ores of experience, determination and strife; three qualities the USA U18 National Team will need as they go mining for gold this summer in Argentina.

In their first session of training camp on Thursday morning, USA U18 assistant coach John Thompson III of Georgetown University continually emphasized sharp, crisp passing. Pointing to his chest, he instructed his players, �hit your teammate in the USA,� in case they forgot who, and more importantly what they were playing for.

Without fail, these young men, who came to trials as individuals, will undoubtedly leave for Argentina as a team that understands what they represent; after all, it is so much more than their school, their state or even themselves. A new crop of USA athletes have been born, and what better time than in the summer of gold.

Dominic Cheek (St. Anthony High School / Jersey City, N.J.)
On Tuesday night you watched ESPN�s �Road to Redemption� and the story of the USA Men�s Senior National Team. What about that episode stuck with you the most? What is one message you will take away from that experience as you head to Argentina?
I took a lot away with me after watching the show. It�s a great opportunity to be a part of USA Basketball because there are only a select few of us from around the country who are chosen to play for the USA team. The Senior Team seemed like they were very proud to be selected to represent their country, competing against other teams from all over the world as they try to win a gold medal. I never would have thought that I would have the opportunity to play for the USA team. To see athletes like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant excited to represent their country, it motivates me to do it too. It�s a great honor and I�m very lucky to be here; I plan to take full advantage of it.

Given the USA�s Olympic history in Athens in 2004, and their loss at the World Championship in 2006, what would a gold medal mean to the Men�s Senior National Team and to this country in 2008?
We have to win a gold medal at this year�s Olympics to put our country back on the map, because we didn�t do as well as we would have liked in the last two major world competitions. We have to come out and represent our country and play for what is written on our chest. I think we have a good group this year that will get the job done and win.

Ryan Kelly (Ravenscroft High School / Raleigh, N.C.)
On Tuesday night you watched ESPN�s �Road to Redemption� and the story of the USA Men�s Senior National Team. What about that episode stuck with you the most? What is one message you will take away from that experience as you head to Argentina?
I think the most important thing was the selflessness of the Senior Team. All of these guys are superstars. They all score and have the talent to do what they want on the court, but they know that�s not going to win games at the international level. They may not always be able to utilize the best parts of their game, but they know the goal is doing whatever it takes to make the team better.

Describe what it means to represent your country, playing with USA Basketball. Did watching that episode enhance your sense of honor?
It definitely did. After watching the soldiers who came in to speak to the team and shared with them their experience of serving our country, it really put everything in perspective. It�s an amazing honor just to be invited to come to trials. It has been an incredible experience to work and be surrounded by such great players.

In 2002, the USA Men�s U18 National Team featured three players who are now on the 2008 Men�s Senior National Team. How does the potential of that implication make you feel? Is that a position you hope to fill one day with your teammates?
It would be an amazing feeling to play for the U.S. at the Olympics. To me, there is no higher level. Obviously, to get to the NBA is a great accomplishment, but nothing compares to representing your country. I would love to one day be in that position and I am going to work hard to get there.

In your own words, describe the ideal Olympic team.
The ideal Olympic team is a team with a goal to win for their country, not for themselves, and they do it as a complete team, not as individuals. Together they have to share the mindset of winning for their country, winning the right way, and doing their best to represent their country as one team.

Mason Plumlee (Christ High School / Arden, N.C.)
On Tuesday night you watched ESPN�s �Road to Redemption� and the story of the USA Men�s Senior National Team. What about that episode stuck with you the most? What is one message you will take away from that experience as you head to Argentina?
It was really motivational to watch the big names, like Kobe (Bryant) and LeBron (James), talk about the sacrifices they made in their individual games and hear how they gave up their whole summer for three years to play for the U.S. Olympic Team. They have all made huge sacrifices to be where they are today and even coach (Mike) Krzyzewski has made huge sacrifices too. It�s really impressive to see what everyone has given up for one goal.

Describe what it means to represent your country, playing with USA Basketball. Did watching that episode enhance your sense of honor?
It was a huge honor to begin with, but after watching the series, I couldn�t be more proud. There is nothing better than playing for your country.

You have made a verbal commitment to attend Duke University in 2009-10. How does it feel to know that your future coach is heading the 2008 Men�s Senior National Team in Beijing? Why do you think he is the right man for the role?
It�s a wonderful feeling to know that you will be learning from one of the very best. He told me, coaching for the Olympic team is one of the biggest honors he has ever received. A lot of people told him it would wear him down to go straight from the season right into the Olympics, but he said it has only made him a better coach. He said he�s still learning from his assistants and his players. He gets more excited when talking about the Olympic team than anything else I talk with him about.

Kemba Walker (Rice High School / New York, N.Y.)
On Tuesday night you watched ESPN�s �Road to Redemption� and the story of the USA Men�s Senior Ntional Team. What about that episode stuck with you the most? What is one message you will take away from that experience as you head to Argentina?
The part that stuck with me the most was when the injured soldiers returned from Iraq and in spite of everything, they never quit on their team. The one thing message I will take with me is that, we are not only here for basketball; it�s the people and the country that we are representing that are most important.

Describe what it means to represent your country, playing with USA Basketball. Did watching that episode enhance your sense of honor?
Yes, it�s so much more than I ever expected. At first, USA Basketball was just a team that guys like Carmelo (Anthony) and LeBron (James) played for, so I wanted to be part of it too. But now I realize it�s so much more. It�s a huge honor.

Who do you think will emerge as leaders on the 2008 Olympic squad?
I think Jason Kidd will prove to be the greatest leader on the team. He has been there before and experience is key to leadership. As a point guard on this team, they have already designated me as the team leader, so I�m definitely going to try my best to do whatever it takes to lead my team to a gold medal.

What do you think it takes to lead a team of that caliber?
It takes a lot of hard work. Whatever I do, I need to try to make sure the team follows my example. I try to lead by example and by being vocal on and off the court.