Drew nets Heat contract after AmeriCup triumph with USA

MIAMI (FIBA AmeriCup 2017) - Larry Drew II had one of the thrills of his life when he celebrated a FIBA AmeriCup title triumph with the United States following a come-from-behind victory over hosts Argentina at the weekend.

His performances at the event caught the eye of the NBA's Miami Heat, who have signed the 6ft 2in (1.88m) guard to their training camp roster.

Drew averaged 4.6 points, 5.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 19.4 minutes for the USA and shot 52.9 percent from the floor.

Drew, who had a spell in the Basketball Champions League last season with Neptunas Klaipeda and averaged 9.2 points and 5.3 assists, will be hoping to earn a spot on a Heat roster that has FIBA EuroBasket 2017 MVP candidate Goran Dragic, the Slovenia national team point guard.

It's the not the first time that Drew, a former American college basketball player at North Carolina and then UCLA, has had a chance with the Heat. He was at their training camp in 2013 and 2014.

Drew does have NBA regular season experience, having made 12 appearances with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014-15 and averaged 3.8 points, 3.7 assists, 1.2 rebounds in 18.3 minutes.

The next time the United States will be in action, meanwhile, will be in Puerto Rico on November 23 and at home to Mexico three days later when they play in the opening window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers.

A lot of players will be putting their hands up to wear the USA shirt for the games and for those that take part? The experience could, as it has with Drew, serve as a career boost.

FIBA