USA receive another boost with exciting rising stars Bagley, Fox, Harris and White added to list of finalists

LAS VEGAS (United States) - USA Basketball might take longer than expected to name a final roster for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 as four members of the USA Select Team were announced among the 17 finalists who will fight for a ticket to China.

USA coach Gregg Popovich and his staff named the group of players after four days of training camp and a USA Blue v USA White intrasquad exhibition game in Las Vegas. And the performances by some of the young players from the Select Team opened the eyes of the USA basketball leaders. 

 "We're bringing a couple of young players from the Select Team so we're going to be patient with the rest of the squad because we have plenty of time, we have two weeks to decide who will be the final 12," said Jerry Colangelo, USA Men's National Team managing director.

The four Select Team players who still can dream of a trip to Asia are Marvin Bagley, De'Aaron Fox, Joe Harris and Derrick White. The 20-year-old Bagley and the 21-year-old Fox are Sacramento Kings teammates and make up one of the most exciting young one-two punches in the NBA. The Brooklyn Nets sharpshooter Harris for his part won the 2019 NBA Three-Point Contest winner while the San Antonio Spurs guard White is the only one of the 17 finalists who participated in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers, collecting 9.5 points, 5.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in two games. 

Derrick White playing defense during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers

Colangelo expects Popovich and his staff to take plenty of time to evaluate the finalists and determine the final 12 players who will make the trip to China.

"Forty-eight hours before Game 1 in China is when we have to submit a roster so we want to make sure everyone gets a real shot," Colangelo said. "There's some things we like about every one of the players but how do we come to 12? We don't have to make the decision now and we want to give everyone a real shot."

The 17 players include 2016 Olympic gold medalist Harrison Barnes as well as Mason Plumlee, who won the title at the 2014 World Cup in Spain. The biggest contingent comes from the Boston Celtics with four players (Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker) while the Sacramento Kings have three players (Barnes, Bagley and Fox); and the Milwaukee Bucks have two players (Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton). The list also includes reigning NBA champion Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors. And White naturally knows Popovich from playing with the Spurs.

The United States team is now taking a break before reconvening in Los Angeles to train from August 13-15 and then play an exhibition game against Spain at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on August 16.

"WE'RE BRINGING A COUPLE OF YOUNG PLAYERS FROM THE SELECT TEAM SO WE'RE GOING TO BE PATIENT WITH THE REST OF THE SQUAD BECAUSE WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME.|- Colangelo

The preparations then move to Melbourne, Australia from August 19-24 with test games against Australia on August 22 and August 24. The Americans will then head to Sydney, Australia and practice from August 25-28 and face off against Canada on August 26.

Popovich and his final team will face off against Czech Republic, Turkey and Japan in Group E and will be looking to capture a third straight World Cup crown.

FIBA