Damion Lee Added to USA Men's World Cup Qualifying Team Roster
USA Basketball today announced that G League Santa Cruz Warriors guard Damion Lee has been added to the USA team for their upcoming FIBA World Cup Qualifying games. Lee replaces Marcus Thornton(Canton Charge) who today signed a 10-day contract with the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lee, who played his senior collegiate season at Louisville and is currently playing his second season in the NBA G League, has played in 2017-18 in 32 games for Santa Cruz, starting 10 games, and is averaging 28.6 minutes, 14.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals a game, while shooting 43.0 percent from the field and 91.3 percent from the free throw line
The USA, currently in first place in the Americas World Cup Qualifying first-round Group C standings with a 2-0 record, will start the second window of the first round by taking on Cuba on Feb. 23 at 11 p.m. ET in a game televised on ESPNU. On Feb. 26, the USA hosts Puerto Rico at 11 p.m. in a game to be broadcast on ESPN2.
Both games will be played on the Santa Cruz Warriors home court - Kaiser Permanente Arena. Tickets for both USA Basketball games in Santa Cruz are on sale and available by calling (831) 713-4400 or online at bit.ly/USABsantacruz.
The February 2018 USA World Cup Qualifying Team is comprised of 12 players from the NBA G League. Representing the USA are: Taylor Braun (Salt Lake City Stars); Larry Drew II (Sioux Falls Skyforce); Alonzo Gee (Sioux Falls Skyforce); Aaron Harrison (Reno Bighorns); Lee; Rodney Purvis (Lakeland Magic); Xavier Silas (Northern Arizona Suns); David Stockton (Reno Bighorns); Rashawn Thomas (Oklahoma City Blue); Travis Wear (South Bay Lakers); Devin Williams (Maine Red Claws); and Derek Willis (Grand Rapids Drive).
Former NBA head coach Jeff Van Gundy, who led the USA to a 5-0 record and the gold medal at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup and to a pair of wins in the FIBA World Cup Qualifying November window, returns as head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s World Cup Qualifying Team. Veteran international coach Mo McHone and former Georgetown University coach John Thompson III will again serve as USA assistant coaches.
