COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Former Auburn men’s basketball All-American and No. 3 overall NBA Draft pick Jabari Smith is one of 15 athletes to be named to the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s Select Team that will train with the USA Basketball Men’s National Team as it prepares for the Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France.
Smith is one of 11 former Auburn players to play for Team USA next to Charles Barkley, Frank Ford, Adam Harrington, Walker Kessler, John Mengelt, Chris Morris, Isaac Okoro, Chuck Person and Wesley Person.
Prior to his time on The Plains, the 2022 USBWA Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Year and Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year helped lead the U.S. to a Gold medal at the 2019 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Belem, Brazil.
Joining Smith on the select team is Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons), Cooper Flagg (Duke), Langston Galloway (free agent), Nigel Hayes-Davis (Fenerbahçe, Turkey), Trayce Jackson-Davis (Golden State Warriors), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami Heat), Brandon Miller (Charlotte Hornets), Trey Murphy (New Orleans Pelicans), Keegan Murray (Sacramento Kings), Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors), Micah Potter (Utah Jazz/Salt Lake City Stars), Payton Pritchard (Boston Celtics), Jalen Suggs (Orlando Magic) and Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets).
“As a former member of the USA Select Team, I know how important and fun this opportunity is for each of these players,” said Grant Hill, USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director. “There is a tremendous amount of talent on this Select squad with the significant job of helping the 2024 USA Men’s National Team as they begin their journey to the Olympics. Each of these athletes will play a role in our preparation as we also develop the national team pipeline for the future.” For the second consecutive year, Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley will serve as head coach of the USA Select Team and will be joined by assistants Jim Boylen (Indiana Pacers) and Matt Painter (Purdue University).
Since the development of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team program in 2006, USA Basketball has picked and utilized eight (2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023) teams to help the USA National teams prepare for major international competitions.