COLORADO SPRINGS — College Player of the Year Shane Battier, NBA Rookie of the Year Mike Miller of the Orlando Magic and former University of Utah guard Andre Miller were among 12 players selected for the U.S. team for the Goodwill Games.
The team is composed of NBA players who were either drafted in 1999 or 2000 or who are 22 or younger. They were chosen by a nine-member USA Basketball committee chaired by Stu Jackson.
Battier of Duke and the Millers will be joined by nine other NBA players for the Sept. 3-9 competition in Brisbane, Australia:
Baron Davis, Charlotte; Marc Jackson, Golden State; Kenyon Martin, New Jersey; Rashard Lewis, Seattle; Mark Madsen, Lakers; Shawn Marion, Phoenix; Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana; Wally Szczerbiak, Minnesota; and Jason Terry, Atlanta.
The United States is the defending basketball champion at the Goodwill Games, having beaten Australia 93-85 in overtime in 1998.
The Americans have won medals in all four Goodwill Games with college players. They also won the gold in 1986, the silver in 1990 and the bronze in 1994.
This year's team will be coached by Flip Saunders of the Timberwolves.
"This is a great group of young and talented players," Saunders said. "This will be a challenging and truly rewarding experience for them. It will be a tremendous opportunity for each of them to showcase their talents and abilities."
"We have provided for a team with great athletic ability as well as depth and versatility at every position," Jackson said.
Battier helped Duke win the NCAA title this season, averaging 19.9 points and 7.3 rebounds a game. He and eight others on the Goodwill Games team have been members of previous U.S. teams.
Mike Miller was the only unanimous choice for the NBA All-Rookie team this season. He was joined on the first team by Martin and Jackson.
Szczerbiak and Andre Miller were members of last year's NBA All-Rookie team.