SALT LAKE CITY — Gordon Hayward will get another chance to impress the people who put together the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team.
Hayward is among 34 players who will participate in a USA Basketball minicamp from Aug. 11-13 in Las Vegas, the organization announced Thursday.
The U.S. doesn't have an international competition this year, but the 2016 Olympic team for the Rio Games will be comprised of players from this minicamp.
The sixth-year Jazz small forward has a long history with USAB, dating back to helping the country's U19 squad win the World Championship gold medal in 2009. Last year, Hayward was a finalist for the USA Men's World Cup team, and he trained with USA Basketball in 2012 and ’13.
“It’s a great experience,” Hayward told the Deseret News while participating in a U.S. minicamp in 2013. “Any time you come here and you get to put 'USA' on your chest and compete against the best, play under the best coaches, you’ve got to soak it all up."
Jazz power forward Derrick Favors was one of the most notable omissions from the 34-player group. He tweaked his back at the 2013 U.S. minicamp.
Former Weber State star Damian Lillard is another American standout who won't participate.
Utah was seemingly going to have another participant in next week's mini-camp in point guard Trey Burke, but USA Basketball changed its mind and instead invited Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams, according to a source.
ESPN writer Marc Stein described USAB's decision as an "audible." Burke's camp told the Deseret News that the third-year point guard was never formally invited.
The U.S. national team will practice next Tuesday and Wednesday before wrapping up this summer's session with an exhibition game Thursday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Here is the list of NBA players who will participate in the U.S. minicamp: LaMarcus Aldridge (Spurs), Carmelo Anthony (Knicks), Bradley Beal (Wizards), DeMarcus Cousins (Kings), Stephen Curry (Warriors), Anthony Davis (Pelicans), DeMar DeRozan (Raptors), Andre Drummond (Pistons), Kevin Durant (Thunder), Kenneth Faried (Nuggets), Rudy Gay (Kings), Paul George (Pacers), Blake Griffin (Clippers), James Harden (Rockets), Gordon Hayward (Jazz), Dwight Howard (Rockets), Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers), LeBron James (Cavaliers), Kawhi Leonard (Spurs), Kevin Love (Cavaliers), Chandler Parsons (Mavericks), Chris Paul (Clippers), Mason Plumlee (Trail Blazers), Klay Thompson (Warriors), John Wall (Wizards) and Russell Westbrook (Thunder).
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