Normally at this time of year, Sean Miller would be finishing up his youth camps, going home at a reasonable hour and taking a few breaths before the July recruiting season heats up.
Instead, heβs headed to Colorado Springs to coach USA Basketballβs U19 team and wonβt be back until July 6, after the Americans compete in the U19 World Championships in Greece.
But he wasnβt about to turn the offer down.
βUSA Basketball β all coaches have a special place in their heart when you say that,β Miller said. βI had an opportunity to win a gold medal as a player in the World University Games and to me that was one of the great experience Iβve had in sports. β¦ representing your country, I donβt know if itβs something any of us can say no to.β
Besides, Miller said, the commitment is really only about three weeks, with some extra prep work already having been done before camp starts Saturday. Miller said he thinks itβs also βhealthyβ for the head coach to leave a program for a while, forcing others to get used to running things.
USA Basketball's U19 roster has already been trimmed from 24 to 21, with Michigan commit Tyus Battle, 2016 guard Malik Monk and Maryland commit Diamond Stone all having withdrawn from the original list. (A USA Basketball spokesman said injuries and family reasons were cited).
The team is expected to be trimmed down to about 15 players by Monday and will get to the final 12 sometime before leaving for Greece on June 21.
Arizona target V.J. King has committed to Louisville.
Steve Kerr may have lied about his Game 4 starting lineup, butΒ it paid off when he went with Andre Iguodala.
We have some highlights of Iggy's game here.
T.J. McConnell might have had a chance to dish to Frank Kaminsky, of all people, at a Pacers workout today.
Sporting News says Stanley Johnson would be an ideal fit for Charlotte.
OSU's GaryΒ Payton II was invitedΒ to a new high-level Nike camp.
NJIT finally has a conference home.
