Rodney Hood(Duke) Unable To Continue Training Camp With 2013 USA Basketball

Rodney Hood Unable To Continue Training Camp With 2013 USA Basketball Men’s World University Games Team Finalists

Rodney Hood earned his finalist spot on June 26, after beginning training camp as one of 26 players on June 24 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.– One of 16 finalists for the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s World University Games Team, Rodney Hood (Duke/Meridian, Miss.) ended his participation in the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s World University Games Team training camp on Friday due to an injury to his right Achilles tendon.

Hood earned his finalist spot on June 26, after beginning training camp as one of 26 players on June 24 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“I feel so sorry for Rodney,” said USA head coach Bob McKillop (Davidson College). “He committed himself fully to be a part of this team, and we will miss him. He would have been a valuable team member for USA Basketball.”

The USA’s camp will continue through June 30, and the 12-member roster will be announced prior to the team’s departure for Russia on July 1. The 2013 World University Games (WUGs) men’s basketball competition will be played July 7-16 in Kazan, Russia.

Contending for one of 12-roster spots are: Spencer Dinwiddie (Colorado/Woodland Hills, Calif.); Yogi Ferrell (Indiana/Indianapolis, Ind.); Davante Gardner (Marquette/Suffolk, Va.); Treveon Graham (Virginia Commonwealth/Temple Hills, Md.); Jerian Grant (Notre Dame/Bowie, Md.); Luke Hancock (Louisville/ Roanoke, Va.); Tyler Haws (BYU/Alpine, Utah); Cory Jefferson (Baylor/ Killeen, Texas); Sean Kilpatrick (Cincinnati/Yonkers, N.Y.); Alex Kirk (New Mexico/Los Alamos, N.M.); Doug McDermott (Creighton/Ames, Iowa); Adreian Payne (Michigan State/Dayton, Ohio); Chasson Randle (Stanford/Rock Island, Ill.); Will Sheehey (Indiana/Stuart, Fla.); and Aaron White (Iowa/Strongsville, Ohio).

McKillop is assisted on the USA sideline by John Beilein of the University of Michigan and Frank Martin of the University of South Carolina.

After departing for Russia on July 1, the USA will practice on July 3-6 in Kazan, Russia, including scrimmages on July 4 against Russian basketball club UNICS and on July 5 against the Russia World University Games Team before beginning World University Games play on July 7.

The USA has drawn preliminary round Group C for the 2013 World University Games men’s basketball competition, along with Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Sweden and United Arab Emirates. Playing in Group A are Estonia, Germany, Oman, Russia, Ukraine and South Korea. Playing in Group B are Japan, Mexico, Mongolia, Philippines, Romania and Serbia. Group D includes Brazil, Chile, China, Finland, Lithuania and Norway.

The USA will take on UAE at 6:30 p.m. (all times listed are local; Kazan, Russia, is +8 hours from EDT) on July 7; followed by Czech Republic at 1 p.m. on July 8; and Sweden at 9 p.m. on July 10; Australia at 6:30 p.m. on July 11; and Canada at 1 p.m. on July 12.

Following the preliminary round, the first- and second-placed teams in each of the four pools advance to the medal quarterfinals on July 14 to compete for first through eighth places; while the remaining teams will play out for ninth to 24th places. The semifinals will be played on July 15, and the finals will be contested on July 16.