ACC, North Carolina Well-Represented In
Team USA Player Pool For 2024 Olympics
By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
Legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski no longer leads the United States Men’s National Team, but the Atlantic Coast Conference and the state of North Carolina both remain well-represented on Team USA as preparations continue for the Summer Olympics in Paris later this year.
The 41-man player pool announced Tuesday by USA Basketball included nine former ACC players, plus former North Carolina high school stars Bam Adebayo and Stephen Curry (who starred collegiately at Davidson).
Four of the former ACC players played at Duke, two at North Carolina and one each at Florida State, Louisville and Wake Forest.
Player, College(s), Season(s) In ACC
Paolo Banchero, Duke (2021-22)
Scottie Barnes, Florida State (2020-21)
Brandon Ingram, Duke (2015-16)
Kyrie Irving, Duke (2010-11)
Cameron Johnson, Pitt (2014-17)/UNC (2017-18)
Walker Kessler, UNC (2020-21)/Auburn (2021-22)
Donovan Mitchell, Louisville (2015-17)
Chris Paul, Wake Forest (2003-05)
Jayson Tatum, Duke (2016-17)
The player pool also includes Jaylen Brown, who played at Cal in 2015-16. The Bears will join the ACC in July, along with fellow league newcomers Southern Methodist and Stanford.
In all, four of those selected for the Team USA talent pool played their high school basketball in North Carolina. That group includes former Davidson and Charlotte Christian superstar Stephen Curry, who will turn 36 years old in March but has never played in the Olympics.
Player, High School(s), College
Bam Adebayo, Pinetown Northside/High Point Christian (Kentucky/2016-17)
Stephen Curry, Charlotte Christian (Davidson/2006-09)
Brandon Ingram, Kinston High (Duke/2015-16)
Chris Paul, Clemmons West Forsyth (Wake Forest/2003-05)
The Summer Olympics in France, where the United States will be seeking its fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal in men’s basketball, will run from July 26-Aug. 11.
Krzyzewski led the Americans to Olympic gold medals in 2008, 2012 and 2016. San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich led the gold medal-winning Americans in 2020.
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who will lead Team USA in Paris, has said he hopes to have his roster set by the end of May. The NBA playoffs don’t end until June, so player health and availability can be difficult to predict.
Former Duke and NBA star Grant Hill, now USA Basketball’s executive director, joined Kerr in lobbying many top players to make themselves available for this year’s Olympics. Most elite NBA players opted out of last year’s FIBA World Cup, where the Americans failed to earn a medal.
Among the other NBA veterans who volunteered for consideration this time were Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, 39, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who hasn’t played for Team USA since 2012; Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, 35, who’s already a three-time Olympic gold medalist; and Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, 29, a Cameroon native who is eligible for Team USA for the first time, after becoming a U.S. citizen in 2022.
The Team USA player pool also includes Jarrett Allen, Desmond Bane, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Jimmy Butler, Alex Caruso, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, De’Aaron Fox, Paul George, Aaron Gordon, Tyrese Haliburton, James Harden, Josh Hart, Tyler Herro, Jrue Holiday, Chet Holmgren, Jaren Jackson Jr., Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Bobby Portis, Austin Reaves, Duncan Robinson, Derrick White and Trae Young.
