Team USA sets roster for August World Cup qualifiers

Team USA will play a pair of qualifying games for the 2023 World Cup this month, squaring off against Uruguay on Aug. 25 in Las Vegas and then facing Colombia on Aug. 29 in Barranquilla, Colombia.

USA Basketball issued a press release Thursday announcing its 12-man roster for those qualifying games. The following players will be representing the U.S. on a club led by head coach Jim Boylen:

• Malik Ellison, G
• Michael Frazier, G
• Langston Galloway, G
• John Jenkins, G
• Mac McClung, G
• David Stockton, G
• McKinley Wright IV, G
• Tyler Cavanaugh, F
• DaQuan Jeffries, F
• Robert Woodard, F
• Eric Mika, F/C
• Dewan Hernandez, C

McClung is the only member of the 12-man group who is currently under contract with an NBA team, having signed a training camp contract with the Warriors last month. However, everyone on the roster except for Ellison has appeared in at least one NBA regular-season game.

Galloway and Jenkins are the most experienced NBA veterans on the roster. Galloway has 452 regular-season games for seven teams under his belt, while Jenkins has made 171 appearances for five clubs.

Team USA has a 5-1 record through the first three qualifying windows, putting the squad in a tie for first place with Brazil atop Group F. After this month’s games, the remaining two qualifying windows are scheduled for November and February — teams will end up playing a total of 12 qualifying contests apiece.

The 2023 World Cup will take place in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 next year. Assuming its team qualifies – which looks like a pretty safe bet – USA Basketball is expected to send a roster of more accomplished NBA veterans to the event.