A list of invitees to the Under 19 United State National team were released today, but if you noticed, we didn’t post it on Nation of Blue.
The main reason we didn’t was because it was without any incoming UK freshman on the list.
Well, come to find out, they wanted to get to Lexington to start getting ready for the upcoming season.
John Calipari spoke with Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News and said it wasn’t his idea and the players turned down the invitation on their own.
According to UK coach John Calipari, that is not by his design.
“Most of it is, they didn’t want to play. I’m not forcing kids to do anything,” Calipari told Sporting News. “I think the reason they all turned it down is, they want to get started.”
Willie Cauley-Stein could also have went, but is ready to get back to Lexington.
“Willie said, ‘This is not the summer for me to do this stuff. I just can’t wait to get back. I want to get prepared,’ ” Calipari said. “I’m happy they’re thinking in those terms. They know the spotlight’s on them.”
Cal did go on to say that Kyle Wiltjer will probably tryout for the Canadian squad.
Calipari said junior forward Kyle Wiltjer plans to try out this summer for the Canadian national team and he fully supports it.
“I encouraged it: This is your stuff, and if you want to play, I’ll support it,” Calipari said. “It’s not like I’m going to say, ‘You can try out for any other national team, you just can’t try out for the U.S.’ ”
Sounds like a special squad will be back in Lexington ready to make their run for #9.
