Rosters for the 2011 Nike Hoop Summit have been released and while The Continent is well-represented on the World Select Team, BallinEurope considers there to be at least one shocking omission.
Team World will include Davis Bertans (Latvia/Union Olimpija); Evan Fournier (France/Poitiers); Przemyslaw Karnowski (Poland/SMS PZKosz); Mateusz Ponitka (Poland/Tempcold AZS); and Dario Saric (Croatia/KK Zagreb). Other players on the club are Canadians Kyle Wiltjer and Kevin Pangos, plus Brazilians Lucas Nogueira and Raul Neto.
Anybody else identify the missing name…? That’s right: This would seem to be another slap in the face for basketball’s most famous neo-Kentucky Wildcat, Enes Kanter. Kanter had told media last week that he’d be entering the NBA Draft and that he “expect[ed] to play for the International team in the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore., on April 9, where he would face UK recruits Michael Gilchrist, Anthony Davis and Marquis Teague.”
Free Enes, indeed.
Hopefully, Kanter might yet be named to the World Select team roster as a spot or three should surely still exist. Kanter was the talk of the 2010 ‘Summit, going 13-of-21 from the floor for 34 points to go with his 13 rebounds, breaking the records for field goal attempts, field goals made, and even Dirk Nowitzki’s scoring record of 33 in the game – and all this in *just 24 minutes of court time* against Team USA.
An official press release notes that “To date, an incredible 109 former USA and World Select players have been drafted by NBA teams and, as of December 1, 2010, 58 former USA players and 17 former World team members were active in the NBA.
“The list of World alumni currently in the NBA includes Alexis Ajinca and Andrea Bargnani (Toronto Raptors); Omri Casspi (Sacramento Kings); Dan Gadzuric (New Jersey Nets); Yi Jianlian (Washington Wizards); Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks); Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs); Vladimir Radmanovic (Golden State Warriors); Luis Scola (Houston Rockets); and Darius Songaila (Philadelphia 76ers).”
The US roster for the Nike Hoop Summit may be seen here.
