HoopsHype.com Rumors

The selected players of the Team USA Select team are: Ryan Anderson (Orlando); DeJuan Blair (San Antonio; DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors); Derrick Favors (Utah Jazz); Paul George (Indiana); Taj Gibson (Chicago); Gordon Hayward (Utah); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland); Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio); Jeremy Lin (New York); Klay Thompson (Golden State); and John Wall (Washington). Sulia

Derrick Favors, DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, John Wall, Gordon Hayward, DeJuan Blair, DeMar DeRozan, USA Basketball, Jeremy Lin, Taj Gibson, Ryan Anderson, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard 

Featuring nine players owning USA Basketball experience, including the 2011-12 NBA Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving and the 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the Year runner-up John Wall, USA Basketball today announced 13 players for the 2012 USA Men’s Select Team that will train against the 2012 USA Basketball Men’s National Team during its July 6-12 training camp in Las Vegas, Nev. USA Basketball

John Wall, USA Basketball, Las Vegas, Team USA, Kyrie Irving 

David Locke: Huge honor for Hayward and Favors - other members include Irving, Wall, DeRozan, George, Leonard, Blair, Ryan Anderson and Taj Gibson Twitter

Derrick Favors, Paul George, John Wall, Gordon Hayward, DeJuan Blair, DeMar DeRozan, Taj Gibson, Ryan Anderson, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard 

Chris Tomasson: Jerry Colangelo said members of the Select Team that are confirmed are Kyrie Irving, John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards, DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball, Kyrie Irving 

John Wall has been invited to participate with the Team USA select team that will scrimmage with the Olympic team this summer, USA Basketball director Jerry Colangelo confirmed on Thursday. Wall has long stated that one of his goals is representing this country in international competition and being a part of the select team is an important step in being part of the U.S. men’s national team pool. A few months after the Wizards made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, Wall said he would like to like to have a chance, “hopefully soon .” He added that it was “going to take time .” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, John Wall, USA Basketball, Team USA, Olympics 

Jeff Zillgitt: WAS G John Wall expected to join SAC C DeMarcus Cousins on U.S. Select Team for pre-Olympic training, according to person w/info. Twitter

Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards, DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall, USA Basketball, Olympics 

Marc Stein: Some Team USA scuttle: Hearing Wiz lobbying hard to get John Wall added to roster, but have to believe Kyrie Irving is the guy IF a PG added Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards, John Wall, USA Basketball, Olympics, Kyrie Irving 

“I think I’m kind of the same,” Wall said recently, when asked if he got better in his second season. “A little better, but not too much.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

Many league observers believe that the environment in Washington — before the Wizards traded away the mercurial JaVale McGee and Nick Young to get veteran big man Nene, and sent home Andray Blatche — wasn’t conducive to allowing Wall to fulfill his potential. “He’s a had a tough cast down there. I don’t want to put anybody down but he’s not playing with the smartest guys in the world,” New Jersey Nets all-star guard Deron Williams said about Wall. “That’s tough, man. That’s tough. They’re not smart. I’ve been watching. JaVale McGee was on the Not So Top 10, like, 50 times this year.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

“It was tough to see some guys accept losing,” Wall said. “I never accept losing in my life. It was tough, but I just tried to get guys on the same page and show them that losing is not something you should want to have.” Washington Times

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

Asked about the addition of Nene at the trading deadline, a broad smile came over Wall’s face that he didn’t try to conceal. “He’s great. If you’re not doing something right, he’s going to let you know. He’s a great professional. He wants to win, and that’s what you need on this team.” Washington Times

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

But the standard for Wall is somewhat higher since he was expected to be a difference maker. “He is already at the point where his worthiness as the number one pick is being questioned. What kind of point guard is he going to be? How good of an NBA player is he going to be? Because he’s not in the top half of NBA point guards. In year two, he should be,” the advance scout said. “The problem is, he’s rightly or wrongly become the centerpiece of a franchise when frankly, I don’t think he was ready to be that. Him being able to live up those expectations as the first overall pick; you’re either going to meet the expectations that come with that, or you’re going to be judged severely.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

The Wizards were certainly hamstrung by the lockout, because their young roster had no summer league, a short training camp and limited practices. Conflicting agendas early on also fostered an environment of individual play that was so unproductive that the phrase “selfish play” was used after nearly every loss. “For some guys, it was contract year, wasn’t serious with the basketball as I think they should’ve been and with them being traded to veteran teams, it helped them,” John Wall said. “We didn’t have any veterans to get on them, they was the veterans. Now they are with veteran teams doing better and we’re doing better.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

Wall, the 2010 No. 1 overall pick, struggled early, finally got on track shortly before Saunders was dismissed, then put up all-star caliber numbers for nearly 20 games, and later entered a lengthy slump before finishing with an assist flurry. He had 12 assists in the season finale. “This year, really, after the trade, it felt like it was my third year,” Wall said. “It was a whole totally different team and we started playing totally different, to be honest. No disrespect to any guys we had before, but everything changed. We were more serious in the locker room, more serious on the court, unselfish play, everybody played together and just wanted to win.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

When the losing really got bad for John Wall, he turned to another guy who once knew plenty about seeing his team's score listed on the right side. That would be Oklahoma City Thunder forward and friend Kevin Durant, who won only 22 of his first 100 games in the NBA. That's even worse than Wall, who won 26 of his first 100 games as the Washington Wizards' point guard. "I asked Kevin how he went through the tough times of losing to where he is now," Wall said in an interview with FOX Sports Florida. "And he just says that you got to be the first in the gym and the last to leave, and just keep working." FOXSports Florida

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

Wall is 3 of 42 from beyond the arc this season for a microscopic percentage of 7.1. He vows this summer when he trains in Los Angeles to improve his 3-pointer and his outside shooting in general. "I just know this summer I need to work on my 3-point spot-ups because that's a lot of shots I get," Wall said. "I just got to be able to knock them down. . . . Any point guard is going to want to make them pay (when defenses play off a mediocre outside shooter). But you got to keep making them (to keep defenses honest). It's something I got to work on to get better in this league." FOXSports Florida

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

In the meantime, Wall is determined to work hard this summer and come back next season "an even better player." After all, he has lofty goals. One is to eventually play with Team USA in future World Championships and Olympics. "That's one of my goals, and, hopefully, I can reach that one day," said Wall, who said he could have interest in being one of the young players USA Basketball might select to work out this summer against the Olympic team. FOXSports Florida

Washington Wizards, John Wall, USA Basketball 

Wall is 3 of 42 from beyond the arc this season for a microscopic percentage of 7.1. He vows this summer when he trains in Los Angeles to improve his 3-pointer and his outside shooting in general. "I just know this summer I need to work on my 3-point spot-ups because that's a lot of shots I get," Wall said. "I just got to be able to knock them down. . . . Any point guard is going to want to make them pay (when defenses play off a mediocre outside shooter). But you got to keep making them (to keep defenses honest). It's something I got to work on to get better in this league." FOXSports Florida

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

"He can definitely be one of the better players in the league, especially if he gets that shot down," said Washington forward Trevor Booker. "He's so fast and quick right now, he gets his buckets just exploding to the hole even though people still play off him. When he gets that midrange down, I think he'll be unstoppable. . . . He can be at the top definitely (of all NBA point guards). If he keeps working hard, I think he'll be No. 1.'' FOXSports Florida

Washington Wizards, John Wall 

In the meantime, Wall is determined to work hard this summer and come back next season "an even better player." After all, he has lofty goals. One is to eventually play with Team USA in future World Championships and Olympics. "That's one of my goals, and, hopefully, I can reach that one day," said Wall, who said he could have interest in being one of the young players USA Basketball might select to work out this summer against the Olympic team. FOXSports Florida

Washington Wizards, John Wall, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball