Utah Jazz swingman Gordon Hayward and Creighton senior forward Doug McDermott are impressing the coaching staff at USA Basketball minicamp in Las Vegas.
Gordon Hayward, Creighton’s Doug McDermott among standouts at Team USA minicamp
Two small-school products are already making a large impact at Team USA minicamp in Las Vegas.
USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Marc Stein reported that both players’ names keep coming up across multiple sources, despite the fact that neither was expected to be a difference-maker. Jeff Goodman, also of ESPN, echoed that sentiment and pointed out that one source said McDermott is displaying an expert shooting touch.
Both players are suited for the international game that places a premium on outside shooting and has much more restrictive post play. Hayward is a player with guard-like skills in a big frame who can create off the dribble and has nice touch from the perimeter.
Similarly, McDermott is a pure shooter who is turning heads with his ability to score against athletes who play at the game’s highest level. As a junior at Creighton in 2012-13, he posted averages of 23.2 points and 7.7 rebounds as an AP first-team All-American.
In 72 games with the Jazz, Hayward averaged a career-high 14.1 points to go along with 3.0 assists and 3.1 rebounds per contest. As he continues to develop, he could be an ideal fit for the senior team with his diverse skill set.
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