Melvin Trying out for Olympic Team...from Nigeria!

**MNCyGuy** · 06-04-2012, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonepride

That is surprising considering some of the really good kids that have come out of Canada recently. Maybe my perspective is a bit skewed from our luck in that regard.

Well that's what I figured. I know NBA-wise it's only Nash, Tristan Thompson, and Joel Anthony (and I'll bet Nash doesn't compete for the national team anymore), but I figured with the slew of quality NCAA guys they've been sending down they'd be more competitive. I'll bet a lot of those guys haven't been integrated into the national team yet. I could see them moving up the rankings in a few years.

**mred** · 06-04-2012, 02:53 PM

I'm pretty sure once you play for one country's national basketball team, you can't ever play for a different one. I could be wrong, but I think that's the case.

**theshadow** · 06-04-2012, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Janny

It all depends on the specific nation's rules. Beck Hammon, who I mentioned earlier, played for the Russian National team, and I don't believe she has any Russian heritage at all. She just wanted to play in the Olympics.

She became a naturalized citizen after playing in Russia during the winter months.

Plus, USA Basketball wouldn't give her the time of day before that. Why not play where you're wanted?

**MNCyGuy** · 06-04-2012, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by mred

I'm pretty sure once you play for one country's national basketball team, you can't ever play for a different one. I could be wrong, but I think that's the case.

That would make sense. Probably to cut down on mercenary players more than anything else. Aren't there a lot of African countries that will pay players to become citizens and play for their national teams (I remember this being a sort of big story during the last World Cup).

**Mr Janny** · 06-04-2012, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by theshadow

She became a naturalized citizen after playing in Russia during the winter months.

Plus, USA Basketball wouldn't give her the time of day before that. Why not play where you're wanted?

I totally agree. I have no problem with her decision. I believe she stated that she would have played for the USA, had they invited her to try out, but they didn't.

**HFCS** · 06-04-2012, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by Dryburn

Hope he makes it. Not sure if the team will though.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/art...nclick_check=1

From their wikipedia page.

They made the world championship field of 16 in '06, but haven't made the Olympics.

Currently ranked 21 in the world. 3rd place in Africa championships 2011.

I don't recognize any players on the '11 roster but the highest level players are a couple guys playing in Spain. Some of the leagues of guys on the '11 roster can't be any more competitive than they Big 12.

Nigeria national basketball team - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**MNCyGuy** · 06-04-2012, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by HFCS

From their wikipedia page.

They made the world championship field of 16 in '06, but haven't made the Olympics.

Currently ranked 21 in the world. 3rd place in Africa championships 2011.

I don't recognize any players on the '11 roster but the highest level players are a couple guys playing in Spain. Some of the leagues of guys on the '11 roster can't be any more competitive than they Big 12.

Nigeria national basketball team - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

How many teams qualify for the Olympic Field? 16?

**HFCS** · 06-04-2012, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by MNCyGuy

How many teams qualify for the Olympic Field? 16?

Whoa. looks pretty rough.

12 spots with 8 teams already in plus Great Britain making 9. Stinks that it's in a country that isn't a top 10 basketball team when it seems most other recent and future Olympics are (USA, Spain, Brazil, China).

Tournament for the final 3 spots July 2-8 in Venezuela.
2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If he makes the team they'll have to take out Venezuela and Lithuania to advance. I'd guess the group with Greece and Puerto Rico is toughest.

**JP4CY** · 06-04-2012, 03:46 PM

GO get it Melvin, we're rooting for you!

**Dryburn** · 06-04-2012, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by HFCS

From their wikipedia page.

They made the world championship field of 16 in '06, but haven't made the Olympics.

Currently ranked 21 in the world. 3rd place in Africa championships 2011.

I don't recognize any players on the '11 roster but the highest level players are a couple guys playing in Spain. Some of the leagues of guys on the '11 roster can't be any more competitive than they Big 12.

Nigeria national basketball team - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yeah, Angola has been the strong African team and been to the last 5 Olympics, but I think they are already out of this year.....got beat by Tunisia I think. Maybe not thugh.......these qualifying tourneys get a little confusing.

Edit: Ok, Tunisia beat Angola to qualify, but Angola will be in the same tourney as Nigeria to try and qualify as one of the last 3 teans,

Here are the Olympic qualifiers so far:
Group A Argentina, France, Tunisia, USA plus 2 more still to qualify

Group B Australia, Great Britain, Spain, Brazil, China plus 1 more still to qualify

**Rabbuk** · 06-04-2012, 04:25 PM

No disrespect but I don't see him ever making the Canadian team or the United States team, so I don't think theres a huge issue.

**MNCyGuy** · 06-04-2012, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by Rabbuk

No disrespect but I don't see him ever making the Canadian team or the United States team, so I don't think theres a huge issue.

Well, he's not a US Citizen, so that obviously wasn't going to happen. Look up the list of current Canadian NBA and NCAA players. Once you get past Steve Nash, there's not a lot there. I suppose there are probably some decent guys playing in Euro leagues, but when your countries shining stars are the likes of Joel Anthony, Myck Kabongo, and Tristan Thompson, I don't think it's impossible he'd ever make that team.

**Tri4Cy** · 06-04-2012, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by alarson

I assume he mustve received an email from one of the princes of nigeria offering him an urgent opportunity. All he had to do was email back his information including bank account number and he could play for nigeria in the olympics.

FTW

**BallSoHard4Cy** · 06-04-2012, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonepride

That is surprising considering some of the really good kids that have come out of Canada recently. Maybe my perspective is a bit skewed from our luck in that regard.

I think it's funny that in the 2009-2014 recruiting years, we've had some affiliation with the number 1 guy.

2009 - Harrison Barnes (Actually Recruited)
2012 - Nerlens Noel (Recruited Georges Niang)
2014 - That One Guy From Canada, Bennett or Wiggins? (Recruited Naz Long)

**mred** · 06-04-2012, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by mred

I'm pretty sure once you play for one country's national basketball team, you can't ever play for a different one. I could be wrong, but I think that's the case.

Here's a specific citation of this rule:

ESPN.com: OLY - The one team Duncan doesn't want to play

[Tim] Duncan was 18 in 1994 when he played for the United States at the Goodwill Games. He was ineligible to play for any other country by 1996, when he helped the Americans win a qualifying tournament for the 22-and-under World Championships. That was Duncan's first FIBA-sanctioned competition, and the rules of basketball's international governing body state that a player can't represent more than one nation once he plays at a senior level.

Hakeem Olajuwon was able to play as a Yank in the 1996 Olympics, after gaining U.S. citizenship, because he never played for Nigeria above junior level. Duncan couldn't switch jerseys now if he wanted to. And part of him does, now that the Virgin Islands does have a men's team.

"That'd be a great honor," Duncan said, "to get a Virgin Islands team into the Olympics."