USA/DOM - Ariza to attend USA Basketball mini-camp in Vegas

COLORADO SPRINGS (2010 FIBA World Championship) - The Dominican Republic have been trumpeting Trevor Ariza as an NBA player who could represent them at the FIBA Americas Championship this summer in Puerto Rico.

But Ariza, the newly-crowned champion of the Los Angeles Lakers, appears to have thrown in his lot with the United States after accepting an invitation to take part in the USA Basketball National Team Mini-Camp next month in Las Vegas.

Ariza is among 25 players to have accepted invitations to take part in a July 22-25 mini-camp.

Some could even make America’s team for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Other than Blake Griffin, the number one pick overall in Thursday's draft by the Los Angeles Clippers out of Oklahoma, the invitees are NBA players.

"While we look to continue to build continuity within the USA national team program and continue to improve, in 2009 we will get a look at some of the top young NBA players who haven't been involved in USA Basketball at the top national program level previously," said USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo.

"Although some of these players have represented USA Basketball in the past, this is their opportunity to be considered for the next generation of players who will help make up the USA Basketball National program.

"As was the case in 2005-08, the roster for the national team program will be fluid in 2010-2012 and we will make adjustments to the roster each year to help ensure we have the strongest program and the strongest teams possible."

Former Canada national team boss Jay Triano, a Canadian who was recently made full-time coach of the Toronto Raptors, is on the mini-camp coaching staff along Dave Cowens, Kenny Gattison and Jerry Sichting.

Triano had already served as an advisor for Team USA.

Because the United States won the Olympic gold medal last year in China, they automatically qualified for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

They will therefore not send a team to the FIBA Americas Championship in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a qualifying event for next year's big event in Turkey.

Many of the players involved with Team USA the past three years have said they want to continue to represent the country next year and at the London Olympics in 2012.

FIBA