UM-BB's Jon Horford (And Josh Asselin) to play in Olympics for Dominican Republic (should they qualify)

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June 12th, 2012 at 1:59 PM
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Genzilla
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Joined: 01/26/2009
MGoPoints: 601
UM-BB's Jon Horford (And Josh Asselin) to play in Olympics for Dominican Republic (should they qualify)

http://www.allkyhoops.com/2012/06/dominican-republic-nt-begins-quest-for...

The full DR roster includes:

- Al Horford 
- Jack Michael Martínez 
- Francisco García 
- Edgar Sosa 
- Eulis Báez 
- Ronald Ramón 
- Juan Coronado 
- Manuel Fortuna 
- Manuel Guzmán 
- Eloy Vargas 
- Karl Towns Jr 
- James Feldeine 
- Josh Asselin 
- Gerardo Suero 
- Jon Horford

The article says that Callipari is coaching the team, which is interesting.

While not likely to challenge the likes of the US, Spain, and Argentina, with Al Horford, Francisco Garcia, and Edgar Sosa they seem to at least have some talented guys on the roster.  Hopefully Jon gains some valuable experience this summer.

EDIT: Josh Asselin was BMT (I'm only 20), but as others point out below, he makes two Wolverines on this DR roster.

EDIT 2: The team is going through Olympic Qualifying right now, a 12 team tournament where the top 3 finishers fo to the Olympics.

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June 12th, 2012 at 2:03 PM | Wow, that's awesome for him. (Score:1)
robbyt003
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Joined: 10/25/2010
MGoPoints: 2625

Wow, that's awesome for him.  I'm just very surprised he made the team, unless his brother had something to do with it.  

“When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing” - Bo Schembechler

June 12th, 2012 at 4:17 PM | DR isn't a basketball hotbed (Score:2 Normal)
gte896u
Joined: 11/06/2008
MGoPoints: 254

someone good enough to contribute to a top ~15-20 team in D1 is good enough to have around

June 12th, 2012 at 2:07 PM | Heard it on the radio (Score:5 Normal)
M-Wolverine
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Joined: 10/04/2009
MGoPoints: 39217

I assume that Josh Asselin is this one-

So that would make two...

"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk

June 12th, 2012 at 2:16 PM | It looks like no one likes (Score:4 Normal)
denardogasm
Joined: 09/11/2011
MGoPoints: 1945

It looks like no one likes him in this picture. The people in the stands are not very enthused, one guy on the other team is not looking while the other one looks surprised about the whole situation, and the other Michigan player is like "oh jeez not again."

/whiteguyproblems

"Michigan Defense" is dominating everything, in every aspect of life. That's a rough definition.

-Craig Roh 10/29/2011

June 12th, 2012 at 2:34 PM | Josh Asselin?!   Didn' he (Score:4 Normal)
Naked Bootlegger
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Joined: 01/28/2011
MGoPoints: 1222

Josh Asselin?!   Didn' he hail from Caro, Dominican Rebublic?!

I would take a handful of players like Josh on our roster any day.   He had some athleticism and developed steadily every year, averaging 10 ppg, 6 reb, 56% FG, 80+% FT by his senior year.   And the Robbie Reid to Josh Asselin connection was pure gold in the '98-'99 season.

June 12th, 2012 at 2:09 PM | I have no doubt that will be (Score:2)
Professor Greenberg
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 405

I have no doubt that will be a fantastic learning experience for him.

June 12th, 2012 at 2:11 PM | Good to see former Wolverine (Score:2)
Dantana
Joined: 08/24/2011
MGoPoints: 42

Good to see former Wolverine Josh Asselin on the list as well. Played against him a couple times in pickup ball....good guy.

June 12th, 2012 at 2:12 PM | Does this mean (Score:3 Normal)
Daniel
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Joined: 11/26/2011
MGoPoints: 506

he'll end up playing at Kentucky, too?

Formerly 'mgoblaniel.'

June 12th, 2012 at 2:14 PM | Josh Asselin?  He has DR (Score:3 Normal)
snarling wolverine
Joined: 12/14/2011
MGoPoints: 4829

Josh Asselin?  He has DR citizenship? 

June 12th, 2012 at 2:17 PM | According to... (Score:3 Informative)
MGoShoe
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Joined: 04/23/2009
MGoPoints: 19323

...this, he does. I note he's played in Spain for 8 of his12 pro seasons.

LSA '89 - MBB Natl Champions, Big 10/Rose Bowl Champions | @MGoShoe

June 12th, 2012 at 2:24 PM | Odd. I wonder if he acquired (Score:1)
snarling wolverine
Joined: 12/14/2011
MGoPoints: 4829

Odd. I wonder if he acquired the citizenship through marriage.  

He seems to be quite the journeyman in Europe, changing teams every year.  But he's managed to stick around.

June 12th, 2012 at 2:20 PM | lol@Charlie Villanueva (Score:5 Normal)
gajensen
Joined: 02/02/2011
MGoPoints: -998647

lol@Charlie Villanueva

June 12th, 2012 at 2:58 PM | He gets cut from the DR team (Score:5 Normal)
M-Wolverine
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Joined: 10/04/2009
MGoPoints: 39217

But the Pistons won't cut him. Sigh.

"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk

June 12th, 2012 at 2:28 PM | Front line of Josh Asselin, (Score:1)
Mfan2000
Joined: 03/15/2009
MGoPoints: 7988

Front line of Josh Asselin, John Horford and Al Horford. Shock the world

June 12th, 2012 at 2:37 PM | I had no idea Horford had (Score:2)
Moleskyn
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Joined: 06/28/2010
MGoPoints: 3237

I had no idea Horford had Dominican roots. Good for him, sounds like a great opportunity for him.

June 12th, 2012 at 2:51 PM | La patriarch, Tito Horford is (Score:2 Informative)
Mfan2000
Joined: 03/15/2009
MGoPoints: 7988

La patriarch, Tito Horford is from La  Romana Dominican Republic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito_Horford

June 12th, 2012 at 2:51 PM | his dad's name is Tito (Score:4 Funny)
notetoself
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Joined: 05/14/2009
MGoPoints: 469

how could he NOT have Dominican roots?

"Real n*gg*z do real things." -Braylon Edwards

June 12th, 2012 at 2:49 PM | This may sound like qubbling, (Score:5 Normal)
Raoul
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Joined: 09/29/2009
MGoPoints: 5515

This may sound like qubbling, but the current Dominican Republic roster isn't the final one for the team, should it actually qualify for the Olympics. The team will eventually be cut to 12. So it's a bit premature to say that Jon Horford will play in the Olympics. But it's great news that he's on the current national team.

Twitter: @Raoul_000

June 12th, 2012 at 2:52 PM | Clarification (Score:5 Normal)
Alton
Joined: 07/05/2008
MGoPoints: 1007

To clarify the title of the post, the Dominican Republic has not qualified for the Olympics in basketball.  They are in a 12-team tournament that will take place in Venezuela the first week of July, and if they finish in the top 3, they will qualify for the Olympics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_FIBA_World_Olympic_Qualifying_Tournament_for_Men

 (EDIT:  Raoul points this out as well).

June 12th, 2012 at 3:45 PM | Is it bad that I don't (Score:1)
Bb011
Joined: 09/02/2010
MGoPoints: 1761

Is it bad that I barely remember Josh Asselin? Granted I was younger, but I still followed Michigan bball quite a bit and that name is barely even recognizable.

June 12th, 2012 at 4:14 PM | Not forgetable to me (Score:2)
umfanchris
Joined: 01/21/2011
MGoPoints: 18

He played in the late 90's and early 2000's, so next fall it will be 12 seasons since he has played for U of M. He wasn't ever the star of the team as he played with Robert Traylor, Maceo Baston, Louis Bullock, Lavell Blanchard, Kevin Gaines, Jamal Crawford and Bernard Robinson Jr.. However he was a Team Captain his Junior and Senior year and ended his career as 4th all time on Michigan Block shot list.

June 12th, 2012 at 3:49 PM | Does Calipari have a (Score:3 Normal)
turd ferguson
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Joined: 12/09/2009
MGoPoints: 2955

Does Calipari have a connection to the DR?

June 12th, 2012 at 4:01 PM | Yeah (Score:2 Normal)
BluCheese
Joined: 04/14/2011
MGoPoints: 416

It's called money.

"You're fat and you're mine".  Bo to Dan Dierdorf.

June 12th, 2012 at 3:59 PM | Out of all the countries in (Score:1)
ThadMattasagoblin
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Joined: 08/24/2011
MGoPoints: 2773

Out of all the countries in the world, Calipari is coaching the Dominican republic?

903 wins most in college football

June 12th, 2012 at 5:33 PM | It's his skeezy way of (Score:1)
DrewGOBLUE
DrewGOBLUE's picture
Joined: 12/03/2011
MGoPoints: 210

It's his skeezy way of recruiting Karl Towns Jr. 

If Ann Arbor is a whore, why didn't you get in?

June 12th, 2012 at 8:32 PM | He has been coaching DR for 3 years (Score:1)
Michigan4Life
Joined: 07/29/2010
MGoPoints: 5709

Prior to this year so your statement is false

June 12th, 2012 at 9:19 PM | So he is proactive??? (Score:2)
Doctor Wolverine
Joined: 08/13/2009
MGoPoints: 426

So he is proactive???

Doctor Wolverine

June 12th, 2012 at 5:25 PM | Maybe Horford can help Towns (Score:2 Normal)
joeismyname
Joined: 11/07/2011
MGoPoints: 69

Maybe Horford can help Towns keep up his interest in MIchigan and get Calipari's greasy hands off of him.

June 12th, 2012 at 6:15 PM | Obscure Seinfeld reference (Score:3 Normal)
ShruteBeetFarms
Joined: 09/25/2010
MGoPoints: 1542

How do we know the Cuban team isn't just Dominicans in Cuban jerseys?

"I'm not a vegetarian b/c I love animals. I'm a vegetarian b/c I hate plants"

June 12th, 2012 at 10:42 PM | The latest on (Score:3 Informative)
Raoul
Raoul's picture
Joined: 09/29/2009
MGoPoints: 5515

The latest on Twitter:

UM forward Jon Horford was practicing with the Dominican national team during its workouts but is not on the team, a UM official said.

Nick Baumgardner is reporting the same.

Twitter: @Raoul_000

June 13th, 2012 at 8:38 AM | Some further clarification (Score:3 Informative)
Raoul
Raoul's picture
Joined: 09/29/2009
MGoPoints: 5515

Some further clarification from Baumgardner in this article: Ex-Michigan basketball forward Josh Asselin makes Dominican Republic national team

Current Michigan forward Jon Horford was also originally listed on the 15-man roster, but will not be a member of the team as it attempts to qualify for the Olympics, according to a Michigan spokesman.

Horford practiced with the team, but the spokesman said to his knowledge, the 6-foot-10 forward will not move forward with the group.

Twitter: @Raoul_000

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