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-fo…
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.
Wow, that's awesome for him. I'm just very surprised he made the team, unless his brother had something to do with it.
I assume that Josh Asselin is this one-
So that would make two...
/whiteguyproblems
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.
I have no doubt that will be a fantastic learning experience for him.
Good to see former Wolverine Josh Asselin on the list as well. Played against him a couple times in pickup ball....good guy.
he'll end up playing at Kentucky, too?
Josh Asselin? He has DR citizenship?
...this, he does. I note he's played in Spain for 8 of his12 pro seasons.
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.
But the Pistons won't cut him. Sigh.
Front line of Josh Asselin, John Horford and Al Horford. Shock the world
I had no idea Horford had Dominican roots. Good for him, sounds like a great opportunity for him.
La patriarch, Tito Horford is from La Romana Dominican Republic
how could he NOT have Dominican roots?
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.
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).
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.
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.
It's called money.
Out of all the countries in the world, Calipari is coaching the Dominican republic?
It's his skeezy way of recruiting Karl Towns Jr.
Maybe Horford can help Towns keep up his interest in MIchigan and get Calipari's greasy hands off of him.
How do we know the Cuban team isn't just Dominicans in Cuban jerseys?
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.
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.