COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (January 18, 2016) – USA Basketball today announced that Utah Jazz guard/forward Gordon Hayward is among the 30 players selected as finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team. The player selections were approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors. The official 12-member 2016 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team roster will be announced later this year. Hayward was also finalist for the 2014 USA Men’s World Cup Team as well. His other USA Basketball experience also includes participating in both the 2014 and 2013 USA Basketball Men’s National team mini-camps, as well as playing for the 2012 USA Select Team that trained against the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. Hayward also helped lead Team USA to a 9-0 record and a gold medal in the 2009 U19 World Championship in New Zealand. He ranked second on that team in rebounding (5.7) and third in scoring (10.0), adding 1.8 assists, 1.1 blocks, 1.4 steals and shooting 41.4 percent (12-29) from 3-point range en route to being selected to the U19 World Championship’s “Best of the Best Team.” Hayward (6-8, 226, Butler) has appeared in 40 games (all starts) for the Jazz this season, averaging 19.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 35.2 minutes. He has scored 10-plus points in 37 games, including 20-or-more points on 19 occasions and 30-plus twice. Hayward also leads the Jazz in scoring, assists and minutes played, and ranks second in steals this season. The 25-year-old career Jazzman was originally selected by Utah in the first round (ninth overall selection) of the 2010 NBA Draft, and has appeared in 403 career games (295 starts) and owns averages of 14.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 30.2 minutes. Including Hayward, the 30 finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team are: LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio); Anthony; Harrison Barnes (Golden State); Bradley Beal (Washington); Jimmy Butler (Chicago); Mike Conley (Memphis); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento); Stephen Curry (Golden State); Anthony Davis (New Orleans); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto); Andre Drummond (Detroit); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City); Kenneth Faried (Denver); Rudy Gay (Sacramento); Paul George (Indiana); Draymond Green (Golden State); Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers); James Harden (Houston); Dwight Howard (Houston); Andre Iguodala (Golden State); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland); LeBron James (Cleveland); DeAndre Jordan (L.A. Clippers); Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio); Kevin Love (Cleveland); Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers); Klay Thompson (Golden State); John Wall (Washington); and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City). The USA National Team’s complete training schedule for 2016 will be announced at a later date. About the Utah Jazz Founded as the 18th member of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1974, and located in Salt Lake City since 1979, the Utah Jazz are committed to excellence as a team and in the community. On the court, the Jazz are the thirdwinningest team in the NBA over the last 30 years, having won eight division titles and two Western Conference championships along with 14 seasons of 50-plus wins, and are supported by one of the most passionate fan bases in all of sports. Away from the court, the Jazz are very active in the local community and have assisted a multitude of organizations and worthy causes by way of charitable donations, service and grants through Larry H. Miller Charities. The Utah Jazz also operate the Junior Jazz program, the largest and longest-running youth basketball league in the NBA, featuring more than 50,000 players and an additional 13,000 volunteers who take part annually across seven states. For more information on the Utah Jazz, visit www.utahjazz.com. About USA Basketball Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA Basketball, chaired by Colangelo, is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men’s and women’s basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored international competitions, as well as for some national competitions, and for the development of youth basketball initiatives that address player development, coach education and safety. USA Basketball men’s and women’s teams between 2012-15 compiled a spectacular 151-6 win-loss record in FIBA and FIBA Americas competitions, the World University Games and the Nike Hoop Summit, and posted a 92-15 win-loss record in official FIBA and FIBA Americas 3×3 competitions. USA teams are the current men’s and women’s champions in the Olympics; men’s FIBA World Cup and women’s FIBA World Championship; men’s and women’s FIBA U19 and U17 World Championships; men’s and women’s FIBA Americas U18 championships; men’s FIBA Americas U16 Championship; the FIBA 3×3 Women’s World Championship; and the women’s Youth Olympic Games. USA Basketball currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA’s world-ranking categories, including combined, men’s, women’s, boys and girls. For further information about USA Basketball, go to the official website of USA Basketball at www.usab.com and connect with us on facebook.com/usabasketball, twitter.com/usabasketball, plus.google.com/+usabasketball, instagram.com/usabasketball and youtube.com/usab. –utahjazz.com–