Kentucky coach
John Calipari will officially coach the Dominican Republic in this summer’s FIBA Tournament of the Americas.
The event serves as a qualifier for the 2012 Olympics.
Calipari announced on his Website that Kentucky will host a mini-camp in early August “with some of the Dominican Republic’s emerging young stars, most of whom are already playing American college basketball, including our own
Eloy Vargas.”
The Dominican team could feature as many as four NBA players in
Francisco Garcia, Al Horford, Charlie Villanueva and
Trevor Ariza.
“He’d be more than welcome, you know, he’s a good coach, great coach,” Garcia said in January.
“I have already spoken with several of the Dominican players in the NBA,” Calipari said.
Calipari said Kentucky fans will get to see an exhibition at Rupp Arena between the Dominican team and “former Cats and former players.”
“The team will play another exhibition in the Dominican Republic before heading to
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil for the
Jenaro “Tuto” Marchand Continental Cup (August 24-26),” Calipari wrote on his site
. “From there, we will travel to
Mar del Plata, Argentina for the
FIBA Americas Championship for Men/Olympic Qualifying Tournament (August 30 – Sept. 11).”
KNIGHT TO HOLD PRESSER
Kentucky freshman point guard
Brandon Knight will hold a press conference Friday morning in which he is expected to announce his NBA plans.
Calipari told ESPN’s Andy Katz on Wednesday, “Brandon got the confirmation that he wanted” during a recent workout for NBA representatives.
Sunday is the deadline for underclassmen to withdraw from draft consideration and retain their college eligibility.
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Source: Calipari would be ‘crazy’ to coach Dominicans
