Walker Kessler has expressed his commitment to play for Team USA in the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup in the Philippines from late August to early September, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Kessler is the ninth player to empower the United States squad for the grand tourney, joining the likes of Brandon Ingram, Anthony Edwards, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jalen Brunson, among others.
The promising rookie out of Auburn, Kessler averaged 9.2 points, 8.3 boards and 2.3 blocks for the Utah Jazz this last regular season en route to being named an All-Rookie First Team member. He was acquired by Utah in last year’s offseason via blockbuster trade featuring star big man Rudy Gobert.
The Americans have landed in Group C for the group phase of the World Cup and are set to play in Manila’s Mall of Asia Arena. They will battle Greece, Jordan and New Zealand.
The United States are looking to bounce back from their program-worst seventh finish in the previous 2019 World Cup in China.
