Payton Pritchard Will Train with USA Basketball U19 for World Cup

Oregon guard Payton Pritchard has accepted an invitation to the 2017 USA Basketball Men’s Training Camp for the World Cup. Colorado Springs is the setting for the week-long practice from June 18-25 at the United States Olympic Training Center.

Your favorite coach that you love to hate, John Calipari will be leading the activities as the head man. He is joined by former Kansas great Danny Manning and Colorado assistant Tad Boyle.

This is not Pritchard’s first experience with USA Basketball. He helped the 2016 USA Junior National Select Team win the Nike Hoop Summit that year.

He was also a member of the 2015 U18 3x3 World Championship Team. Payton also participated in the 2013 U16 National Team Training Camp that summer.

Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images

Heading into his sophomore year in college with a brand new group of teammates, this is exactly what Pritchard needed. The Oregon product will learn from players that are better than him. Not to mention, this should help increase his confidence moving forward. Anytime you are selected to a team of this magnitude, it’s a privilege.

After a sterling freshman season that saw Pritchard move the two-year starter Casey Benson to the bench, the future is bright for the West Linn native.

The point guard may have taken a back seat to the Oregon stars in 2016, but don’t expect that again next season. Pritchard is ready to be the new face of Duck basketball with a host of new friends to lend a helping hand like Troy Brown Jr., Vic Bailey, Elijah Brown and Kenny Wooten.

USA Basketball will only help Pritchard grow as an athlete and as a young man.

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