Published: June 30, 2009 04:28 pm      

Butler's Hayward named to national team

Last summer, former Brownsburg standout Gordon Hayward only needed to catch bus rides to Conseco Fieldhouse and Louisville Gardens for the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star series.

This year, he’ll need a passport.

Hayward — now a sophomore at Butler — was recently selected to USA Basketball’s Under-19 National Team. From July 2-12, the 12-man squad will face the world’s top competition in the FIBA U19 World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand.

Hayward is focused on bringing home the gold.

“I could care less if I play the whole game or if I play two minutes,” Hayward said. “Obviously it’s all about representing your country and it’s such an honor with that ‘USA’ on the front. It’s an exciting time and I’m definitely looking forward to getting to New Zealand and starting the tournament.”

A standout freshman season at Butler helped make Hayward’s USA Basketball experience possible. Facing minimal expectations on a Bulldog squad that lost five seniors, Hayward averaged 13.1 points and 6.5 rebounds to help lead the team to an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Three months after the season ended with a first-round loss to LSU, Hayward and Butler teammate Shelvin Mack headed to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. for the U19 National Team tryouts.

Seventeen players endured three days of intense workouts.

Hayward and Mack both made the cut.

“We were all in a room and they called out the names of the 12 guys who made it,” Hayward said. “It was really exciting. I was definitely very proud because my teammate from Butler, Shelvin Mack, also made the team. I was also proud of Butler and where we’ve come as a program.”

Most of Hayward’s USA Basketball teammates come from much larger programs. University of Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon will lead the squad, which includes the likes of Seth Curry (Duke), Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas), Darius Miller (Kentucky), and Howard Thompkins (Georgia).

For Hayward, it’s the ultimate all-star team.

“I’ve never played on a team with so much talent before,” Hayward said. “Sometimes you get caught just standing around and watching your teammates. But you can also use it as a learning experience. Because they’re so good, you can pick up on some of the things they do.”

Joining the United States in the tournament will be teams representing Egypt, France, Iran, Angola, Greece, Lithuania, Puerto Rico, Australia, Canada, Spain, Syria, Argentina, Croatia, Kazakhstan, and host New Zealand.

The United States last won the gold medal in 1991.

kevin.leibrock@flyergroup.com