Stokes makes team USA U18 final cut

[bleedingTNorange]

11pts and 10 rebounds in a 3 quarter scrimmage, verse a very good Canadian team is impressive to say the lease. Bet showing for team USA on the day.

[phowell23]

Nice article on Stokes yesterday about honoring kid with cancer, U18 team and Billy D. As his coach: UT’s Stokes Honoring Cancer Victim With Team USA | ZagsBlog.com

Stokes has practiced against some strong teammates, including 2013 power forward Julius Randle, who has impressed Stokes with his work ethic.

“He’s a good player,” Stokes said. “He’s very bouncy. He’s athletic and the most important thing, he’s not selfish so he’s a good teammate. There’s no cockiness to him so he’s just like all the other guys. That’s what I like about him. He’s willing to learn and there’s no selfishness in his game.”

While some U18 players said they are hoping to recruit Randle to their college teams, Stokes is staying away from that.

“I’m not down here to recruit,” he said. “I’m just down here to win the gold medal. I’ll just leave that to my coaches.”

His head coach right now is SEC rival Billy Donovan, who unsuccessfully tried to recruit Stokes to Florida. But Stokes feels comfortable with Donovan and likes his style of ball.

“I pretty much know his style,” he said. “He likes pick and roll, get up a lot of shots, get up and down the floor. I wouldn’t mind being Patric Young or [Erik] Murphy because I like the way those guys play. I pretty much know the style. I scouted them and I still have [Donovan's] number from when he recruited me.”

Stokes ultimately chose Tennessee in part because of a desire to help his state university restore its image in the post-Bruce Pearl Era and to get them back to the NCAA Tournament.

He said the transition from high school to college ball last year was not as hard as he had expected.

“Coming in I thought i would just redshirt but then when I started practicing with the guys I realized i’m just as big, I’m just as fast, I’m just as skilled. so I just decided to play,” he said.