All Tar Heels

Duke Legend Includes UNC Basketball Product Among Team USA Finalists

Former UNC basketball forward Cam Johnson is competing for an Olympics nod.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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This week, UNC basketball alum and Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson landed on the 41-deep list of finalists for the USA Basketball National Team that will head to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

Two-time Duke basketball national champion and retired NBA star Grant Hill, now in his fourth year serving as Team USA's managing director, handpicked the names. He and others will decide on the final 12-man roster at a later date.

Johnson, drafted No. 11 overall in 2019 following his two seasons with the Tar Heels, might be a longshot to survive that final cut. But just being one of the contenders should be an honor in itself.

Here's the complete list of finalists:

In his fifth year as a pro and first full season in Brooklyn since getting traded from the Phoenix Suns last February, the 27-year-old Cam Johnson is averaging 13.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 39.8 percent beyond the arc for a Nets squad that sits at No. 11 in the Eastern Conference standings with a 17-27 record.

He's been a full-time starter in the NBA since last season.

The other candidates to represent the United States at the Paris Olympics, July 26-Aug. 11, include one more former UNC basketball talent, albeit one who transferred out of Chapel Hill following his 2020-21 freshman campaign in second-year Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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