Canada basketball: Andrew Nicholson joins Senior Men's National Team

Orlando Magic power forward Andrew Nicholson is among the 18 players who will attend training camp for Canada basketball's Senior Men's National Team, the organization announced Monday. Training camp begins Friday, August 2nd.

Nicholson is one of five players in camp with NBA ties. Miami Heat center Joel Anthony, San Antonio Spurs point guard Cory Joseph, free-agent swingman Kris Joseph, former New York Knicks shooting guard Andrew Rautins, and Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Tristan Thompson will also take part in the camp.

Canada is preparing for the fall FIBA Americas championship, which will determine which counties take part in the FIBA World Cup in 2014. Prior to the FIBA Americas, Canada will face the Jamaican National Team in two exhibitions on August 8th and 10th.

Nicholson, who hails from Mississauga, Ontario, averaged 7.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in his rookie season with Orlando, which selected him 19th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. He's one of three Magic players who will represent their home countries in fall tournaments prior to the 2013/14 NBA season; Magic center Nik Vučević (Montenegro) and Hedo Türkoğlu (Turkey) are set to take part in Eurobasket.

Canadian basketball is on the rise, and the country could boast two consecutive top overall NBA Draft choices if Andrew Wiggins goes first in 2014; the Cavs selected Anthony Bennett first in 2013. "It truly is the golden age of basketball in this country and we plan to build upon this momentum over the next three years as we look toward the 2016 Olympics and beyond," Senior Men's National Team general manager Steve Nash said Monday.

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