Hornets No. 1 pick Anthony Davis sprains ankle
New Orleans Hornets chairman Tom Benson, left, introduces Anthony Davis, the team's first-round draft pick, No. 1 overall, during a news conference Friday in New Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Davis has a left ankle sprain that must be evaluated later this week before he can be cleared to practice with the U.S. team.
Davis hurt his ankle at the team’s training center in Westwego on Saturday, and Hornets spokesman Harold Kaufman said Monday that the club considers Davis status for resuming training as day to day.
The 6-foot-11 Davis, who led the nation with 4.65 blocks per game while leading Kentucky to a national title, is among the players being considered for the American squad at the London Olympics.
Davis was drafted by the Hornets first overall on Thursday night and arrived in New Orleans on Friday. He was slated to train for several days at Hornets facilities, along with fellow New Orleans first-round draft pick Austin Rivers, before departing for U.S. practices that begin Thursday in Las Vegas.
USA Basketball is scheduled to announce its 12-man Olympic roster Saturday.
Even if Davis had not been injured, it was not clear that he was going to make the Olympic team. However, if he reports for the U.S. team’s pre-Olympic training camp — whether he can practice or not — he could be made an alternate, meaning that he could still be called upon to play later this summer if another front-court player on the 12-man roster has an injury or other issue that keeps him from suiting up in London.
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said Monday that the Americans have no plans to add any players despite injuries to several U.S. team candidates, including Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who have pulled themselves out of contention for the Olympic squad. Colangelo added that USA Basketball would like Davis to report to training camp this week even if he has not been cleared to practice yet.
“We’re trying to get a read on his status, and then we do want him in Vegas to stay on top of it,” Colangelo said.
The Hornets have been supportive of Davis’ selection to try out for the Olympic team, hoping that it hastens the 19-year-old’s development as he prepares to start the 2012-13 NBA season as a central part of New Orleans’ rebuilding effort.
Davis, too, has said he is eager to learn from being on a national team squad that will include some of the top players in the NBA.
“Playing with the superstars in this league — it’ll be a great opportunity for me,” Davis said last week. “They’ll show me the ropes, show me things I’ve never seen before. ... I just can’t wait to learn from them.”
AP basketball writer
Brian Mahoney in New York contributed to this report.