A source tells Kentucky Sports Radio that Kentucky coach John Calipari is organizing an exhibition game between his second team, the Dominican Republic National Team and a group of former UK players. The game is tentatively set for August 15. It is not being sponsored by UK.
Calipari officially agreed on May 5 to coach the Dominican team, which has never qualified for the Olympics in basketball. The UK coach said he would spend six weeks coaching the team from August through mid-September. The Dominicans will play in the Tournament of Americas, which will be held in Brazil. The Dominican team is expected to practice at the UK facilities in the Joe Craft Center.
Al Horford, Francisco Garcia and Charlie Villanueva are listed on the roster of the Dominican team, though tryouts are expected for the upcoming tournament. UK backup center Eloy Vargas is expected to be a part of those tryouts. The team finished fifth in the FIBA Tournament of Americas in 2009.
Former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson coached Mexico’s national team in 2008, but did not qualify for the Olympics.
Calipari put out a statement when he accepted the job in which he said:
I see no downside in this, especially knowing that I’m able to do a majority of the training here in Lexington at the state-of-the-art Joe Craft Center. We’re helping another nation spread the love of basketball and feel what the Big Blue Nation feels 12 months a year. We want to see basketball courts right next to all the baseball academies and build a consistent winner in the Dominican Republic.
