Top NBA rookie back at Square 1 with Team USA

Derrick Rose, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, is facing a stern test in his attempt to land the third point guard spot on next year's USA Basketball roster.

With New Orleans' Chris Paul and Utah's Deron Williams expected back for the 2010 FIBA World Championship as well as the 2012 Olympics, Rose will have to make a good impression on U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff as well as USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo if he hopes to be part of the mix.

"There's so many great players here," Rose said Friday at Valley High School on the second day of the team's three-day minicamp. "Hopefully, I'll do well enough that I can be on the team. Whatever they want me to do, I'm willing to do."

Rose has had a battle on his hands in Las Vegas as Team USA wraps up its minicamp at 8 p.m. today with an intrasquad scrimmage at the Thomas & Mack Center. New Jersey's Devin Harris and Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, his primary competition, have looked good in the first two days. Charlotte's D.J. Augustin played well Friday, so Rose knows he has to raise his level of play to remain in the hunt.

"I've got to be a little more aggressive, especially at the defensive end," Rose said. "It's a more physical game in international ball, so it's different. But I still need to play my game, push the ball, make good decisions, knock down the open shots and execute."

Colangelo said while he thinks Rose has the tools to compete, he faces an uphill climb to make the USA roster.

"He has a lot of competition," Colangelo said. "That said, he certainly figures in our minds as an Olympian. He has size. He has strength. He can finish. I'm looking for the other things -- his body language, how he relates with his teammates, does he fit what you're looking for?

"But there's no question he fits in our plans. He wouldn't be here otherwise."

Rose, 20, played for Memphis in 2007-08 and helped the Tigers reach the NCAA title game. He turned pro, was drafted No. 1 overall by Chicago and averaged 16.8 points and 6.3 assists last season. He said the adjustment wasn't as easy as he made it seem.

"It was hard, but my background helped me out a lot," he said. "I had a lot of information, and I was able to make the adjustment" to the NBA.

Now, Rose tries to adjust again to a different level of basketball -- assuming he even gets the chance to participate next year.

"When you're a young player, you have to defer to the older guys," he said, referring to Paul and Williams. "I know there's only going to be a couple of spots on next year's roster. But I'm trying not to think about that. My focus is on playing well and showing them I belong."

Harris, a five-year NBA pro who has averaged 12.2 points and 4.3 assists, said even if he continues to perform well in tonight's scrimmage, it doesn't guarantee him anything.

"It's still too early to judge," the former Wisconsin star said. "These guys are so talented. It forces you to play harder just to keep up because everyone's competing."

Harris knows he's caught in a numbers game and he ultimately might be the odd man out. Yet, he isn't ducking the challenge.

"It's rare you get the opportunity to play with these guys," he said. "But I think we all realize there's probably only a few spots available" for 2010.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.