US Basketball announced yesterday that the Wizards’ All-Star duo, Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, remain on the Men’s National team after the latest round of cuts. With 15 players remaining, there are only 3 cuts to be made before the final squad is set for the World Championships.

The inclusion of Arenas was expected, as the 24-year-old is coming off his best season yet (29.3 ppg), and is just entering the prime of his career. As with most of the team, Arenas’ role is still being defined. Most likely, he will be one of the first players off the bench, and will be counted on to beat zone defenses with his shooter’s touch.

Jamison’s selection was not unexpected. Unlike Arenas, however, he faces some strong competition for a spot on the final roster. That Jamison does many things well (inside and outside scoring, rebounding, interior defense) should work in his favor, even though he does not have an exceptional aspect to his game. His inclusion on the final team will largely be determined by his performance in practice and in the exhibition matches leading up to championships, slated to begin August 19.