Andre Iguodala and Team USA are on a mission for country, and honor.

Basketball is a global game that has opened it’s doors for the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Iguodala and his USA teammates are focused on their task of playing for the gold as they continue to mold together. Geared with his special edition Nike Hyperdunk sneakers, and a strong desire to achieve, things are at a fever pitch for Andre and his squad.

The World Championship games begin August 28th and conclude September 12th…giving the NBA players a few weeks rest before training camp and the preseason.

Pictures: Andre Iguodala

Andre Iguodala is having a blast playing with the US national team.

On Sunday Team USA defeated France in what are called “friendly” matches at Madison Square Garden 86-55. Prior to that, the national team participated in a scrimmage against one another in the famed Radio City Music Hall, with Iguodala’s blue squad winning over the white in overtime…and to top it all off, Andre Iguodala walked away with the game MVP honors.

Yesterday Team USA traveled to Madrid, Spain for practice until they play Lithuania on the 21st, Spain on the 22nd and Greece in Athens on the August 25th, before the 2010 FIBA World Championship games are played from August 28th - September 12th in Turkey.

Photos: AXG and Getty Images

Andre Iguodala and Team USA will be in New York City this week for training camp.

Nike will host Team USA, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and France for the World Basketball Festival. The event will celebrate the global game as well as prepare the national team for the FIBA World Basketball Championships in Turkey later this month. Iguodala is looking forward to the challenge as he expressed his passion for the team in saying, “It’s been an honor to be a part of USA Basketball…as I’m able to not only represent my team [76ers] and organization, but also my country.”

Last month Donovan McNabb hosted a football camp, and the Andre Iguodala Youth Foundation was there to provide an assist.

As a sponsor for the McNabb Challenge, the Andre Iguodala Youth Foundation was able to ensure that every participant enjoyed themselves and learned something from the camp.

Andre Iguodala and Donovan McNabb are both from the state of Illinois, as they were able to join forces for the benefit of their community.

Picture: AIYF

Andre Iguodala, Russell Westbrook, and Josh Smith started shooting a new commercial for 2KSports.

2KSports is set to release the new NBA 2K11 on October 5, 2010…full of surprises and action. Yesterday they began filming the latest commercials featuring Philadelphia 76ers star Andre Iguodala. Expect to see him and a few other NBA players in the upcoming ads.

Photos: 2KSports

Andre Iguodala is looking to become a member of the most prestigious team in the country.

A 5-day Team USA mini camp began on Tuesday, with a 22-man roster looking to become one of the 12 players that will represent the nation during the FIBA World Championship. Sixers General Manager Ed Stefanski feels that Iguodala has a strong chance of making the squad, saying ”I think it’s a great opportunity for him,” Stefanski said. “When you’re putting a team together to go overseas to play, a guy like that who can guard 1s, 2s and 3s and play multiple positions at the offensive end is a guy that they’ll look at closely.”

The team is expected to make cuts down to 15 or 16 players by the time the team arrives in New York City on Aug. 9 for  training camp, and an extra player or two could be added to the final 12. Team USA plays an exhibition schedule that includes back-to-back games against Lithuania and Spain in Madrid (Aug. 21-22) and a game against Greece in Athens (Aug. 25) before it arrives in Istanbul, Turkey on Aug. 26.

In today’s society the focus remains upon athletic ability rather than academic stability.

With athletes being recruited directly out of high school, the statement to children becomes less about school and more about the sport. However, life’s lessons can be found in the classroom as well as on the court, and these two worlds must not collide, but coexist.

By committing to one year of after-school tutoring, these athletes will forge knowledge that academic eligibility is only the first opportunity towards becoming a successful adult. The more immediate lesson comes from the fact that without good grades, the game clock can never start. Reading fluency, mathematical foundations, and solid study skills will carry every student toward success.

Athletes are presented with a unique problem in that they are responsible not only for academic success but are also forced to appropriately manage their time to fulfill their commitments to school and sports.

Please vote daily for the boys to continue their great work on and off the court!

Vote by clicking here: Pepsi Refresh Project

The official application for the 2010 Andre Iguodala/Kevin Gamble basketball camp is available.

The dates for this year’s camp is scheduled for July 26-30, 2010. You can download the camp application by clicking here.

For all questions and concerns, please call: 217/220-0267 Andre Iguodala Youth Foundation or 217/206-7591 Kevin Gamble.

Photo: NBAE via Getty Images

The 76ers made their draft selection on Thursday night, and the best is yet to happen.

The Philadelphia 76ers added a versatile and savvy player when they selected Evan Turner with the second pick overall in this year’s NBA Draft.

Turner averaged 20.4 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game and 6.0 assists per game his junior year at Ohio State before deciding to turn pro. He led the Big Ten in points and rebounds, was second in assists and earned every coveted national college player of the year award including the John R. Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy.

Sixers swingman Andre Iguodala envisions a bright future for the 6-feet-7 Turner.

“He’s a great kid with a high basketball I.Q. and a passion to be great at his craft,” Iguodala said recently.

Like Iguodala, who led the 76ers in points (17.1 pg), assists (5.8 pg) and steals (1.7 pg), Turner can play multiple positions. Though Turner will most likely spend most of his time at shooting guard, he is capable of being a backup point guard or slide over to small forward.

Sixers point guard Jrue Holiday, believes that Iguodala and Turner will compliment each other well.

“I think Andre [Iguodala] is a little more athletic and a lot more experienced,” Holiday said during a press conference on draft night. “I think Andre [Iguodala] will take Evan [Turner] underneath his wing, and he [Evan Turner] will become a great player.”

The 76ers could definitely use a boost in personnel and moral after finishing last season 27-55 with 12 home victories.

Turner will give the team another scoring option, which will hopefully help take some pressure off of Iguodala.

“I’m a competitor,” Turner said during a press conference on draft night. “I hate to lose, and I try to let nothing get in the way of me winning.

“I play my game, hope things go my way, and keep working.”

In addition to Turner, the team acquired 7-feet-1 Spencer Hawes and 6-feet-7 Andres Nocioni, two players who will help the frontcourt.

Photo: Webster Riddick

The 76ers made a trade yesterday as they prepare for the 2010-11 season.

The 76ers traded Samuel Dalembert to the Sacramento Kings for Spencer Hawes and Andres Nocioni pending they pass their respective physicals. Dalembert was the longest tenured Sixers player…having been drafted at 26th overall in the 2001 NBA Draft. ”We are excited to add two players in Spencer Hawes and Andres Nocioni who will help us immediately and provide us with additional frontcourt depth,” explained general manager Ed Stefanski.

Next week the franchise will look to strengthen the team through the draft on June 24th. With the number 2 pick, the possibilities are endless, however things are coming into place to ensure the future success of the ball club. Head Coach Doug Collins is currently holding workouts at the team’s practice facility for a short list of draft hopefuls. One thing is for certain, in that changes are being made, and  one of the more important  pieces is just a week away.