Seventeen months ago, Scottie Reynolds played his final basketball game at Herndon High. On Thursday he scrimmaged against Gilbert Arenas.
Practicing with the U.S. men’s Pan American Games team against a squad of current and former professionals at Verizon Center, Reynolds even hit a couple of 3-pointers while being guarded by the Washington Wizards superstar and second-team All-NBA pick.
“It was all luck,” said Reynolds. “It was beginner’s luck. I ain’t making nothing of that.”
Arenas’ spot decision to take part in the scrimmage and Reynolds’ shooting were the highlights on the first of three days of practice at Verizon Center before the team departs next week for Brazil.
“Just going against him … it brought the best out of me,” said Reynolds. “I hope I get to play against him again.”
Georgetown center Roy Hibbert and Maryland forward James Gist, both rising seniors, complete a total of three local players onthe 12-man U.S. roster.
“Talent-wise, I think Roy is off the charts,” said U.S. head coach Jay Wright. “James, early at trials, didn’t show much. But every day he just does more and more.”
Wright, who is Reynolds’ head coach at Villanova, was happy to see his rising sophomore star shine after not talking to him during trials.
“I told him, ‘I want your teammates to know that you earned it,’” said Wright. “And he did. It was tough on him because he struggled a little bit. But he showed great leadership, great toughness. He didn’t shoot the ball well in trials, but as you saw today, he’s been shooting the ball great since we picked the team.”
The U.S. opens preliminary play July 25 against Uruguay, then meets Panama on July 26 and Argentina on July 27. The competition’s semifinals will be held on July 28 and the final will be July 29.
