US Adds Mourning, Allen & Hill

January 4, 2000 / 2:26 PM EST / CBS/AP

Grant Hill, Alonzo Mourning and Ray Allen were chosen today to fill the final three roster spots on the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team, The Associated Press learned.

The selections were made during a conference call by USA Basketball, the governing body for the national team. Several NBA sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed the selections.

The choice of Hill came as no surprise, as he was originally chosen for the team two years ago only to withdraw because the Olympic qualifying tournament, held last summer in Puerto Rico, conflicted with his wedding.

Mourning gets the spot that was expected to go to Shaquille O'Neal, a member of the 1996 team that won the gold medal in Atlanta.

O'Neal had indicated recently that he did not want to play, preferring instead to spend more time with his 3-year-old daughter rather than devote 42 straight days to the national team.

Allen, a fourth-year guard for the Milwaukee Bucks, was selected to fill the team's perceived need for another pure shooter.

Allen beat out Vince Carter of Toronto for what was widely considered the only truly wide-open spot available on the roster. No other guards, including Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant and Eddie Jones, received serious support during today's approximately 30-minute call.

Carter, the early leading All-Star vote-getter, had gained support in recent weeks as his high-flying style of play and consistently productive scoring led the Toronto Raptors into contention for first place in the Central Division.

But the selection committee went instead with Allen, the better shooter and the more veteran player.

The roster also includes Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, Steve Smith, Allan Houston, Tim Hardaway, Vin Baker, Tom Gugliotta and Tim Duncan.

Today's selections won't become official until they are accepted by the players, all of whom have indicated a willingness to join the team.