Report: USA Basketball to gauge Zion's interest in joining World Cup squad

Zion Williamson could find himself on Team USA before playing in the NBA.

USA Basketball will gauge the Duke freshman's interest in joining its 12-man squad for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup this summer, sources told The New York Times' Marc Stein.

The two parties haven't been formally discussing the invite, and talks likely won't occur until closer to the NBA draft because an agent doesn't represent Williamson yet. The 6-foot-7 forward is widely expected to declare for the draft and be selected first overall.

Williamson wouldn't be the first collegiate star to join Team USA before turning pro. Fellow Duke standout Christian Laettner was included on the "Dream Team" in 1992 before the Minnesota Timberwolves selected him third overall in the draft that year.

New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis was also named to the roster for the 2012 Olympic Games immediately following his lone college season with Kentucky.

The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup kicks off Aug. 31 in China. The U.S. men's national team will play in Group E alongside Turkey, Japan, and the Czech Republic. The team's first game takes place against the Czech Republic on Sept. 1 in Shanghai.