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Canada Basketball likely won't have its stars at Pan Am Games

Anthony Bennett, Minnesota Timberwolves (David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Anthony Bennett, Minnesota Timberwolves (David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Canada Basketball announced its tryout roster for the upcoming Pan Am Games and it looks like the stars won't be shining in red and white just yet.

Head coach Jay Triano had hoped to use the Pan Ams as a tune-up for the Olympic qualifying tournament that tips off in Mexico City two months from now. However, Andrew Wiggins and Tristan Thompson were notably absent from the 16-player list released Friday, as are Cory Joseph, Nik Stauskas, and Kelly Olynyk.

Wiggins and Olynyk are in line to play at the FIBA Americas and will rest until then after a long NBA season. Thompson and Joseph were left off because they are either finalizing or negotiating their next NBA contracts but are also expected to join Canada later on. Point guard Tyler Ennis is out for the entire summer after undergoing shoulder surgery in May.

Anthony Bennett, Sim Bhullar, and Andrew Nicholson make up the NBA contingent vying for a spot on the team at the six-day training camp that begins July 12 in Toronto. The final roster will consist of 12 players and be confirmed July 18.

National team veterans Carl English, Aaron Doornekamp, and Jermaine Anderson are joined by many current college hoops players including Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer, as well as a number of recent NCAA graduate.

The most intriguing name taking part in the camp is Jamal Murray. Murray, 18, is joining NCAA powerhouse Kentucky next season and is expected to be a first-round pick at the 2016 NBA draft.

Canada Basketball
Canada Basketball

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter.