USA Basketball wanted Michael Gilchrist, Marquis Teague and Anthony Davis to be on the team that will play in the World Championship for players 19 years old and younger June 30-July 10 in Latvia.

But the trio were among about 27 players who declined invitations to participate in the tryouts next month. Ford said that UK wanted Gilchrist, Teague and Davis to attend summer school and accelerate the process of becoming college players.

"Obviously, they're going to be a younger team next year,"  National Team director for USA Basketball Sean Ford said of Kentucky. "Coach (John Calipari) is looking to say, 'Hey, let's get the younger players in. Let's get them acclimated. Let's get them spending time with the upperclassmen so come September, when the rest of (the country's) freshmen come in, our guys are not true freshmen anymore.'

"It's unfortunate. We wish it were different. But we certainly understand the reality of it."