Karl Towns has been named to the Dominican Republic national team as it prepares to qualify for this summer’s London Olympic Games.

"He's going to be battling with guys who are men, so when he gets done with this, he's going to know what it takes to be an NBA player," his father, Karl Towns Sr., said. "When he gets back, Karl's going to double his work ethic. I think right now this is the greatest thing that could have happened to him."

The Dominican national team is coached by John Calipari, who is recruiting Towns to the University of Kentucky.

"I want people to know he made it for his ability, not because of who the coach is," Karl Towns Sr. said. "He'll be with his Dominican family this summer. If he goes to Kentucky, that will be his other family. But right now the key is to get the Dominican team into the Olympics. That's the only key right now.

"There's too much at stake for them to do him a favor. They have to qualify. They need the best players they can carry to make this work."

Towns, a 6-foot-11 center, is the top ranked player in the class of 2015.