Colorado Springs, CO (My Sportsbook) - Los Angeles Clippers center Elton Brand, New Jersey Nets forward Richard Jefferson and University of Kansas All- American Nick Collison were added to the 2003 USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team on Thursday.

The team will compete in an Olympic qualifier, the FIBA Americas Tournament, from August 20-31 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Brand, Jefferson and Collison joined other NBA stars Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal, Karl Malone, Mike Bibby, Ray Allen, Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd and Tracy McGrady on the squad. Allen, Duncan, Kidd and McGrady were selected on February 13.

"It's neat having three young players who are good kids and who can contribute to our team," said USA head coach Larry Brown, who stepped down as the Philadelphia 76ers head coach earlier this week.

Brand is a veteran of four USA Basketball teams, while Collison last summer made his seventh USA Basketball squad when he was named an alternate and was the only non-professional player involved in the 2002 USA World Championship Team.

"It is a great honor for me as a college kid to have the chance to play and practice with many of the best players in the NBA," said Collison. "It's a great opportunity and I'm excited to be part of the 2003 USA Senior Team and to again be representing the United States."

The role players will be selected only for the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Team. However, their participation on the 2004 USA Olympic Team, should the Americans qualify, would still be a possibility but not guaranteed.

The USA men, gold medalists in 12 of the 14 Olympics it has played in, including the last three when NBA players have participated (1992, 1996, 2000), must earn a qualifying spot for the 2004 Olympic Games after placing sixth at the World Championships last summer.

A total of 10 men's teams from North, South and Central America will participate in the Qualifying Tournament and only the top three finishers will earn a coveted qualification spot for the August 13-29, 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

"We have now completed the 12-man roster for this year's Olympic qualifying team," said USA Basketball President Tom Jernstedt. "We feel we have a deep and talented roster that is poised to accomplish our objectives of winning the gold medal at this summer's qualifying tournament and next year's 2004 Olympic Games."