West Touting Gasol, Battier for Elite Squads

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Grizzlies president Jerry West handed out high praise to a pair that help make up the team's foundation.

Before the Griz faced their divisional rival Dallas Mavericks, West declared Friday that forward Pau Gasol would be an All-Star this season and began a campaign for Shane Battier to be considered as a player on the USA Basketball men's senior national team.

"He will make the All-Star team," West said while discussing Gasol's career-best start. "Unless people are completely blind, he will be an All-Star."

West's reverence for what Battier has meant to the Grizzlies' ascent spilled over to a higher basketball plateau. West contended that Battier has the necessary all-around ingredients that USA Basketball needs to reclaim its status as the most dominant force in international basketball.

Griz coach Mike Fratello seconded that notion.

"He's a perfect candidate because of the make-up of the (international) teams," Fratello said. "He can guard the (shooting guard, small forward and power forward) depending on what the other group puts on the floor.

"In terms of what the team should be all about, he would be exactly what the staff would be looking for. You have to have the right balance and chemistry. It's a team that needs people who can pressure and defend."

America is trying to recover from the humiliation of a bronze-medal finish at the Athens Olympics and a sixth-place showing at the 2002 World Championship.

Jerry Colangelo is managing director for the USA team that will compete in the 2006 World Championships and the 2008 Olympics.

Colangelo is seeking a three-year commitment from players, and he plans to speak to as many as 35 before extending any formal invitations.

Members of the team probably will not be announced until the All-Star break in mid-February, according to national reports.

Colangelo has full authority to assemble the roster. He'll rely heavily on input from the team's coach, Mike Krzyzewski, who coached Battier at Duke.

"I've never been a guy who needed shots to play," Battier said. "The Olympic committee has realized you need a few of those guys on the team. So they will do a good job of putting together a very good team. If I'm asked, it would be a great honor. It really would."

Battier said he has not had any conversations with anyone about playing for the U.S. team, and seemed surprised when the subject was brought up.

"It's an honor to be put in that breath," Battier said. "We have a lot of great players in this country. I've never really thought about it. Growing up, (the Olympians) always seemed like the elite of the elite. To be mentioned like that is pretty special." </div>

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