Old Wisconsin basketball stars Nigel Hayes-Davis and Micah Potter were part of a viral photo from USA Basketball practice on Tuesday.
They were photographed with the rest of the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s National Team, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, who had just visited the team’s practice. Also in the photo are NBA legends Steph Curry, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum and others. Understandably, this led many to wonder how Hayes-Davis and Potter fit into the picture.
Harris’ visit coincided with the final day of the team’s training camp at UNLV’s Mendenhall Center. The vice president first greeted coach Steve Kerr, then ventured onto the court to greet the 12-player squad and select practice players Potter, Hayes-Davis and Langston Galloway.
As members of the 2024 U.S. National Team, Potter and Hayes-Davis served as practice players for the U.S. Men’s National Team during the run-up to the Olympics in Las Vegas, Nevada. Neither Potter nor Hayes saw the Select Team court, but each remained on the hardwood after practice to get extra shots.
That’s probably how they were included in the photo alongside some of the best basketball players of all time.
Hayes-Davis recently won the 2024 Turkish League Championship with Fenerbahçe Beko and lost Turkish Airlines’ Euroleague record 50 points earlier this season. He has also made previous NBA pitstops with the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors.
During his four-year tenure at UW, the small forward was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year (2014), twice third-team All-Big Ten (2015, 2017) and first-team All-Big Ten (2016).
Meanwhile, Potter currently represents the Salt Lake Stars, the Utah Jazz’ G League affiliate. He averaged 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 52 games for the Badgers from 2019-21.
Both are looking for an opportunity to remain on an NBA roster.
