BYU basketball: Jimmer Fredette is a more crafty player at the USA team camp

LAS VEGAS — Even though much of the talk about BYU guard Jimmer Fredette since the end of last season has focused on his potential as a future NBA player, there's something Fredette wants to enjoy and experience first — his senior season as a Cougar.

"I'm really anxious for it to get here," Fredette said Wednesday from the USA Men's Basketball camp at the Cox Arena in Las Vegas. "It's going to be my senior year, and college doesn't get any better than that. Our team is coming back with a lot of hype, and there are a lot of good things that this team should be able to accomplish, and I'm really excited for that. I can't wait."

Certainly, working out for NBA teams prior to withdrawing from this year's NBA Draft and practicing this week with the USA Basketball Men's National and USA Basketball Men's Select teams is giving Fredette a good idea of how he compares with the other top players in the country and gives him a better idea of what he needs to improve on to someday become a successful professional.

But Fredette, one of 20 collegians on the USA Men's Select Team, the team that scrimmages against the NBA-player-filled USA Men's National team, says he's also gaining experience, knowledge, skills and confidence that will help him become a better player for his final season at BYU.

"All the things I'm working on to help me play in the NBA are going to help our team at BYU, and they're things I just need to continue to work on to become a better overall basketball player," he said. "I'm just working hard. That's really what it all comes down to. I'm doing the most I possibly can to improve and get better and take on new challenges."

Just being labeled as one of the nation's best, an honor bestowed by being picked for the Select Team, and scrimmaging and socializing with the other top collegians and NBA players in the camp is a real confidence booster in itself, Fredette said.

"It's a great experience basketball-wise and should help me to get better. It's great to see what it's like to be in an atmosphere like this on the floor and off the floor, as well. It's definitely different when you're with some NBA guys and how people treat you. It's fun to hang around them, see that atmosphere and kind of experience what it's like," Fredette said.

But there's no doubt about the fact that he is competing this week at a level higher than ever before.

"Obviously, I'm going up against the best players in college basketball and top players in the world at every practice. And when you're playing with the best players, you have to elevate your game and become a better player, or you don't last out there.