DALLAS -- Jason Kapono was trying to create for Georgetown forward Michael Sweetney underneath by driving and dumping a pass in for a layup.
The UCLA junior forward who seems to be saying "hang loose" with each move wasn't thinking about himself. His shot would come second at this U.S. National team practice at the Dallas Mavericks training facility. The same was true when the World Championship for Young Men's team was playing a pair of exhibitions.
Kapono made the national team first as a 3-point specialist after shooting at a 45.7 percent clip for the Bruins last season. But he's hoping to shed his rep of being simply a perimeter threat, a shooter that only worries about his shot.
Instead, Kapono is hoping Jim Boeheim and his national team staff believe that he can be as dangerous a passer as a shooter. He'll have to be with the Bruins this season. It's no longer just about Jason.
The Bruins have a realistic shot to compete for the national title. But it won't happen if Kapono is selfish. He'll have to give up touches and shots to newcomers Cedric Bozeman, the likely point, and wings Andre Patterson and Dijon Thompson. Getting Dan Gadzuric enough shots is critical. Factoring in Rico Hines, Billy Knight, Ray Young, Matt Barnes and Spencer Gloger will also be key.
"I'm not going to say I won't get as many touches," Kapono said. "But I'll try to do more. I might score as much, but I'll create more for my teammates and create shots for them."
UCLA assistant Jim Saia, speaking by phone from Oakland, said Kapono would become a more of a point-forward for the Bruins.
"He wants the ball in his hands more, not necessarily to shoot but to penetrate and kick and find different people in the open court," Saia said. "He's a heck of a decision-maker. He's got good instincts and knows where people are. Earl (Watson) was the point (last season) and made most of the playmaking decisions. But we can use Jason as a point- forward, moving Cedric over and run on the break."
Kapono still has to be the catch-and-shoot 3-point specialist and the Bruins must find him chances. But he can't simply be just a piece of UCLA's offense. He has to be more involved in all aspects.
"He wants to show people that he's not just a shooter, but a complete basketball player," Saia said.
That's exactly what he was trying to show the U.S. national team's staff. Boeheim, St. Joseph's coach Phil Martelli and Oregon's Ernie Kent, who knows Kapono well, were all impressed with his unselfish play. He was giving up the shots he took a season ago to Connecticut's Caron Butler and, setting up, anyone else on the wing like B.C.'s Troy Bell or Michigan State's Marcus Taylor or Duke's Chris Duhon.
"This team has so many talented guys who can shoot and score," Kapono said prior to the team's departure for Japan. The tournament begins Friday and runs for nine days. "My college team had only one or two scorers and this is good for me to work on other parts of my game like creating shots for post players and being more of a team player. I used to always try to go out there and score 20 a night."
The demands on Kapono's point total will probably go down from his 17-point average to 16 or maybe even 12 if everyone else is getting their share.
"What would happen before if the one or two scorers struggled then we would lose," Kapono said. "We've got eight or nine guys now who can play and score. That's why everyone stayed around this summer because we know it can be a special year. There's no reason why we shouldn't go much further than always being in the Sweet 16."
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
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