6 Youngsters Who Will Make U.S. Olympic Basketball Team Even Better in 2016

With the exhibition season just getting under way for the 2012 Team USA men's basketball team, you may be thinking it's too early to talk about the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.

But if we're not moving toward the future, we're dwelling in the past.

And with Olympic competition happening just once every four years, speculation is insatiable for what may happen with Team USA next.

Many members of the 2012 Team USA squad could even be playing in their last international competition.  If that's the case, who should we get to replace them and make the team even better in 2016?  Here are six guys who should make a big impact

Jabari Parker (SF, Simeon Career Academy)

Parker, the latest high schooler to get the "Next LeBron" treatment from Sports Illustrated, may actually be the first one to deserve such praise.

The class of 2013 star has yet to even pick a college, but his game could probably translate to the pro level right now.  Parker can shoot from the outside, play point forward and rebound at a level that few other 17-year-olds have ever reached.

Parker won the 2011 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year as a junior last season and will almost assuredly repeat this upcoming season, barring a catastrophe.  

With the small forward likely to have two years of professional experience under his belt in 2016, he would be the perfect fit—especially if NBA commissioner David Stern gets his U-23 wish. 

Nerlens Noel (PF/C, Kentucky)

Noel has not even set foot on the collegiate hardwood, yet he's already drawing comparisons to former Wildcat Anthony Davis.

That can only mean good things for Noel, the consensus No. 1 high school player in the class of 2012.

Like Davis, Noel is an explosive athlete and a brilliant shot blocker whose biggest deficiencies come on the offensive end.  But with four years between now and Rio De Janeiro, Noel has a full season at Kentucky and theoretically three seasons as a pro to harness his immense potential.

If Noel pans out, Team USA could go from having a deficiency in the middle to having an over abundance of talent.  

Bradley Beal (SG, Washington Wizards)

The No. 3 pick in June's draft, Beal's jumper has drawn comparisons to Ray Allen and when you see the fluidity of his outside stroke, you know why.

That makes him the type of sweet-shooting guard who always thrives at the international level.

Most importantly, Beal's arrival could not come at a more perfect time for Team USA's future, since 2012 will almost assuredly be the last Olympics for Kobe Bryant and Andre Iguodala, two anchors on the wing.

Outside of scoring 14.8 points per game in his only season at Florida, Beal also became known for his in-your-pocket defense.  With Team USA's penchant for not allowing teams to get past half court, that makes Beal an ideal fit for 2016.  

Kyrie Irving (PG, Cleveland Cavaliers)

The future is seemingly unlimited for the 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year.  His 18.5 points, 5.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game place his rookie season among the all-timers for a point guard and his surrounding cast in Cleveland can only improve.

The only problem with Irving's Olympic hopes is that he plays the deepest American position.  Current Team USA point guards Chris Paul and Deron Williams are playing in their second Olympics this summer and may decide to retire from international competition after this season or 2014's FIBA championships.  

If that's the case, Irving is the most likely heir apparent to pair with the incumbent Russell Westbrook when Team USA makes its trip to Rio De Janeiro in 2016. 

Andrew Bynum (C, Cleveland Cavaliers)

With 2008 Team USA center Dwight Howard not participating in the London games due to a back injury, it seemed like 2012 was the perfect season for Andrew Bynum to make his Olympic debut.

Instead, Bynum chose to sit out this year's Olympics so he could focus on recovering from the NBA's grueling 66-game schedule and undergo the Orthokine (blood platelet spinning) treatment in Germany.

While Bynum's decision probably comes as a sigh of relief for Lakers fans, or wherever else the center may play, it left Team USA with a massive deficiency in the middle.

Tyson Chandler should be adequate and has experience internationally.  However, his 29-year-old body should probably be mending instead of playing an Olympic basketball schedule.

The true shame is that if we don't see Bynum in 2016, we will likely never see the seven-footer in international competition.

Anthony Davis (PF/C, New Orleans Hornets)

Yes, Davis is already on Team USA's roster for 2012. However, his role will likely amount to little more than towel waving once the Olympic-level competition actually begins.

Davis' London experience is more about preparing him for future international competition than what he can do for this year's squad.

Because of his length, athleticism and ability to stretch out of the post, Davis is a prototypical center for Olympic competition.  If Davis can sit back and heed the lessons learned by practicing with the NBA elite every day, it will not only make him a star as a pro but an anchor of Team USA for the foreseeable future.