Report: Jordan Clarkson could play for Philippines in Olympic qualifier

Following a successful rookie campaign, Jordan Clarkson's busy offseason may include two weeks in China to help the Philippines qualify for the 2016 Olympics.

The Los Angeles Lakers point guard was included on the official 24-man lineup the Philippine basketball team submitted on Aug. 20, the list from which their 12-man roster for the 2015 FIBA Asia Championships will be drawn. Clarkson, whose mother is Filipino, owns a Philippine passport and arrived in Manila on Monday to try to confirm his eligibility, Ryan Songalia of Rappler.com reports.

Asked about Clarkson potentially playing in the tournament as a "natural born" player, Lakers spokesman John Black released the following statement to the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

We know that he is over there having conversations with the National team and other governing organizations. But we have no additional information that we could share with you at this time.

The Asia Championships begin Sept. 23 and extend through Oct. 3, with one of 16 teams punching their ticket to the 2016 Olympics and two more qualifying for the last-chance qualifying tournament next summer. With the 23-year-old Clarkson in the fold, No. 31-ranked Philippines would likely be considered a favorite to secure one of those three positions.

Clarkson was one of the lone bright spots for the Lakers in 2014-15, averaging 11.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists after being selected 46th overall. He became part of the perceived core moving forward, and also drew heady praise from Steve Nash, who believes the "sky's the limit" for the 6-foot-5 Missouri product.