Kansas Freshman Travis Releford to Contend for 2008 USA Basketball Men's U18 National Team
June 10, 2008
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<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Kansas freshman-to-be Travis Releford is one of 25 of the nation’s top-18-and-younger prep sensations set to attend the 2008 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team Trials, July 1-3 at the VerizonCenter in Washington, D.C.
The 25 athletes will compete for one of 12 roster spots on the 2008 Men’s U18 National Team. Athlete selections for the USA Basketball Trials were made by the USA Basketball Men’s Collegiate Committee, chaired by SyracuseUniversity head coach Jim Boeheim.
A native of Shawnee Mission, Kan., Releford is the lone Big 12 representative at the trials. There are a total of 17 who have colleges listed on the 25-man trial roster.
Releford averaged 24.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists for 19-3 BishopMiegeHigh School in Roeland Park, Kan., his senior season. Since graduating he has played in numerous all-star games nationally and worldwide.
Following trials, the Men’s Collegiate Committee is expected to announce the 12-member USA U18 National Team roster, plus alternates. The selected finalists will remain in Washington for the July 4-10 training camp. The USA squad will then depart for the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship For Men, July 14-18 in Formosa, Argentina.
Davidson College head coach Bob McKillop will lead the USA’s 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship For Men Team, while VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity’s head mentor Anthony Grant and GeorgetownUniversity’s head coach John Thompson III will serve as assistant coaches. Kansas defeated Davidson, 59-57, to advance to its 13th Final Four this past season. Collegiate head coaches Steve Donahue, CornellUniversity; Kevin McCarthy, the StateUniversity of the New York at Cobleskil; Joe Niland, the University of Mobile; and Gary Stewart, the University of California at Davis will serve as court coaches at the 2008 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team Trials.
Last year, Kansas junior Mario Chalmers and sophomore Sherron Collins each participated in the Team USA Pan Am Games trials and sophomore Darrell Arthur made the Team USA U19 World Championships squad before an injury kept him from making the trip to Novi Sad, Serbia.
For a complete roster go to: http://usabasketball.com/men_team.php?page=mu18toa_roster
