Kansas Freshman Travis Releford A Finalist for USA Men's U18 National Team

July 3, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Kansas freshman Travis Releford is among the 14 finalists for the 2008 USA Men’s U18 National Team, USA Basketball announced today. Following three trials sessions held at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., Releford made the cut from the 18 who were invited to try out. The eventual 12-member team will be finalized by July 8.

Athlete selections were made by the USA Basketball Men’s Collegiate Committee, chaired by Syracuse University head coach Jim Boeheim.

Featuring U18 national teams from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean, the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, which will be held July 14-18 in Formosa, Argentina, will qualify the top four finishing teams for the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship, slated to be held July 2-12 in New Zealand.

“I’m thrilled with the effort, with the competitiveness and with the attitude of every one of the guys who were a part of these trials. We’re down to 14 players right now and we still have two players to cut, but it’s incredibly competitive and the talent level is superb; and most importantly and most satisfying is the fact that they are so willing to learn and so willing to get better. The coaching staff – John, Anthony and myself – have meshed really well in a short time together. We have what we think is superb chemistry on the coaching staff and we are going to work to make sure it filters down to the team,” said USA and Davidson College head coach Bob McKillop.

The finalists will continue training at the Verizon Center twice a day, at 10:00 a.m. (all times EDT) and 5:00 p.m. through July 8. On July 9 (10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.) and 10 (10:00 a.m.) the team will train at Georgetown University before traveling to Argentina.

For the complete list of the finalists go to http://usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=08_mu18_finalists