Finalists For 2001 USA Basketball World Championship And World University Games Teams Announced

June 4, 2001

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Following four training sessions at the June 1-3 USA Basketball Men's Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., 16 finalists for the 2001 USA Basketball World Championship For Young Men Team and 16 finalists for the 2001 USA Basketball World University Games Team were announced today by USA Basketball's 10-member Men's Collegiate Committee.

"We had a very good talent level here. Particularly perimeter guys, guys that can get to the basket and make shots and that's important in international competition. So I'm excited about this team," remarked USA World Championship For Young Men head coach and Syracuse University (N.Y.) mentor Jim Boeheim. "I think we really do have a team that can go over and represent our country. This championship is very tough every four years and we'll see the best in the world in this age bracket and it will be a challenge for us.

"When USA Basketball goes to play in any championship, there's really only one medal you're looking at - the gold medal," added Boeheim of the expectations for his team.

Featuring two members from Duke's 2001 NCAA championship team and a third player who will play for the Blue Devils in 2001-02, the list of 16 finalists for the USA World Championship For Young Men Team includes: Troy Bell (Boston College / Minneapolis, Minn.), LaVell Blanchard (Michigan / Ann Arbor, Mich.), Carlos Boozer (Duke / Juneau, Alaska), Caron Butler (Connecticut / Racine, Wis.), Nick Collison (Kansas / Iowa Falls, Iowa), Brian Cook (Illinois / Lincoln, Ill.), Chris Duhon (Duke / Slidell, La.), Reggie Evans (Iowa / Pensacola, Fla.), Jared Jeffries (Indiana / Bloomington, Ind.), Dahntay Jones (Duke / Hamilton Square, N.J.), Jason Kapono (UCLA / Lakewood, Calif.), Jameer Nelson (St. Joseph's / Chester, Pa.), Michael Sweetney (Georgetown / Oxen Hill, Md.), Marcus Taylor (Michigan State / Lansing, Mich.), David West (Xavier / Garner, N.C.) and Frank Williams (Illinois / Peoria, Ill.). Eligibility for the 2001 USA World Championship For Young Men Team is limited to any male who is 21-years-old or younger (born on or after Jan. 1, 1980).

"I'm very excited about the finalists that we have that will be coming to training camp in Denver in August," said USA World University Games head mentor and Penn State University (Pa.) head coach Jerry Dunn. "It's a very diverse group of guys, we have some interchangeable personnel who can do a lot of different things. One of the things I'm most impressed with is the personalities, in terms of being winners and guys who will be able to gel as a team."

Highlighted by three members of Maryland's 2001 NCAA Final Four team, selected as finalists for the USA World University Games Team were: Maurice Baker (Oklahoma State / Madison, Ill.), Antwain Barbour (Wabash Valley C.C./ Elizabethtown, Ky.), Andre Barrett (Seton Hall / Bronx, N.Y.), Earl Barron (Memphis / Clarksdale, Miss.), Lonny Baxter (Maryland / Silver Spring, Md.), Dan Dickau (Gonzaga / Vancouver, Wash.), Juan Dixon (Maryland / Baltimore, Md.), Erwin Dudley (Alabama / Uniontown, Ala.), Melvin Ely (Fresno State / Harvey, Ill.), Lynn Greer (Temple / Philadelphia, Pa.), Tahj Holden (Maryland / Red Bank, N.J.), Roger Mason, Jr. (Virginia / Silver Spring, Md.), Chris Owens (Texas / Duncanville, Texas), Justin Reed (Mississippi / Jackson, Miss.), Tamar Slay (Marshall / Beckley, W.Va.) and Tyler Smith (Penn State / Lake Forest, Ill.).

Boeheim, Syracuse's successful and long-time head coach, will serve as head coach of the 2001 USA World Championship For Young Men squad, and he will be assisted by Ernie Kent of the University of Oregon and Phil Martelli of St. Joseph's University (Pa.).

The final 12-member USA team will be named during the team's July 22-26 training camp in Dallas, Texas. The team will complete its training in the U.S. July 27-30 in Oakland, Calif.

The USA World Championship For Young Men Team will compete August 3-12 in Saitama, Japan, in the 2001 FIBA World Championship for Young Men Tournament. Featuring 12 teams that have been divided into two preliminary round pools consisting of six teams each, the United States is in Pool B with Argentina, Croatia, Israel, Japan and South Korea. The six teams comprising preliminary Pool A include Australia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Qatar, Slovenia and Spain.

Held every four years and originally designed for men 22-years-old or younger, FIBA lowered the age eligibility to 21-years-old or younger in December 1998 and changed the competition name to the World Championship For Young Men. The U.S. captured gold in the inaugural competition which was held in 1993 and known as the FIBA 22 And Under World Championship, and in 1997 finished fifth with a 6-2 record.

The World University Games, held every two years, is a multi-sport competition open to athletes between the ages of 17 and 28 (born between Jan. 1, 1973 and Dec. 31, 1983), who are, or have been within the past year, a student at a college or university. This summer the World University Games will be held Aug. 22-Sept. 1 in Beijing, China. The men's basketball competition, currently featuring teams from 28 countries, has been divided into eight preliminary round pools. Placed into Pool B, the United States will face Iran, South Africa and Turkey in preliminary round play.

Penn State's Dunn will serve as head coach for the 2001 USA Basketball Men's World University Games Team, while collegiate head coaches Rod Barnes >from the University of Mississippi and Al Skinner from Boston College (Mass.) will assist Dunn on the sidelines.

The final 12-member team will be selected during the team's Aug. 10-17 training camp which will be held at the Denver Nuggets practice facility in Denver, Colo.

The USA Basketball Men's Collegiate Committee is chaired by Terry Holland (athletic director, University of Virginia) and consists of: NCAA appointees Boeheim, Rob Evans (head coach, Arizona State University), Jim O'Brien (head coach, Ohio State University) and Tubby Smith (head coach, University of Kentucky), NABC appointee Oliver Purnell (head coach, University of Dayton, Ohio), NAIA appointee Ralph Turner (head coach, Union University, Tenn.), NJCAA appointee Dan Sparks (head coach, Vincennes University, Ind.), and athlete representatives Steve Wojciechowski (1995 Junior World Championship team / assistant coach, Duke University, N.C.) and A.J. Wynder (1995 Pan American Games team / head coach, Nassau Community College, N.Y.).

2001 USA World Championship For Young Men Team Finalists

NAME	POS	HGT	WGT	DOB	YOG	SCHOOL / HOMETOWN
Troy Bell	G	6- 1	176	11/10/80	2003	Boston College / Minneapolis, Minnesota
LaVell Blanchard	F	6- 7	215	02/23/81	2003	University of Michigan / Ann Arbor, Michigan
Carlos Boozer	F	6- 9	265	11/20/81	2003	Duke University / Juneau, Alaska
Caron Butler	F	6- 8	230	03/13/80	2004	University of Connecticut / Racine, Wisconsin
Nick Collison	F	6-9	250	10/20/80	2003	University of Kansas / Iowa Falls, Iowa
Brian Cook	F	6-10	231	12/04/80	2003	University of Illinois / Lincoln, Illinois
Chris Duhon	G	6- 1	190	08/31/82	2004	Duke University / Slidell, Louisiana
Reggie Evans	F	6- 8	245	05/18/80	2002	University of Iowa / Pensacola, Florida
Jared Jeffries	F	6-10	220	11/25/81	2004	Indiana University / Bloomington, Indiana
Dahntay Jones	G/F	6-5	210	12/27/80	2003	Duke University / Hamilton Square, New Jersey
Jason Kapono	F	6- 8	206	02/04/81	2003	Univ. of California at Los Angeles /Lakewood, California
Jameer Nelson	G	6- 0	190	02/09/82	2004	St. Joseph's University / Chester, Pennsylvania
Michael Sweetney	F	6- 8	260	10/25/82	2004	Georgetown University / Oxen Hill, Maryland
Marcus Taylor	G	6- 3	190	11/25/81	2004	Michigan State University / Lansing, Michigan
David West	F/C	6- 8	232	08/29/80	2003	Xavier University / Garner, North Carolina
Frank Williams	G	6- 3	205	02/25/80	2003	University of Illinois / Peoria, Illinois

Head Coach: Jim Boeheim, Syracuse University (N.Y.)
Assistant Coach: Ernie Kent, University of Oregon
Assistant Coach: Phil Martelli, St. Joseph's University (Pa.)

2001 USA World University Games Team Finalists

NAME	POS	HGT	WGT	DOB	YOG	SCHOOL / HOMETOWN
Maurice Baker	G	6- 1	180	07/28/79	2002	Oklahoma State University / Madison,Illinois
Antwain Barbour	G	6- 5	180	06/27/82	2002	Wabash Valley C.C. /Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Andre Barrett	G	5- 8	160	02/21/82	2004	Seton Hall University / Bronx, New York
Earl Barron	C	6-11	230	08/14/81	2003	University of Memphis / Clarksdale,Mississippi
Lonny Baxter	F/C	6- 8	260	01/27/79	2002	University of Maryland / Silver Spring, Maryland
Dan Dickau	G	6- 1	180	09/16/78	2002	Gonzaga University / Vancouver,Washington
Juan Dixon	G	6- 3	164	10/09/78	2002	University of Maryland / Baltimore,Maryland
Erwin Dudley	F	6- 8	252	10/01/81	2003	University of Alabama / Uniontown,Alabama
Melvin Ely	C	6-10	256	05/02/78	2002	Fresno State University / Harvey,Illinois
Lynn Greer	G	6- 1	170	10/23/79	2002	Temple University / Philadelphia,Pennsylvania
Tahj Holden	F	6-10	247	01/17/81	2003	University of Maryland / Red Bank, New Jersey
Roger Mason	G	6- 5	205	09/10/80	2003	University of Virginia / Silver Spring, Maryland
Chris Owens	F/C	6- 8	245	03/01/79	2002	University of Texas / Duncanville, Texas
Justin Reed	F	6- 8	235	01/16/82	2004	University of Mississippi / Jackson,Mississippi
Tamar Slay	G	6- 9	210	04/02/80	2002	Marshall University / Beckley, West Virginia
Tyler Smith	F	6- 8	230	01/07/80	2002	Penn State University / Lake Forest, Illinois

Head Coach: Jerry Dunn, Pen State University (Pa.)
Assistant Coach: Rod Barnes, University of Mississippi
Assistant Coach: Al Skinner, Boston College (Mass.)

2001 USA Basketball Men's World Championship Team Finalists Quotes

TROY BELL, Boston College:
How did you feel when you heard your name? "I was pretty excited because coming out of high school and even in my freshman year of college, I never thought I would be able to end up in a position like this. Hanging around all these guys who I see on TV all year long, it just feels good to have your name brought up with such elite players."

What were you trying to do coming into Trials? "I just wanted to try to go with the flow. Everybody out here has talent and I didn't want to do too much out there. I just wanted to try to fit in with everybody."

What will be your strength? "Scoring, solid defense, whatever they need. Anything. I'm just happy to be a part of this team."

Have you ever been to Japan? "No. How long is the plane ride?"

Ten hours. "Ten hours! I almost died going to France and that was like six."

LAVELL BLANCHARD, University of Michigan:
What did you think when you heard your name called? "I was honored. Just a lot of relief and happiness."

What were you trying to do? What was your focus during the Trials? "Just play hard and hopefully that was good enough."

Have you ever been to Japan? Ever been out of the country? "No, I haven't. I've been to Canada, that's it."

What do you think you can bring to the team? "I don't know. You'd have to ask the coaches. I'm just going to play as hard as I can and do what the coaches ask."

CARLOS BOOZER, Duke University:
What was your reaction when you heard your name called? "I'm honored to be selected to be a part of the USA Basketball team. I think we all feel the same way to be able to represent and we want to do what we can to go over there and get the gold."

Were you a little more motivated to make a team this summer after being a finalist last year and not making the final cut? "Yeah. I was definitely trying to redeem myself from last summer. Coming back, working hard against these guys and trying to make the team."

What do you think of your Trials overall? What did you come in trying to do? "I wanted to be assertive on the boards. I had players fouling me which showed that I was aggressive."

CARON BUTLER, University of Connecticut:
What are your thoughts on being named a finalist? "It's a pleasure to be on the team with these guys. It's a blessing. I'm just happy to be here."

How do you think Trials went? "It was hard with the thin air and all, but I just tried to play to my potential everyday and it worked out."

What are you going to do between now and when you go to Dallas? "Just stay in shape and work on my outside game."

BRIAN COOK, University of Illinois:
What are your thoughts on being named as a finalist? "It feels good. Me and Frank (Williams) came out here and tried to play hard. Our goal as to make one of the teams and we did that. I think we're both happy to represent ourselves, our school and the country."

You've played for USA Basketball before. Do you think that experience will help you? "Yeah, I think so. The international game is a lot different and just learning from last year will help me a lot."

Do you want a gold medal this summer, after coming home with the silver in 2000? "That gives us a lot of motivation. We feel like we should have won the gold. To us, the silver was unacceptable. So I'm going to go out and try to make the team and then go out and have a better performance in Japan than we did in Brazil."

CHRIS DUHON, Duke University:
How does it feel to have just been named a finalist? "It feels great. I've been working hard and it's paying off. This is a great bunch of guys, but the job's not done yet. I've got to go work hard in Dallas and make the final cut."

Do you think your prior experience with USA Basketball will help you? "No, because there's different talent now. Everybody's better, stronger, more mature from the time I've played. I've just got to come out and compete to the best of my ability and keep playing hard."

What would it mean to you to return next fall not only as an NCAA champion, but a world champion? "It would be great. It would definitely boost my confidence up for the next season. Hopefully I'll play well enough to make this team."

Will this help you next season? "Definitely. Especially with all this great talent here. It will help me realize things that I have to work on to improve my game. Playing out here, playing against some of the top players in the country will definitely help me improve."

What would it mean to be able to play this summer with your Dukie teammates in terms of helping your team next year? "It definitely helped Jason and Mike last summer. They came back a lot more confident in themselves and those two together, they know how to play with each other better than most of the rest of us. It definitely helped them and I hope it does the same thing for me."

REGGIE EVANS, University of Iowa:
What were your thoughts when you heard your name called? "It feels real good to be selected to a team with so much talent. It feels real good and lets me know that I worked hard to play with these players on this type of level. It just felt real good to hear my name."

What were your plans coming into Trials? What did you want to try to do? "My biggest thing was just to play hard because there were a lot of scouts mainly wanting to see me from what my coach said. My coach said just play hard and be in pretty good shape. I'm probably one of the best in shape but I still had to play hard. Just be myself and don't overdue it."

JARED JEFFRIES, Indiana University:
What were your thoughts and feelings when you heard your name read as a finalist for the USA World Championship For Young Men Team?

"I was excited and proud to be selected a finalist for a team like this and to be able to have the opportunity to represent my country. I'm very honored."

What do you bring to the team? "I think versatility. My strength is my ability to do a lot of things at a height that allows me to shoot over or pass the ball over the defender."

Where does this accomplishment rank in your basketball career? "It ranks high, no question. It's a major accomplishment for me, it's a tribute to all the hard work I've put in during my career. To have a chance to represent your country is an honor."

Will this be your first time in Japan? "I've never been off the continent. I've been to Canada and Mexico but that's it. I've never been to Japan, but I'm looking forward to the opportunity."

DAHNTAY JONES, Duke University:
How does it feel to have been named a finalist? "It feels great. I've been here three years so I'm just excited to be a part of this."

What does it mean to have your teammates (Carlos Boozer and Chris Duhon) named with you? "That's great. We know each other a little bit so we get to spend some more time with each other and there's somebody you're familiar with."

How do you think Trials went for you? "They went alright. I just tried to play as hard as I can. I haven't been in a game situation in a while since I red-shirted this year so I just tried to play as hard as I could."

What are you going to do over the next six weeks? "Just keep working out at school and get back in better shape and get ready."

JASON KAPONO, University of California at Los Angeles:
What were your thoughts when you heard your name called? "I'm truly blessed. I'm just glad I had a chance to come out here and play for USA Basketball. This was my first time playing for them so I'm just truly honored."

What were you trying to do coming into Trials? "Coming into trials, I just wanted to show them that I was one of those guys who would sacrifice my game just for the betterment of the team. I just wanted to show them I wanted to play team basketball."

Looked like your shot was falling pretty well. "Yeah, definitely. I felt pretty good even though the air was different and there was a time difference. I just tried to play hard throughout the trials and prove to the coaches hat I should be on the team."

JAMEER NELSON, St. Joseph's University:
What did you think when you heard your name called? "I came out here and worked hard so I'd have a chance so I wasn't really surprised."

What was your focus? "I just wanted to come out here and play as hard as I can."

What do you think you'll bring to this team? "Running the offense pretty much. All I have to do is score. We have guys like Troy (Bell) who all they have to do is penetrate and kick."

MICHAEL SWEETNEY, Georgetown University:
What does it mean to you to be named a finalist? "It feels real good to be honored and to be able to play for the USA and to represent and over these six weeks I'm just going to work real hard."

What do you think of your performance at Trials? "I think I did alright. I just went out and tried to score, rebound and run the floor. I just tried to work real hard."

MARCUS TAYLOR, Michigan State University:
What did you think when your name was called and you were named a finalist for the team again? "It feels great. I've worked hard to get to this point. Last year I fell short a little bit, but this year I came out and worked hard in the summer and the season and it payed off for me."

Do you think a college season under your belt helped you? "I think it did a little bit. Plus the experience I had last year because I kind of know what they expect. I came in with a positive attitude and didn't worry about last year. I just wanted to grow a little bit."

Coming into Trials, what did you want to do? "Be aggressive. Make sure I come out there and attack every player and every chance I got. Play better defense than I did last year and I did that."

DAVID WEST, Xavier University:
What does it feel like to have been named a finalist? "It feels good. I was put among the elite in college basketball. It's a great honor to have a chance to represent this country."

What are your thoughts on how Trials went? "It was hard. There was a lot of competition and lot of good guys here. It was a little hard dealing with the thin air, but aside from that it was alright."

2001 USA Basketball Men's World University Games Team Finalists Quotes

MAURICE BAKER, Oklahoma State University:
What went through your head when your name was called? "Since my name was first, he (Terry Holland) called me first so I wasn't nervous anymore. I was nervous just sitting over there, but when he called my name I was excited."

What are you going to work on to try and make the final 12-member team? "I'm just going to do what I've been doing, running, getting into the gym and lifting weights.

Did you feel you had a good USA Basketball Trials experience? "The first day I felt a little shaky, but the second day I came out and played well so I had a good feeling about it."

ANTWAIN BARBOUR, Wabash Valley Community College:
What are you going to work on to try and make the final 12-member team? "I'm going to try and stay in shape. It's going to be a big deal to stay in shape. I also need to sharpen up my skills and we'll see what happens."

Were you at all intimidated as the only junior college player among the 42 athletes at the USA Basketball Trials this weekend? "I felt pretty good, I wasn't intimidated, I don't get intimidated by anyone. I wanted to come out here and prove myself, just play hard."

What kind of feelings were going through your head when you heard your name called? "I was happy that I made the first cut. I didn't think that I was going to make that, being a JUCO player and everything. I'm just so happy."

ANDRE BARRETT, Seton Hall University:
What went through your head when your name was called? "I was kind of surprised that I made it because of how young I am. But I felt that I performed pretty well out here and I had confidence that I would make one of the teams."

Did you have a good experience at the USA Basketball Trials? "Definitely. These are some of the best players in college basketball. When you're coming out here, you have to bring your A game, or else you wouldn't be known among the top college players. So it was a good experience for me."

What do you need to do to stay on your A game and try to make the final 12-member team? "Just work out like I have been doing. Staying in shape, running and working on my shot."

EARL BARRON, University of Memphis:
How do you feel about the chance of being able to play for a gold medal for your country? "It's a great feeling to know that I'm one of the best players in the nation and I'm getting the chance to play and test myself against some of the best players. If I do make the final cut and travel to China, it would be a great opportunity to represent my country and try to win a gold medal."

Did you feel you had a good USA Basketball Trials experience? "I started off kind of slow, but the second day I came in pretty good. I was in pretty good shape and I ran well all three days. The altitude affected me at first, but I got used to it. Overall I think I did a pretty good job."

LONNY BAXTER, University of Maryland:
What went through your head when your name was called? "I was excited to hear my name. Being selected for this is a great honor. I'm going to have to work extremely hard, get myself into great tip-top shape this summer, go up to Denver for the training camp and try to make the best of it."

Did you feel pretty confident during the USA Basketball Trials this weekend? "Yes, I always do. When I stepped out on the court, I played hard, played the way I always play."

What would it mean for Maryland's team next year if all three of you (Juan Dixon & Tahj Holden) made the team together? "A lot. It would be a big honor. These are the best college players in the world and we've got three players among the finalists so it's great for us."

DAN DICKAU, Gonzaga University:
How did you feel your Trials went this weekend? "I felt pretty good. I knew I probably needed to play well this morning as well, but I was playing hard and I came in with the attitude that I needed to work hard this weekend. I felt that if I did that, I'd have a good shot at making the team. I had a good time this weekend overall. Being at altitude was difficult, but it wasn't as bad as some people said it might be, but it was a good time."

How do you feel about the chance of being able to play for a gold medal for your country? "That would be great if I made the team, representing the USA."

JUAN DIXON, University of Maryland:
What are you going to work on to try and make the final 12-member team?

"It's all up to me, how hard I plan on working before heading back up to Denver (for training camp). I'm just going to try to stay focused. Me, Lonny (Baxter) and Tahj are going to work as hard as we can to get better and get into shape. This altitude definitely gets to you. But I'm looking forward to it."

Does it help having two other Maryland players among the finalists? "Definitely it helps a lot. I'm familiar with those two and I'm also familiar with Lynn Greer and Roger Mason and it's going to be a great experience. I know a lot of guys on the team, so I'm going to come out here and have some fun. Hopefully I'll be heading to China to try to bring back the gold medal. It would also be great exposure for us, especially for our program. We performed well out here this weekend and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to playing together this summer."

About USA Basketball's World University Games streak of six gold medals: "There's some pressure, but we're all men here and we're all competitors and I'm sure we can handle it."

Did you get any Trials advice from Steve Blake, who has competed for USA Basketball in the past? "Yeah, I talked to Steve. He had some good advice. He said to go out there and play hard, just work hard and hopefully you'll make the team. You have to block everything out, stay focused and have fun."

ERWIN DUDLEY, University of Alabama:
What went through your head when your name was called? "I was hoping that I had made it, I wasn't really sure if I had or not. But I knew that I was going to come out here and play hard, do whatever it took to make the team."

About USA Basketball's World University Games streak of six gold medals: "I don't want that to fall on my shoulders, to have people knowing us as the team that lost. So I want to go out and play hard, get my teammates to play hard with me, and go out and win."

How do you feel about the chance of being able to play for a gold medal for your country? "It's a great opportunity for me. And also for the players who I'll be playing with. It'll be a great experience for us. We will be playing with a lot of talent on this team and playing against talented teams as well. I want to go out and represent my school well also."

MELVIN ELY, Fresno State University:
What went through your head when your name was called? "I was excited. I came out here and was trying to play hard. I'm not from the biggest of schools so I felt that I had to play harder, play twice as hard as everyone else, so I'm very happy I made the cut."

Did you feel intimidated going up against some of the guys from the bigger schools? "No, I'm used to seeing a lot of these guys on the TV and I know some of the others. It was like a summer camp in high school all over again, playing against a lot of the same guys but they're just a little bit more mature now."

How do you feel about the chance of being able to play for a gold medal for your country? "I never thought I'd have a chance like this. When I first heard that I was invited, I never even thought I'd make it. This is a great experience for me and I'm going to try to take advantage of it."

LYNN GREER, Temple University:
Did you feel pretty confident during the USA Basketball Trials this weekend? "Coming in, I felt that I had to work hard in order to get where I am now. But as I was playing, sometimes I thought I didn't play well, but other times I thought I played my best, so I really wasn't sure how it was going to go. My heart was beating fast because my name was one of the last ones on the list and when I heard the other guards [the USA Basketball Mens' Collegiate Committee] picked, I really counted myself out. Then when he (Terry Holland) said my name, it was a big relief."

What are you going to work on to try and make the final 12-member team?

"I always work hard and try to stay in shape. If I can, I'm going to try come out to this part of the country early to work out so that I can get used to the altitude before camp starts."

How do you feel about the chance of being able to play for a gold medal for your country? "I never imagined this. I always dreamt of things like this, but it's coming true right now and I have a chance to really do it."

TAHJ HOLDEN, University of Maryland:
Are you excited about the possibility of making a third USA Basketball Team? "I'm really excited. The World Youth Games (in 1998) was a good experience and now that I know what things are about, I'm really excited to be able to go out and contribute."

What can you tell the rest of the finalists about the international competition? "They're going to call a lot of fouls because we play a little bit more physical than they do in the international game. The rules are different so we have to get used to that. Other than that, just to play hard and play our game and we should come out on top."

About USA Basketball's World University Games streak of six gold medals: "There's no pressure, we just have to go out there and play basketball."

What did it feel like to win the gold medal at the 1998 World Youth Games? "It was great. I didn't really realize how big it was until after the fact. After we got home, probably a couple months later. I was still playing basketball and I didn't really have a chance to sit down and realize that I had help win another gold medal for this country, it was exciting."

If you made the team, how much would the experience help your game next year? "I think it will help me out a lot. Playing against the best competition in the world will always help you out. You know you're playing with and against the best. You get challenged when you're playing against the international teams, you have to go out every night ready to play."

ROGER MASON, University of Virginia:
How do you feel about the chance of being able to play for a gold medal for your country? "It's a great honor. Anytime you're asked to represent your country is something that's special and I want to work hard to make the most of it. It's something that, as a kid, you hope you have the opportunity to do. When you get put in that situation, you want to work as hard as you possibly can to make it and that's what I want to do."

CHRIS OWENS, University of Texas:
On being named as one of the finalists: "I feel blessed to be picked. I came out and had a good time playing with all these wonderful athletes. It was just fun to come out here and play with them. As far as making the final team, I'm going to keep on working hard. That's all you can do, work hard and have fun and hope that you make the team."

What does it mean to have the chance to represent your country and hopefully win a gold medal for your country -- to follow a little in the footsteps as it were of your great uncle Jessie Owens? "I'm really excited about this. It means a lot because the things he did meant so much, what he did went above all sports. He exemplified excellence and I just want to do as much as I can to make him proud."

Do you feel as if you have a standard to live up to because of the name? "I don't think anyone could live up to his standards and do what he's done. I just go out there and do my thing with the skills I've been blessed with and try to be the best I can be at whatever I do. It's just an honor to share the same name."

JUSTIN REED, University of Memphis:
Did you feel pretty confident during the USA Basketball Trials this weekend? "I got off to a little bit of a rough start the first day, I had some problems breathing. I thought I missed my chance of making either one of these teams. But once I got it together, I got my wind back and started making some shots, then I thought I still had a chance of making one of the teams."

How do you feel about the chance of being able to play for a gold medal for your country? "I'm really happy that I have the chance to come back and display my skills and hopefully represent my country. It's really like a dream come true."

What are you going to work on to try and make the final 12-member team? "I'm going to try to get into tip-top shape. I believe that if I was in a little better shape this weekend, I would have been able to adjust to the altitude a little better. When I come back to Denver for the training camp, I'm going to try to be in better shape. I'm going to work on enhancing my skills also so that I can go over to China and help the USA win the gold."

What would it mean to you to win a gold medal? "It would mean a lot. It might not mean as much to some guys, but it would be just like winning the lottery to me. I haven't won a lot of things, and when I do win something I really cherish it. So winning a gold medal would be like a dream come true."

TAMAR SLAY, Marshall University:
Did you feel you had a good USA Basketball Trials experience? "The first day I didn't think I played well, but the second day I did and felt pretty confident for the rest of the weekend."

What did you think about the rest of the competition here at the USA Basketball Men's Trials? "Because where I'm from, I'm in the MAC (Mid-American Conference), I don't get to play against these guys. So coming out here and seeing all these guys who I see on TV all the time and getting the opportunity to play against them was a great experience."

What are you going to work on to try and make the final 12-member team? "Just continue doing what I've been doing the whole summer. Training, lifting weights and trying to stay focused."

TYLER SMITH, Penn State University:
Did it help you this weekend, playing for coach Jerry Dunn at Penn State and knowing his system? "This is just the first cuts so far, this isn't the final team. I tried to play my game the best as I could. I'm not a big time scorer or anything, but I tried to do that little things to help my (scrimmage) team win. [The Committee] said they were looking for guys who were team players, who were going to help guys get open and do other little things. I think that really helped me out."

How do you feel about the chance of being able to play for a gold medal for your country? "I'm very excited. Anytime you get a chance to play ball overseas, it's a great opportunity. I'm really excited to represent the U.S., it'll be a great opportunity."

Finalists For 2001 USA Basketball World Championship And World University Games Teams Announced

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