North Carolina State University Athletics
Wilkins Invited To 2000 USA Basketball Men's Trials
5/8/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Wilkins will be among 30 players competing for a spot on the 2000 USA Basketball World Championship for Young Men Qualifying Team. University of Virginia athletic director Terry Holland chairs a committee that will select finalists for the team following the three-day Trials which will be held May 26-28 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
"This is a tremendous opportunity," said Wilkins, 6-6 of Washington, N.C. "The experience will help me improve as both a person and player. I am proud to represent my country and NC State University at the Trials."
During his freshman season at NC State, Wilkins started more games (34) and played more minutes (1,083) than any freshman in school history, finishing the year third all-time among all freshmen in school history in scoring (389 points), fourth in rebounding (197) and fifth in assists (77). He averaged 11.4 points and 5. 8 rebounds for the season, but stepped up late in the year, averaging 15 points and five rebounds in the postseason. Wilkins earned All-ACC Tournament and ranked fifth among all ACC players in offensive rebounding (2.77 per game) and 10th in free-throw percentage (75.4 percent).
The 2000 USA Basketball Men's National Team Trials will begin Friday, May 26 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. (all times MST). Sessions will follow from 9:00-11:00 a.m. and from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 27; and will conclude on Sunday, May 28 with a session from 8:00-10:00 a.m. Finalists will be announced following the final session on May 28.
The 2000 USA Young Men's Team will compete July 19-23 in Riberao Preto, near Sao Paulo, Brazil, in the 2000 COPABA World Championship for Young Men Qualifying Tournament. The USA team will compete against seven other teams from the Americas for one of the three Americas Zone qualifying berths for the 2001 FIBA World Championship for Young Men.
Held every four years, the U.S. qualified for the previous competition which was initiated in 1993 as the FIBA 22 And Under World Championship 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. Featuring 12 teams, the next FIBA World Championship for Young Men is scheduled for 2001 in Japan.
Syracuse University (N.Y.) head coach Jim Boeheim will serve as head coach of the 2000 U.S. squad, and he will be assisted by University of Houston (Texas) head coach Ray McCallum and Hofstra University (N.Y.) head coach Jay Wright. The final 12-member team will be named during the July 10-17 training camp which will be held at a site to be determined.
2000 USA Basketball Men's National Team Trials Roster NAME POS HGT WGT SCHOOL Steve Blake G 6-3 175 Maryland LaVell Blanchard F 6-7 205 Michigan Keith Bogans G 6-5 205 Kentucky Carlos Boozer F 6-9 260 Duke Nick Collison F 6-9 240 Kansas Brian Cook F 6-10 231 Illinois Omar Cook G 6-1 185 *St. John's Josh Davis FC 6-7 230 Wyoming Patrick Doctor FC 6-9 230 American Mike Dunleavy GF 6-7 200 Duke Drew Gooden F 6-9 221 Kansas Eddie Griffen CF 6-9 220 *Seton Hall Brooks Hall FG 6-6 205 Dayton Kirk Hinrich G 6-3 180 Kansas Steve Hunter C 7-0 215 DePaul Joe Johnson GF 6-8 225 Arkansas Dahntay Jones GF 6-5 210 Rutgers Steve Logan G 5-10 200 University Jason Parker F 6-8 203 Fork Union Academy Tayshaun Prince GF 6-9 215 Kentucky Zach Randolph CF 6-9 215 *Michigan State Jason Richardson GF 6-6 210 Michigan State Kenny Satterfield G 6-2 175 Cincinnati Johnnie Selvie CF 6-7 225 Southeastern CC Bobby Simmons GF 6-7 210 DePaul B. B. Waldon F 6-7 210 South Florida Damien Wilkins F 6-6 220 North Carolina St Chris Williams F 6-6 198 Virginia Jason Williams G 6-2 190 Duke Vincent Yarbrough F 6-7 210 Tennessee * Player has signed a national letter of intent to attend designated school Head Coach: Jim Boeheim, Syracuse University (N.Y.) Assistant Coach: Ray McCallum, University of Houston (Texas) Assistant Coach: Jay Wright, Hofstra University (N.Y.)
