Oklahoma State University Athletics
Anderson Invited to USA Team Trials
May 20, 2009 | Cowboy Basketball
May 20, 2009
Colorado Springs, Colo. - James Anderson, a junior-to-be on Oklahoma State's Cowboy Basketball squad, has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2009 USA Men's World University Games Team Trials, it was announced today. The training camp will take place June 16-24 in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Anderson is coming off a sophomore season in which he led the Cowboys to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Junction City, Ark., native averaged a team-high 18.2 points per game and was named All-Big 12 Second Team by the conference office.
The World University Games is organized by the International University Sports Federation and is held every other year. The 2009 men's basketball competition will take place July 2-12 in Belgrade, Serbia, with 24 men's teams expected to compete for the gold. Eligible athletes for the USA team must be currently enrolled in a college or university and have remaining athletic eligibility.
Anderson is one of 15 players which will compete for 12 spots on the squad, including three from the Big 12 Conference. Others include: Talor Battle, Penn State; Trevor Booker, Clemson; Craig Brackins, Iowa State; Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia; Sherron Collins, Kansas; Mike Davis, Illinois; Corey Fisher, Villanova; Lazar Hayward, Marquette; Robbie Hummel and JaJuan Johnson, Purdue; Quincy Pondexter, Washington; Deon Thompson, North Carolina; Evan Turner, Ohio State; and Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State.
University of Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan has been selected by USA Basketball to serve as head coach of the 2009 USA Men's World University Games Team.
"These guys are some of the best college players in the country and I think they're guys who would be future Olympic candidates," said Jim Boeheim, chair of the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team Committee and head coach at Syracuse. "This is a great opportunity for them to play for their country and get an understanding of the international game. I think this is a great group of college players. This should be a great experience for them and they should represent USA Basketball very well."
The eventual 12-member USA team will be announced prior to the team's departure for Serbia on June 25.
