Pittsnogle Named Finalist
June 02, 2003 10:33 AM | General
June 2, 2003
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| Kevin Pittsnogle is one of 16 players left for the USA Basketball Men's Junior World Championship Team (USA Basketball photo) |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University sophomore center Kevin Pittsnogle has been selected as one of 16 finalists for the 2003 USA Basketball Men’s Junior World Championship Team.
The team was announced following three days of Trials (May 30-June 1) at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The USA team finalists were selected by the USA Basketball Men’s Collegiate Committee. Eligibility is limited to any male athlete who is a U.S. citizen and 19-years-old or younger.
“I thought I played decently, it wasn't to the best of my ability but I think I was alright,” said Pittsnogle. “I've played better, but I felt pretty good. I went out there and played hard and had fun. It turned out really great.”
Joining Pittsnogle as finalists are: Mohamed Abukar (Rancho Bernardo HS); Maurice Ager (Michigan State); James Augustine (Illinois); Brandon Bowman (Georgetown); Daniel Brown (Illinois); Paul Davis (Michigan State); Ryan Hollins (UCLA); Daniel Horton (Michigan); Al Jefferson (Prentiss HS); Brian Johnson (Bishop O’Connell HS); Jonathan Modica (Arkansas); J.J. Redick (Duke); C.J. Watson (Tennessee); Deron Williams (Illinois); and Kennedy Winston (Alabama).
“There may not be a quote unquote big name star like we had last year with Carmelo Anthony (who was a member of the 2002 USA Junior World Championship Qualifying Team), but what we have is a team that is really going to play hard,” stated USA junior team mentor and Oregon head coach Ernie Kent. “It seems that they have a tremendous focus on wanting to be successful in this tournament, and that is a real big positive for us.”
The official 12-member USA junior team will be finalized during the team’s June 24-July 6 training camp which will be held in Dallas, Texas. In preparation for the Junior World Championship, Kent’s squad will participate in the 2003 Global Games that are being conducted in Dallas. Featuring 10 teams, the USA will play five games between June 30-July 5.
The USA Junior squad will compete July 10-July 20 in the 2003 FIBA Men’s Junior World Championship Tournament that was recently moved from Malaysia to Thessaloniki, Greece.
