Iowa forward Melsahn Basabe will attend the 2011 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Championship Team training camp this summer, according to a release.
The camp will be held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., from June 17 to 24. The 17 players at the camp will fight for spots on the 12-man roster that will compete in the FIBA U19 World Championship for Men in Latvia. Roster finalists will be announced on June 19, and the official USA team will be announced on June 24.
The team will be led by George Mason head coach Paul Hewitt. St. Mary’s coach Randy Bennett and Jacksonville University’s Cliff Warren will assist Hewitt.
Basabe averaged 11 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Hawkeyes last year and was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman team. The Glen Cove, N.Y., native became the first freshman in Iowa history to rack up more than 340 points, 200 rebounds, and 40 blocks in a single season.
"I’m honored and excited to have received an invitation to attend the training camp," Basabe said in a statement. "This is a tremendous opportunity for me to meet and practice alongside some of the country’s best young players."
— by Seth Roberts