May 31, 2000
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Kentucky junior Tayshaun Prince is a finalist for the 2000 USA Basketball World Championship for Young Men Qualifying Team, USA Basketball has announced. Prince, who tried out for the squad during a three-day period over Memorial Day weekend, was one of 16 chosen from a group of 25 college and high school stars under the age of 20. He must now make the final roster of 12, which will be decided during the team’s training camp, July 10-17, in Miami, Fla.
“We’ve got great depth in these 16 guys,” said Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, who will lead the team this summer. “Although we don’t really have any true low posts players or centers, we’ve got a lot of guys who are flexible and who can do a lot of things. I think that’s going to make for a good team and I think our chances for a gold medal should be very good.”
Prince fits Boeheim’s description. The 6-9 swingman has played three positions for the Wildcats during his two-year college career — shooting guard, small forward and power forward. Last season, he started 32 games and led the Cats in scoring (13.3 ppg) and was second in rebounding (6.0 rpg) while playing 34 minutes per game. He was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection. In early May, the Compton, Calif. native underwent nasal surgery, and only resumed playing the week before tryouts.
“My key was just to play my game,” Prince said. “(After the surgery) it was pretty tough playing on Friday, trying to get back in the groove. But things were going real well and I was very surprised the first day by the way I played.”
Prince is a finalist with other top standouts such as Carlos Boozer and Mike Dunleavy of Duke, Steve Blake of Maryland, Kenny Satterfield of Cincinnati and Arkansas’ Joe Johnson.
“Hearing my name called was a great experience,” Prince added. “Fortunately, I’m going to Miami and hopefully I’ll make it to Brazil. I’m playing against some good players and even if I don’t make it there are some guys here who deserve it.”
The 2000 USA Young Men’s Team will compete in the COPABA (Conferderation of Pan American Basketball Associations) World Championship July 19-23 in Riberao Preto, near Sao Paulo, Brazil. The 12-member squad will compete against seven other teams from the Americas for one of three Americas Zone qualifying berths in the 2001 FIBA (International Basketball Federation) World Championship for Young Men which is held every four years. Next summer, the FIBA tournament will be held in Japan.
UK teammate Keith Bogans was invited to the tryouts but did not attend.
2000 USA World Championship for Young Men Qualifying Team Finalists
NAME * POS * HGT * WGT * DOB * YOG * SCHOOL / HOMETOWN
Steve Blake * G * 6- 3 * 175 * 02/26/80 * 2003 * Maryland/Miami Lakes, Fla.
Carlos Boozer * F * 6- 9 * 260 * 11/20/81 * 2003 * Duke/Juneau, Alaska
Nick Collison * F * 6- 9 * 240 * 10/20/80 * 2003 * Kansas/Iowa Falls, Iowa
Brian Cook * F * 6-10 * 231 * 12/04/80 * 2003 * Illinois/Lincoln, Ill.
Mike Dunleavy * G/F * 6- 7 * 200 * 09/15/80 * 2003 * Duke/Lake Oswego, Ore.
Drew Gooden * F * 6- 9 * 221 * 09/24/81 * 2003 * Kansas/Richmond, Calif.
Joe Johnson * G/F * 6- 8 * 225 * 06/29/81 * 2003 * Arkansas/Little Rock, Ark.
Steve Logan * G * 5-10 * 200 * 03/20/80 * 2002 * Cincinnati/Cleveland, Ohio
Tayshaun Prince * G/F * 6- 9 * 215 * 02/28/80 * 2002 * Kentucky/Compton, Calif.
Zach Randolph * C/F * 6- 9 * 215 * 07/16/81 * 2000 * Marion H.S./*Michigan State/Marion, Ind.
Jason Richardson * G/F * 6- 6 * 210 * 01/20/81 * 2003 * Michigan State/Saginaw, Mich.
Kenny Satterfield * G * 6- 2 * 175 * 04/10/81 * 2003 * Cincinnati/Bronx, N.Y.
Johnnie Selvie * C/F * 6- 7 * 225 * 02/15/80 * 2002 * Southeastern C.C./*Connecticut/Flint, Mich.
Bobby Simmons * G/F * 6- 7 * 210 * 06/02/80 * 2002 * DePaul/Chicago, Ill.
Marcus Taylor * G * 6- 3 * 185 * 11/25/81 * 2000 * Waverly H.S./*Michigan State/Lansing, Mich.
Jason Williams * G * 6- 2 * 190 * 09/10/81 * 2003 * Duke/Plainfield, N.J.
Head Coach: Jim Boeheim, Syracuse
Assistant Coach: Ray McCallum, Houston
Assistant Coach: Jay Wright, Hofstra
* Player has signed a national letter of intent to attend designated school
–UK–
