May 31, 2007
USA Basketball News Release
CHAPEL HILL - Deon Thompson, a rising sophomore forward on the University of North Carolina men's basketball team, has accepted an invitation to take part in the 2007 USA Basketball U19 World Championship Team trials June 28-30 in Dallas, Texas.
Thompson appeared in all 38 Tar Heel games as a freshman in the 2006-07 season, averaging 4.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game as Carolina's top backup big man.
Also accepting invitations to participate in the trials were: Lavoy Allen (Pennsbury H.S., Pa./ Morrisville, Pa.); Darrell Arthur (Kansas / Dallas, Texas); Michael Beasley (Notre Dame Prep, Mass./ Frederick, Md.); Patrick Beverly (Arkansas / Chicago, Ill.): Matt Bouldin (Gonzaga / Highlands Ranch, Colo.); Dwayne Collins (Miami / Miami, Fla.); Stephen Curry (Davidson / Charlotte, N.C.); Tyreke Evans (Aston American Christian, Pa. / Aston, Pa.); Jonny Flynn (Niagara Falls H.S. / Niagara Falls, N.Y.); Drew Gordon (San Jose Archbishop Mitty H.S. / San Jose, Calif.); Donte' Greene (Towson Catholic H.S. / Baltimore, Md.); James Hickson (Wheeler H.S., Ga. / Marietta, Ga.); Damian Hollis (George Washington / Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.); DeAndre Jordan (Bellaire Episcopal H.S. / Humble, Texas); David Lighty (Ohio State / Cleveland, Ohio); Raymar Morgan (Michigan State / Canton, Ohio); Tajuan Porter (Oregon / Detroit, Mich.); Corey Stokes (St. Benedict's H.S. / Newark, N.J.); and Brad Wanamaker (Roman Catholic H.S. / Philadelphia, Pa.).
Trials for the USA U19 World Championship Team will be held June 28-30 at the Dallas Mavericks' practice facility in AmericanAirlines Arena. The first trials session will be held on June 28, 5-7 p.m. (all times local, CDT). Two trials sessions (10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.) will be held on June 29 and 30. The selected USA team finalists will remain for the USA's July 1-7 training camp, which will also see the USA compete in the 2007 Global Games in Dallas.
Nine of the 20 players boast of prior USA Basketball experience, including three members of the 2006 USA U18 National Team that finished 4-0, captured gold, and qualified the United States for the 2007 U19 World Championship. Beasley (2007 Nike Hoop Summit and 2006 U18 World Championship Qualifying Team); Flynn (2007 Nike Hoop Summit and 2006 U18 World Championship Qualifying Team); and Greene (2007 Nike Hoop Summit and 2006 U18 World Championship Qualifying Team) were all members of the U18 National team and were most recently members of the victorious 2007 USA Junior National Select Team that defeated a World Select Team 100-80 in the 2007 Nike Hoop Summit.
Of the 20 players accepting Trials invitations, 12 completed their collegiate freshman season in 2006-07, six completed their high school senior campaign on 2007, while two will be high school seniors in 2007-08.
Seven players earned honors from their respective conferences. Beverly was selected the SEC Freshman and Newcomer of the Year and Curry was named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year. Also, Arthur (Big 12), Bouldin (West Coast), Beverley (SEC), Hollis (Atlantic 10), Morgan (Big Ten), and Porter (Pac-10) were named to their all-freshman teams.
Nine conferences have players involved in the trials, with the Big East Conference featuring four invitees, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Big 12 have three apiece, the Atlantic 10 Conference, Big Ten Conference and , Pacific-10 Conference each have two, and the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Southern Conference and West Coast Conference all have one player participating in the trials.
Eighteen universities feature players in the trials, with Syracuse boasting of a pair, while Arkansas, Davidson, George Washington, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kansas State, Miami, Michigan State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Temple, Texas A&M, UCLA and Villanova have one each.
