McCallum Makes First Cut at USA Basketball World University Games Training Camp

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Detroit sophomore Ray McCallum made the first cut down to 14 players at the USA Basketball World University Games training camp, where he will practice with the team for the next week, trying to make the 12-man roster for the 2011 World University Games squad that will compete in Shenzhen, China, Aug. 13-22.

A late addition to the initial 21-man camp, McCallum is among the final 14 players, along with: Tim Abromaitis (Notre Dame/Unionville, Conn.); Marcus Denmon (Missouri/Kansas City, Mo.); Ashton Gibbs (Pittsburgh/Scotch Plains, N.J.); Draymond Green (Michigan State/Saginaw, Mich.); JaMychal Green (Alabama/Montgomery, Ala.); Scoop Jardine (Syracuse/Philadelphia, Pa.); John Jenkins (Vanderbilt/ Hendersonville, Tenn.); Orlando Johnson (UC Santa Barbara/Seaside, Calif.); Greg Mangano (Yale/Orange, Conn.); Trevor Mbakwe (Minnesota/ St. Paul, Minn.); Ray McCallum (Detroit Mercy/Beverly Hills, Mich.); Darius Miller (Kentucky/Maysville, Ky.); Aaric Murray (West Virginia/Philadelphia, Pa.); and Shabazz Napier (Connecticut/Randolph, Mass.).

Upon being named to the 21-man squard, McCallum said in a release, "It's a great honor to get an opportunity to represent my country. I've never had the opportunity to play in the program growing up and it's something I've been looking forward to.  I'm going against four other talented point guards to make the team and I've been playing against these guys all summer (at Deron Williams camp and LeBron James Skills Academy).

"I pretty much know most of the guys through camps and I have a chance to prove that I can be one of the better players in the country.  Some of these guys saw our games on television and I was kind of shocked how much they knew about Detroit and how good we can be with everyone coming back.  Hearing that from the best players in the nation really motivates you."

The USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team Committee, chaired by Jim Boeheim (head coach, Syracuse University), is expected on July 31 to announce finalists for the 2011 USA World University Games Team. Training camp will continue July 31-Aug. 7 at the USOTC, and the official roster will be announced prior to the team's departure for China on Aug. 8.

Collegiate head coaches Cuonzo Martin of the University of Tennessee and Brad Stevens of Butler University were named as assistant coaches for the 2011 USA Men's World University games team, and Tony Bennett (University of Virginia), Sean Miller (University of Arizona) and Shaka Smart (Virginia Commonwealth University) are serving as court coaches during the team's training camp.

The USA will play an exhibition contest against New Century, a Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) professional team on Aug. 11 in Huizho, China, before opening play in the 2011 World University Games on Aug. 13

2011 USA Men's World University Games Team Training Schedule
Friday, July 29
5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Session 1 Sports Center II
Saturday, July 30
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Session 2 Sports Center II
4:30 - 7:00 p.m. Session 3 Sports Center II
Sunday, July 31
9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Session 4 Sports Center II
*Announcement of team finalists.
4:30 - 7:00 p.m. Training Sports Center II
Monday, Aug. 1
11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Training Sports Center II
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Training Sports Center I
Tuesday, Aug. 2
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Training Sports Center I
4:30 - 7:00 p.m. Training Sports Center I
Wednesday, Aug. 3
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Training Sports Center I
4:30 - 7:00 p.m. Training Sports Center I
Thursday, Aug. 4
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Training Sports Center I
4:30 - 7:00 p.m. Training Sports Center I
Friday, Aug. 5
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Training Sports Center II
4:30 - 7:00 p.m. Training Sports Center II
Saturday, Aug. 6
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Training Sports Center II
4:30 - 7:00 p.m. Training Sports Center II
Sunday, Aug. 7
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Training Sports Center II
4:30 - 7:00 p.m. Training Sports Center II
Monday, Aug. 8
*Depart for China.
Wednesday, Aug. 10
T B A .Practice Shenzhen, China
Thursday, Aug. 11
T B A .Shoot Around Huizhou, China
7:30 p.m. Exhibition: USA vs. New Century (CBA),
Huizhou, China
Friday, Aug. 12
T B A .Practice Shenzhen, China
*Opening Ceremonies for 2011 World University Games.
Aug. 13-22
2011 World University Games Shenzhen, China

(Release courtest DetroitTitans.com)