Florida made it to the Elite 8 in 2011, giving its players a chance to play on a stage few collegiate athletes will ever get to experience.
This summer, sophomores Scottie Wilbekin and Patric Young will get a chance at a similar opportunity when they try out for the USA’s U19 basketball team that will compete in the 2011 FIBA World Championships in Latvia.
USA Basketball announced Wednesday that Florida head coach Billy Donovan will join them at the Team USA tryouts this summer in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Serving as one of three court coaches for USA U19 head coach Paul Hewitt (George Mason), Donovan will help coach the 21 players vying for a spot on the final 12-man squad.
“I’m excited to work with this group of talented players from all over the country, including a couple of Gators,” Donovan said in a press release. “USA Basketball has done a great job assembling this team, and I look forward to contributing to their preparations for the U19 World Championship.”
While Donovan won’t be working exclusively with his point guard and center, the training camp provides him with a nice opportunity to interact with the two players over the summer.
The U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs will play host to the training camp from June 17-24 for the players hoping to make the cut for USA basketball.
Team USA will announce its final 12-man roster on June 24, before the team leaves for Europe.
The 2011 FIBA World Championships will take place from June 30 to July 10 in the Latvian cities Valmiera, Liepaja and Riga Latvia.
Incoming freshman Brad Beal was initially on the practice squad, but withdrew to enroll in classes at Florida this summer and to get comfortable in Gainesville before the fall semester begins.
During the 2010-11 season, Young averaged 3.4 points and 3.8 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per game. Wilbekin averaged 2.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in 17.1 minutes per game.