Two Gators set out this week to make the U19 Team USA basketball squad that will compete this summer in the 2011 FIBA World Championships.
On Sunday morning, USA Basketball announced its first round of cuts to the 21-man practice squad trying out in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Sophomore center Patric Young was chosen as one of 13 finalists, while sophomore point guard Scottie Wilbekin was cut from the team.
With only one cut left to be made, Young, one of the team’s strongest big men, is expected to make the final 12-man roster, which will be announced before the team leaves for Latvia on Friday.
The 6-foot-9, 245-pound Jacksonville native is a veteran of USA Basketball, having won a gold medal with the U18 team at the 2010 FIBA Americas Championship last summer.
He was also a part of the USA National Junior Select Team that won the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit.
After arriving at Florida as a McDonald’s All-American in 2010, Young went on to average 3.4 points and 3.8 rebounds in his freshman season at Florida.
The 2011 FIBA World Championships will take place from June 30 to July 10 in Latvia.
Florida head coach Billy Donovan was one of three court coaches helping the team at its three-day, four-session training camp that took concludes today.
Gator Country hopes to have more on Young’s selection after speaking with him tonight.