Booker named to Team USA roster

Clemson forward Trevor Booker was named to the 12-man roster to represent the United States for the 2009 World University Games on Thursday.

Selections were made by the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team Committee, chaired by Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim. Team USA will continue to practice twice a day at the Olympic Training Center until Wednesday, June 24. The World University Games will be held July 2-11 in Belgrade, Serbia. Team USA’s first game will be Friday, July 3 versus Finland.

Booker, who stood out during USA Basketball’s trials the past two days, is the fourth Clemson player in history to be named to the World University Games roster. Dale Davis competed in 1989, Sharone Wright in 1993, and Greg Buckner in 1997. All three went on to lead the United States to gold medal performances.

Booker, a rising senior from Whitmire, SC, was second-team All-ACC in 2008-09 after leading the Tigers in scoring (15.3 ppg) and rebounding (9.7 rpg). He led the conference in both rebounding and field goal percentage (.571). Booker ranks in the top 10 in Clemson history in field goal percentage (.576), rebounds (792), and blocked shots (204).

The World University Games is organized by the International University Sports Federation and held every other year. The 2009 competition includes 24 men's basketball teams competing for a gold medal. Eligible athletes for the USA team must be currently enrolled in a college or university and have remaining NCAA athletic eligibility.

Also named to the team Thursday were James Anderson (Oklahoma State), Talor Battle (Penn State), Craig Brackins (Iowa State), Da’Sean Butler (West Virginia), Corey Fisher (Villanova), Lazar Hayward (Marquette), Robbie Hummel (Purdue), Quincy Pondexter (Washington), Deon Thompson (North Carolina), Evan Turner (Ohio State), and Jarvis Varnado (Mississippi State). Team USA will be coached by Wisconsin mentor Bo Ryan. He will be assisted by Frank Haith (University of Miami, FL) and Rob Jeter (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee).