Booker helps lead Team USA to Bronze

Clemson senior averaged 6.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game at tournament.

Trevor Booker, rising senior forward for the Tiger basketball team, helped Team USA to a bronze medal at the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia. Booker and the Americans defeated Israel, 91-80, on Saturday to claim the bronze. Team USA finished the event with a 6-1 overall record, falling only to Russia in the semifinal round.

Booker played in all seven games, with two starts. The Whitmire, SC native averaged 6.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game for the balanced U.S. squad. He also led the red, white, and blue in blocked shots with eight. Booker averaged 16.1 minutes of playing time and shot 55 percent from the field.

Booker is the fourth player from Clemson to medal for the U.S. at the World University Games. Dale Davis won a gold medal with the 1989 team, while Sharone Wright and Greg Buckner both captured gold with Team USA in 1993 and 1997 respectively.

The Americans advanced easily out of the preliminary round, defeating Finland 87-40 and South Korea by a score of 113-76. Booker posted six points and four rebounds against Finland, followed by a strong performance with 11 points and seven rebounds against South Korea. Booker made 5-6 field goals in the second game.

Team USA defeated Greece in its third game, setting up a much-anticipated rematch with Serbia. The Serbians had defeated Team USA in an exhibition game a week earlier. However, the Americans survived an obvious pro-Serbia crowd to post a 68-66 victory. Booker scored just four points in the contest, but totaled six rebounds and two blocks and played a key role defensively. He tipped out two rebounds off missed free throws in the final 12 seconds of the game to help preserve the win.

In the fifth game, Booker posted efficient totals of five points, five rebounds, and four blocked shots in a 30-point rout of Bulgaria. In the semifinals, however, Team USA slipped up in the final 10 minutes and suffered a one-point setback. Booker scored six points and added five rebounds in the loss. Team USA earned the bronze Saturday, with Booker chipping in six points in 16 minutes of play.