July 28, 2010

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The current University of Memphis men's hoops players aren't the only Tigers that are going to be playing hoops in the middle of August, as USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo announced Wednesday that former Tiger Derrick Rose is one of 15 players named to the USA Men's Basketball National Team roster.

So, while the current Tigers are practicing for their foreign tour to The Bahamas in mid-August, Rose will reassemble with the rest of the USA Men's Basketball National Team in New York, N.Y., Aug. 9. Team USA will practice and play exhibitions in New York City through Aug. 15 in preparation for the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey in Aug. 28-Sept. 12. Team USA's 15-man roster will be trimmed to 12 players prior to the start of the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Fellow Tiger Tyreke Evans, the 2009-10 NBA Rookie of the Year, was also was invited to the Team USA training camp in Las Vegas July 19-24. Evans, though, was injured through most of the camps and did not make the 15-man roster.

Rose, who earned his first NBA All-Star honor in 2009-10, averaged 20.8 points, 6.0 assists and 3.8 rebounds in leading the Bulls to a second-consecutive NBA playoff appearance. The 6-foot-3 guard shot 48.9 percent from the floor and 76.6 percent from the free throw line.

In his first year with the Bulls in 2008-09, Rose helped lead Chicago back to the NBA playoffs after a one-year postseason absence. As a rookie, the Chicago, Ill., native averaged 16.8 points, 6.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds. Rose, the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, won the Skills Challenge at the 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend. Following the regular season, he was selected the 2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year.

In his only year as a Tiger in 2007-08, Rose helped lead Memphis to a 38-2 overall record and an NCAA Tournament championship game appearance. A consensus Freshman All-America Team pick, Rose averaged 14.9 points, 4.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds while wearing the Blue and Gray.