Aug. 24, 2010

ATHENS, Greece - The current University of Memphis men's hoops squad is taking a little time off before the fall semester begins Aug. 30, but former Tiger Derrick Rose is still playing. On Tuesday, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo announced that Rose is one of 12 players named to the USA Men's Basketball National Team roster.

Team USA begins play in the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey Aug. 28. The championships continue through Sept. 12. Rose and his teammates play a final exhibition against Greece on Wednesday, Aug. 25, before traveling to Istanbul Aug. 26 for final preparations before the FIBA World Championships.

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.