By
Brian Penso
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Former Wildcat excited to represent country
Former UA basketball star Jason Terry was recently named to the 2001 United States basketball team, which will compete in the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia in early September.
A key component of Arizona's 1997 National Championship team, Terry has flourished in the NBA during his first two seasons.
As a member of the Atlanta Hawks last season, Terry averaged just under 20 points and five assists per game.
Terry said he is looking forward to having an opportunity to represent his country.
"Representing Team USA is a lifelong dream of mine," Terry said. "Being a part of that is just a great accomplishment."
The United States teams - comprised of NBA players - have never lost an international game, accumulating a 48-0 record.
Terry said he realizes the pressure on himself and the team to continue the winning tradition this summer will be tremendous.
"There is always pressure when you are playing at the highest level of competition," Terry said. "The most important thing is to go out, play hard and play with all of your heart.
"To have an opportunity to go out and represent your country on the world's stage and show everyone what you can do is amazing. During the NBA season, you may have a lot of people around the country watching, but now it's the world."
In addition to Terry, the team is comprised of 11 other NBA players who were either drafted in the past two seasons or who are under the age of 22.
Minnesota head coach Flip Saunders has been named the head coach and his assistants will include Orlando Magic head coach Glenn "Doc" Rivers, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, and Dayton head coach Oliver Purnell.
Shane Battier, the 2000-2001 Collegiate Basketball Player of the Year, will also be part of this year's team.
"I'm very honored and very excited to represent the United States in the Goodwill Games," Battier said. "I'm sure there's going to be a great deal of competition and I'm just really looking forward to working with coach Saunders and my teammates, who are no doubt the future of the basketball scene, both in the NBA and internationally."
Other players on the team include former Pac-10 standouts Baron Davis and Mark Madsen, who played at UCLA and Stanford respectively.
USA Basketball Senior National Committee Chairman Stu Jackson said this year's team will cause problems for opposing teams due to their depth and athleticism.
"It's a team that possesses a lot of depth and versatility in many positions," Jackson said. "The games themselves will offer them an opportunity to improve their skills and gain some valuable experience in international competition. Certainly we feel that this team in the Goodwill Games will prove themselves well."
