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'U' hopes to make team

June 4, 2003

After a weekend of tryouts, three MSU athletes have taken another step toward taking the summer off from Spartan basketball and representing the United States against the rest of the world.

Junior guard Chris Hill, sophomore forward Paul Davis and sophomore guard Maurice Ager all made the cut as finalists under consideration for placement on two different USA Basketball teams.

"It just shows that we're more than just basketball, we can go out and represent our country," Davis said. "It'll be a great experience to go down there and just play with the best players in the country."

Hill, who led MSU last season in points (13.7 ppg), steals (51), assists (128) and minutes played (31.6 mpg), was named one of 17 finalists for the 2003 USA Pan American Games Team. If chosen as one of 12, he will travel to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Aug. 2-6 to compete against seven yet-to-be-named teams.

Though Hill is the lone player to represent the Big Ten on the Pan American Team, the Indianapolis, Ind. native will see a familiar face on the sidelines as Spartan head coach Tom Izzo has the honor of coaching the squad.

"I'm really excited to have coach Izzo as my coach," Hill said. "It will be a good opportunity for both he and I to be away, and I have an advantage because I'll know what coach wants and what he expects."

Davis and Ager also have a shot to represent their country as top choices for 2003 USA Basketball Men's Junior World Championship Team.

The 16 finalists will be pared down to a 12-man squad in the 2003 International Basketball Federation Men's Junior World Championship Tournament, held July 10-20 in Thessaloniki, Greece.

In his freshman campaign, Davis averaged 7.8 points and 4.3 boards per contest. He also garnered All-South Regional honors for his performance in the NCAA Tournament, where he upped his averages to 11.5 and 5.3, respectively.

"It'll be the first time I've ever been out of the country. I'm looking forward to that more than anything," Davis said. "And I want to go see how I could stack up against the rest of the country."

Ager overcame an injury-plagued first year to average a team-high 11 points during the NCAA tourney.

Ager said that representation speaks volumes about the future of Spartan basketball.

"It says a lot about our program," he said in a statement. "We have good players, a great coach in Tom Izzo and that's going to help us a lot during the season."

In all, 47 collegiate and five high school athletes received invitations to the prestigious 2003 USA Basketball Men's National Team Trials, held Friday through Sunday in Colorado Springs, Colo. Final rosters for the Pan American squad will be announced after the July 21-29 training camp, while Ager and Davis will learn their fate during their team's camp, held June 24 through July 6.

Hill said regardless of the outcome, the experience will be one he'll never forget.

"You get to meet so many players you've heard about and share stories and notes on our programs," Hill said. "It's something players all around the world dream of doing."

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