Kapono in red, white and blue?
UCLA men’s basketball sophomore Jason Kapono is one of 45
finalists invited by the USA Basketball Men’s Collegiate
Committee to participate in the Men’s National Team Trials
June 1-3 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs,
Colo.
The 6-foot-8 All-Pac-10 first-teamer led the Bruins last season
in scoring at 17.2 points per game and is the only member from the
conference to receive an invitation to the tryouts. Kapono, an
honorable mention All-American, will attempt to join one of two
12-player squads for either the 2001 USA World Championship for
Young Men from Aug. 3-12 in Saitama, Japan or the World University
Games held Aug. 22-Sept. 1 in Beijing, China.
The USA World Championship is open to males 21 years or younger
and is headed by Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim. The WUG is open
to males ages 17-28 and led by Penn State Head Coach Jerry Dunn.
Eleven of the 45 athletes on the final list are eligible only for
the WUG.
Watson: draft update
With the underclassmen deadline having passed for the June 27
NBA Amateur Draft in New York, UCLA sends only one entry to this
year’s annual event. Point guard Earl Watson will look to
realize his professional hoop dreams.
Currently the Bruins’ ironman has been working out on
campus with former Bruin standout JaRon Rush and Assistant Coach
Steve Spencer. Having recently attended the Nike Desert Classic at
Arizona State, Watson continues to showcase his skills in
individual tryouts for NBA teams.
He has been invited to the Chicago Pre-Draft camp in early June.
Sponsored by distinguished NBA scout Marty Blake, Watson will join
other slated draftees for their last chance to display their
talents to NBA teams before the draft.
Recently, potential draftees Gilbert Arenas, formerly of
Arizona, and Notre Dame’s Troy Murphy have been spotted in
Pauley Pavilion prepping for Chicago with Spencer.
Briefs compiled by AJ Cadman, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.