GU’s Morrison appears to lock up spot
Gonzaga University sophomore Adam Morrison of Mead is one of 13 candidates for the 12-member USA Young Men’s Qualifying Team, USA Basketball announced Wednesday.
The finalists for the USA Basketball 20-and-under squad will continue training at the New Jersey Nets’ practice facility in East Rutherford, N.J., through Friday in hopes of making the final squad.
The U.S. team will compete Wednesday through Aug. 1 in Halifax, Canada, in the FIBA Americas World Championship for Young Men Qualifying Tournament.
The USA Basketball Men’s Collegiate Committee, which will make the final roster determination, is chaired by former University of Virginia athletic director Terry Holland.
“I think we’ll have a good team,” said USA and University of Oklahoma head coach Kelvin Sampson. “Our emphasis has been on kids sacrificing and being a part of something that’s bigger than themselves. With the kids that we have, they’ve worked hard from day one and bought into what we’ve asked them to do. We have a little bit of everything.”
Sampson speculated that Morrison would make the team and come off the bench.
The other remaining finalists are: Hassan Adams and Mustafa Shakur, Arizona; Shannon Brown, Michigan State; Justin Gray, Chris Paul and Eric Williams, Wake Forest; Sean May, North Carolina; David Padgett, Louisville; P.J. Tucker, Texas; Charlie Villanueva, Connecticut; Curtis Withers, Charlotte; and Bracey Wright, Indiana.
Williams may be the final person cut because of his health, Sampson said.
Oregon’s Aaron Brooks (Seattle) didn’t make the finalists roster.
Sampson is being assisted on the sidelines by collegiate head coaches Tom Crean of Marquette and fomer GU coach Dan Monson of Minnesota.
Women’s golf
Former Eastern Washington University golfer Shawn Farmer advanced to the semifinals of the Washington State Women’s Golf Association Championship with a second-round win at Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle.
Farmer defeated three-time WSWGA champion Mimi Racicot in match play, 3 and 2, to advance to today’s semifinal against defending champion Leslie Folsom. Alana Condon and Ann Sander will meet in the other semifinal.
Folsom came from behind on the 16th hole to defeat former PNGA amateur champion Lisa Smego 2-up.
The 36-hole championship match is scheduled for Friday.