Tide Hoops Trio Headed to Pan Am Games Trials
7/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By
UA Media Relations
Invitations for the Team Trials were made by the USA Basketball Men’s Collegiate Committee, chaired by
“I’m looking forward to the Pan-Am trials,” said Hendrix who joined Gottfried in talking to the media about the trip on Tuesday. (Gee has is home in
“It will be as competitive in a trial situation that USA Basketball has had in a long time,” Gottfried said. “One thing you’ve got to realize is that there are some All-Americans and potential NBA players that may get cut. That’s just the reality of it.”
Hendrix, an Athens native who led Alabama in scoring and rebounding last season with 14.6 points per game and 8.7 rebounds, said that despite the international style of play’s reputation for strong guard play and 3-point shooting, the player list for Team USA is deep in the frontcourt.
“There’s a lot of talent there, especially in the post,” he said. “I respect all the players there. There are a lot of players there that are very talented and I don’t think anybody there is going to be taking anyone for granted. I think for whoever does make the cut, I would think it would make them feel as if they’ve set themselves out a bit from everyone else.”
Twenty-five universities have players in the trials, with
Villanova coach Jay Wright will serve as head coach to team
“I hope it says something good nationally about our program,” Gottfried said. “Both of our guys are very deserving to be in this field of 32 players and I think it says good things about our program.”
Hendrix, who recently attended the
“[It helps] maybe from a comfort standpoint,” he said. “At the end of the day though, I control my own destiny on the court. From a comfort standpoint it will be nice, but I know what I have to do and that’s all on my back.”
If either Gee or Hendrix make Team
“I’ve seen the difference in [
Despite his presence on the sidelines during this week’s Team Trials, Gottfried said the ultimate decision of whether either in the Tide duo makes the final roster for Team
Saturday, the field will be cut from 32 to 16 players, with the final announcement of the official roster coming Sunday, July 15.
“I’ve explained to them that they’re going to make this team on their own merit. They’re going to make it on how well they play for three days,” Gottfried said. “They understand. They’ve got to go play. They’ve got to play well and they’ll make this team based on how well they play.
“It’s an honor just to be selected, but they’re not satisfied with that. They want to make the team. From a confidence standpoint, if they go up there to
Team
Still, Hendrix says, he won’t change his game to fit a different style of play.
“I don’t plan on making a change in my game, I’ve just got to get better at what I do,” he said. “I just have to go up there and play as hard as I can and play as efficiently as I can.
“We’re playing with a lot of other great players from around the country, especially with a lot of big men and maybe I can find something they do in their game and find a piece of it and work it myself, and that can hopefully help me go a long way to our team’s success. But as well as learning from the other guys, I also plan on doing a little teaching myself.”
