Journal-World File PhotoNick Collison won’t be carrying any books in his backpack next Thursday, the first day of the 2002-03 academic year at Kansas University.
The 6-foot-9, 250-pound KU senior from Iowa Falls, Iowa, instead will be 1,500 miles away, soaking up knowledge not in a classroom, but on the basketball court during his “internship” at U.S. World Championship training camp in Oakland, Calif.
Collison is an alternate/practice player for the American team that will compete in the world championships from Aug. 29 to Sept. 8 in Indianapolis.
“This is a pretty big honor. It’s something that I think is going to be a great experience and a lot of fun,” said Collison, who will report today to camp with 12 NBA players at the University of San Francisco’s War Memorial Gym.
As the only collegian on hand, Collison will practice and play in two exhibition games over a two-week period, but barring injury to one of the current pros, won’t actually compete in the Worlds.
“This will be the first time I’ve actually worked out with NBA guys,” said Collison, competing for USA Basketball for the seventh time. “Two years ago, when we played the Dream Team, it was a bunch of college guys getting together. We scrimmaged them twice a day and played them in one game. This is different. I’ll be with the pros the whole time.”
In the summer of 2000, Collison scored two points in the college all-stars’ 111-74 loss to the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team in a game that capped a week of scrimmaging in Maui, Hawaii.
He’s grown a lot mentally and physically since then.
“At that time, I felt I could box out a guy like (the New York Knicks’) Antonio McDyess, but I was a bit skinnier, a lot weaker. I was not real confident last time. Now I think I need to be a little more confident. I think I am a lot more confident,” Collison said.
Collison will see two familiar faces at camp.
Former Jayhawks Raef LaFrentz who, like Collison, hails from Iowa and Paul Pierce are on the U.S. team, along with Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers), Antonio Davis (Toronto Raptors), Baron Davis (New Orleans Hornets), Michael Finley (Dallas Mavericks), Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns), Andre Miller (Cleveland Cavaliers), Reggie Miller (Indiana Pacers), Jermaine O’Neal (Indiana Pacers), Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons) and Jay Williams (Chicago Bulls). The team will be coached by George Karl, who’ll be assisted by Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs), Mike Montgomery (Stanford) and Kelvin Sampson (Oklahoma).
KU coach Roy Williams is elated Collison will practice with the pros.
“People have a great deal of respect for Nick’s ability. And they know Nick as a person. He’s played with USA Basketball so many times,” Williams said. “They feel he can fit this role better than any player out there they could pick. The respect people have for Nick and his game is pretty doggone high. It’ll be a great experience. I’m ecstatic for him.”
This experience could guarantee Collison first-team Preseason All-America honors. It may even make him a strong candidate for National Player of the Year.
“I don’t know,” Collison said. “I think I’m a good enough player to have that type of season to be considered. I think I could do that without being named alternate to this team. This will give me more exposure which helps in that type of thing. But all that matters is how you play the season, what happens before the season doesn’t really matter.”
USA Basketball president Tom Jernstedt on Collison: “Nick Collison as an alternate will train with the USA team. He will gain some invaluable experience before his senior season at Kansas. We are pleased to have representation from the colleges on the 2002 USA World Championship Team.”
The USA squad will train at the Golden State Warriors’ practice facility Saturday and Sunday, and will continue its training next Monday-Wednesday back at San Francisco’s War Memorial Gym. The squad will play a pair of exhibition games during its training, meeting the Chinese World Championship Team next Thursday at the Arena in Oakland and the German World Championship Team on Sunday, Aug. 25, in Portland. The U.S. opens play in the FIBA World Championship against Algeria on Thursday, Aug. 29, in Indianapolis.
Journal-World File PhotoNick Collison won’t be carrying any books in his backpack next Thursday, the first day of the 2002-03 academic year at Kansas University.
The 6-foot-9, 250-pound KU senior from Iowa Falls, Iowa, instead will be 1,500 miles away, soaking up knowledge not in a classroom, but on the basketball court during his “internship” at U.S. World Championship training camp in Oakland, Calif.
Collison is an alternate/practice player for the American team that will compete in the world championships from Aug. 29 to Sept. 8 in Indianapolis.
“This is a pretty big honor. It’s something that I think is going to be a great experience and a lot of fun,” said Collison, who will report today to camp with 12 NBA players at the University of San Francisco’s War Memorial Gym.
As the only collegian on hand, Collison will practice and play in two exhibition games over a two-week period, but barring injury to one of the current pros, won’t actually compete in the Worlds.
“This will be the first time I’ve actually worked out with NBA guys,” said Collison, competing for USA Basketball for the seventh time. “Two years ago, when we played the Dream Team, it was a bunch of college guys getting together. We scrimmaged them twice a day and played them in one game. This is different. I’ll be with the pros the whole time.”
In the summer of 2000, Collison scored two points in the college all-stars’ 111-74 loss to the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team in a game that capped a week of scrimmaging in Maui, Hawaii.
He’s grown a lot mentally and physically since then.
“At that time, I felt I could box out a guy like (the New York Knicks’) Antonio McDyess, but I was a bit skinnier, a lot weaker. I was not real confident last time. Now I think I need to be a little more confident. I think I am a lot more confident,” Collison said.
Collison will see two familiar faces at camp.
Former Jayhawks Raef LaFrentz who, like Collison, hails from Iowa and Paul Pierce are on the U.S. team, along with Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers), Antonio Davis (Toronto Raptors), Baron Davis (New Orleans Hornets), Michael Finley (Dallas Mavericks), Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns), Andre Miller (Cleveland Cavaliers), Reggie Miller (Indiana Pacers), Jermaine O’Neal (Indiana Pacers), Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons) and Jay Williams (Chicago Bulls). The team will be coached by George Karl, who’ll be assisted by Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs), Mike Montgomery (Stanford) and Kelvin Sampson (Oklahoma).
KU coach Roy Williams is elated Collison will practice with the pros.
“People have a great deal of respect for Nick’s ability. And they know Nick as a person. He’s played with USA Basketball so many times,” Williams said. “They feel he can fit this role better than any player out there they could pick. The respect people have for Nick and his game is pretty doggone high. It’ll be a great experience. I’m ecstatic for him.”
This experience could guarantee Collison first-team Preseason All-America honors. It may even make him a strong candidate for National Player of the Year.
“I don’t know,” Collison said. “I think I’m a good enough player to have that type of season to be considered. I think I could do that without being named alternate to this team. This will give me more exposure which helps in that type of thing. But all that matters is how you play the season, what happens before the season doesn’t really matter.”
USA Basketball president Tom Jernstedt on Collison: “Nick Collison as an alternate will train with the USA team. He will gain some invaluable experience before his senior season at Kansas. We are pleased to have representation from the colleges on the 2002 USA World Championship Team.”
The USA squad will train at the Golden State Warriors’ practice facility Saturday and Sunday, and will continue its training next Monday-Wednesday back at San Francisco’s War Memorial Gym. The squad will play a pair of exhibition games during its training, meeting the Chinese World Championship Team next Thursday at the Arena in Oakland and the German World Championship Team on Sunday, Aug. 25, in Portland. The U.S. opens play in the FIBA World Championship against Algeria on Thursday, Aug. 29, in Indianapolis.
Journal-World File PhotoNick Collison won’t be carrying any books in his backpack next Thursday, the first day of the 2002-03 academic year at Kansas University.
The 6-foot-9, 250-pound KU senior from Iowa Falls, Iowa, instead will be 1,500 miles away, soaking up knowledge not in a classroom, but on the basketball court during his “internship” at U.S. World Championship training camp in Oakland, Calif.
Collison is an alternate/practice player for the American team that will compete in the world championships from Aug. 29 to Sept. 8 in Indianapolis.
“This is a pretty big honor. It’s something that I think is going to be a great experience and a lot of fun,” said Collison, who will report today to camp with 12 NBA players at the University of San Francisco’s War Memorial Gym.
As the only collegian on hand, Collison will practice and play in two exhibition games over a two-week period, but barring injury to one of the current pros, won’t actually compete in the Worlds.
“This will be the first time I’ve actually worked out with NBA guys,” said Collison, competing for USA Basketball for the seventh time. “Two years ago, when we played the Dream Team, it was a bunch of college guys getting together. We scrimmaged them twice a day and played them in one game. This is different. I’ll be with the pros the whole time.”
In the summer of 2000, Collison scored two points in the college all-stars’ 111-74 loss to the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team in a game that capped a week of scrimmaging in Maui, Hawaii.
He’s grown a lot mentally and physically since then.
“At that time, I felt I could box out a guy like (the New York Knicks’) Antonio McDyess, but I was a bit skinnier, a lot weaker. I was not real confident last time. Now I think I need to be a little more confident. I think I am a lot more confident,” Collison said.
Collison will see two familiar faces at camp.
Former Jayhawks Raef LaFrentz who, like Collison, hails from Iowa and Paul Pierce are on the U.S. team, along with Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers), Antonio Davis (Toronto Raptors), Baron Davis (New Orleans Hornets), Michael Finley (Dallas Mavericks), Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns), Andre Miller (Cleveland Cavaliers), Reggie Miller (Indiana Pacers), Jermaine O’Neal (Indiana Pacers), Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons) and Jay Williams (Chicago Bulls). The team will be coached by George Karl, who’ll be assisted by Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs), Mike Montgomery (Stanford) and Kelvin Sampson (Oklahoma).
KU coach Roy Williams is elated Collison will practice with the pros.
“People have a great deal of respect for Nick’s ability. And they know Nick as a person. He’s played with USA Basketball so many times,” Williams said. “They feel he can fit this role better than any player out there they could pick. The respect people have for Nick and his game is pretty doggone high. It’ll be a great experience. I’m ecstatic for him.”
This experience could guarantee Collison first-team Preseason All-America honors. It may even make him a strong candidate for National Player of the Year.
“I don’t know,” Collison said. “I think I’m a good enough player to have that type of season to be considered. I think I could do that without being named alternate to this team. This will give me more exposure which helps in that type of thing. But all that matters is how you play the season, what happens before the season doesn’t really matter.”
USA Basketball president Tom Jernstedt on Collison: “Nick Collison as an alternate will train with the USA team. He will gain some invaluable experience before his senior season at Kansas. We are pleased to have representation from the colleges on the 2002 USA World Championship Team.”
The USA squad will train at the Golden State Warriors’ practice facility Saturday and Sunday, and will continue its training next Monday-Wednesday back at San Francisco’s War Memorial Gym. The squad will play a pair of exhibition games during its training, meeting the Chinese World Championship Team next Thursday at the Arena in Oakland and the German World Championship Team on Sunday, Aug. 25, in Portland. The U.S. opens play in the FIBA World Championship against Algeria on Thursday, Aug. 29, in Indianapolis.
Journal-World File PhotoNick Collison won’t be carrying any books in his backpack next Thursday, the first day of the 2002-03 academic year at Kansas University.
The 6-foot-9, 250-pound KU senior from Iowa Falls, Iowa, instead will be 1,500 miles away, soaking up knowledge not in a classroom, but on the basketball court during his “internship” at U.S. World Championship training camp in Oakland, Calif.
Collison is an alternate/practice player for the American team that will compete in the world championships from Aug. 29 to Sept. 8 in Indianapolis.
“This is a pretty big honor. It’s something that I think is going to be a great experience and a lot of fun,” said Collison, who will report today to camp with 12 NBA players at the University of San Francisco’s War Memorial Gym.
As the only collegian on hand, Collison will practice and play in two exhibition games over a two-week period, but barring injury to one of the current pros, won’t actually compete in the Worlds.
“This will be the first time I’ve actually worked out with NBA guys,” said Collison, competing for USA Basketball for the seventh time. “Two years ago, when we played the Dream Team, it was a bunch of college guys getting together. We scrimmaged them twice a day and played them in one game. This is different. I’ll be with the pros the whole time.”
In the summer of 2000, Collison scored two points in the college all-stars’ 111-74 loss to the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team in a game that capped a week of scrimmaging in Maui, Hawaii.
He’s grown a lot mentally and physically since then.
“At that time, I felt I could box out a guy like (the New York Knicks’) Antonio McDyess, but I was a bit skinnier, a lot weaker. I was not real confident last time. Now I think I need to be a little more confident. I think I am a lot more confident,” Collison said.
Collison will see two familiar faces at camp.
Former Jayhawks Raef LaFrentz who, like Collison, hails from Iowa and Paul Pierce are on the U.S. team, along with Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers), Antonio Davis (Toronto Raptors), Baron Davis (New Orleans Hornets), Michael Finley (Dallas Mavericks), Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns), Andre Miller (Cleveland Cavaliers), Reggie Miller (Indiana Pacers), Jermaine O’Neal (Indiana Pacers), Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons) and Jay Williams (Chicago Bulls). The team will be coached by George Karl, who’ll be assisted by Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs), Mike Montgomery (Stanford) and Kelvin Sampson (Oklahoma).
KU coach Roy Williams is elated Collison will practice with the pros.
“People have a great deal of respect for Nick’s ability. And they know Nick as a person. He’s played with USA Basketball so many times,” Williams said. “They feel he can fit this role better than any player out there they could pick. The respect people have for Nick and his game is pretty doggone high. It’ll be a great experience. I’m ecstatic for him.”
This experience could guarantee Collison first-team Preseason All-America honors. It may even make him a strong candidate for National Player of the Year.
“I don’t know,” Collison said. “I think I’m a good enough player to have that type of season to be considered. I think I could do that without being named alternate to this team. This will give me more exposure which helps in that type of thing. But all that matters is how you play the season, what happens before the season doesn’t really matter.”
USA Basketball president Tom Jernstedt on Collison: “Nick Collison as an alternate will train with the USA team. He will gain some invaluable experience before his senior season at Kansas. We are pleased to have representation from the colleges on the 2002 USA World Championship Team.”
The USA squad will train at the Golden State Warriors’ practice facility Saturday and Sunday, and will continue its training next Monday-Wednesday back at San Francisco’s War Memorial Gym. The squad will play a pair of exhibition games during its training, meeting the Chinese World Championship Team next Thursday at the Arena in Oakland and the German World Championship Team on Sunday, Aug. 25, in Portland. The U.S. opens play in the FIBA World Championship against Algeria on Thursday, Aug. 29, in Indianapolis.
