July 7, 2005

Boston College senior forward Craig Smith (Los Angeles, Calif./Fairfax HS) has accepted an invitation to attend USA Basketball's men's trials and training camp in Colorado Springs, Colo., from July 28-August 4, 2005.

The trials and training camp will be utilized to select the USA squad that will compete in the World University Games that are being held in Izmir, Turkey, from August 11-22.

Smith is one of 13 players who has accepted an invitation to the camp. The selections were made by the USA Basketball Men's Collegiate Committee, which is chaired by Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim.

In addition to the 13 athletes who have accepted invitations, players competing in the 2005 USA Basketball U21 World Championship Team Trials (July 21-23) who are not selected for the team are eligible to participate in the 2005 USA World University Games Team Trials. Jared Dudley is competing in the U21 World Championship Team Trials.

Villanova head coach Jay Wright will serve as the USA team's head coach. Virginia Commonwealth head coach Jeff Capel and Manhattan head coach Bobby Gonzalez will serve as assistant coaches.

Smith is one of two players from the Atlantic Coast Conference to earn an invitation. Joining Smith is Duke forward Shelden Williams.

As a junior this past winter, Smith earned All-Big East first-team honors and All-America third-team honors (from the NABC) after averaging 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Smith also gained Division I All-District 1 honors from the United States Basketball Writers Association.

Boston College, which finished its 2004-05 Big East slate with a 13-3 mark and a share of the league regular-season title, enters its first season of ACC competition this winter.

A complete list of invitees is also available on the USA Basketball web site at www.usabasketball.com.