ISV - Virgin Island to push the tempo

LAS VEGAS (2007 FIBA Americas Championship) - Virgin Islands senior men's national team has been practicing hard over the last two weeks in preparation for the biggest tournament of their lives.

The team has even gone out to look for stiff competition in Atlanta, Georgia, in the Southern Roundball Classic in preparation for the 2007 FIBA Americas championship.

The V.I opens the tourney today when they take on the number one team in the world, United States. The Virgin Islands, ranked 38th in the world, must also face Canada (16) Brazil (17), and Venezuela (21) in Group B.

"Although it doesn't matter what group you are in, we (Virgin Islands) seem to be in a tougher group," said Virgin Islands head men's basketball coach Tevester Anderson.   "Most of the teams in our group have current or former NBA players on their roster."

Anderson also spoke about Virgin Island involvement in the Championship.

The virgin islanders is a team with a definite New York City look full of tremendous athletes, all of whom have experience in U.S. college, most at the NCAA Division 1 level, and qualified for the Tournament of the Americas last summer, clinching a spot after arguably the biggest win in U.S. Virgin Islands history, an 85-84 upset of Puerto Rico, who had NBAer Carlos Arroyo in the lineup.

Virgin Islands should be a team that will look to push the tempo, push up on teams defensively and look to run and get to the rim. The group is coming off a stellar effort in qualifying and this is their big summer event so expect them to be solid.

Guard Carl Krauser, who was a three-year starter at Pittsburgh Univ. graduating in 2006, will lead the team from the backcourt.

Shooting guard Jason Edwin, who played at Kent State and has spent the past few seasons also playing in Germany.

Kevin Sheppard, another guard who is also playing in Europe and youngster Keylen Gregory who is entering his junior year at Marist University. Up front, the team will look to Frank Elegar, who is entering his senior year at Drexel, forward Jameel Heywood, a 6 year pro from Oklahoma, averaged 19.1 points per game in the Puerto Rican professional league in 2006.

FIBA Americas