USA - NIKE Hoop Summit to be held April 12 in Portland

COLORADO SPRINGS (Nike Hoop Summit) - USA Basketball, Nike and the NBA Portland Trail Blazers announced today that the 2008 Nike Hoop Summit, the country's premiere annual basketball game featuring America's top senior boy high school players going against a World Select Team comprised of the world's top players 19-years-old or younger, will be played in Portland, Ore., at the Rose Garden, home of the NBA Portland Trail Blazers.

The 11th Annual Nike Hoop Summit will be held on Saturday, April 12, 1:00 p.m. (PT). The 2008 Nike Hoop Summit game will be televised nationally by Fox Sports Nets (FSN).

Tickets are now on sale for the 2008 Nike Hoop Summit, with reserved courtside seats priced $25-$50 and all other lower bowl tickets $10.  Tickets can be purchased through the Rose Quarter Ticket Office, by calling 877-789-ROSE (7673) or by visiting www.rosequarter.com.

"As the legacy and the prestige of the Nike Hoop Summit continues to grow, we're excited to take another step and hold the 2008 Nike Hoop Summit in Portland at the Rose Garden," said USA Basketball executive director Jim Tooley.  "The Nike Hoop Summit is now well established as a quality and unique basketball competition for our high school players. 

"This is a premiere basketball event which has spotlighted talents like Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Martell Webster, Monta Ellis and many others before they made big names for themselves.  It is a very important event for USA Basketball as a large number of our Hoop Summit players have gone on to represent USA Basketball in other major international competitions.

"This is not your typical high school all-star game.  This is a very special opportunity for elite USA players to represent their country in a meaningful competition that is played under international rules," added Tooley.

"We're honored to host such world class basketball talent," said Portland Trail Blazers president Larry Miller. "The list of players who have participated in the Nike Hoop Summit is incredible. Combined with Portland's reputation as one of the world's most sophisticated basketball cities, it sets the stage for a very special event and a unique opportunity for our fans to watch the best young players in the world compete."

"We are very proud to be partnering with USA Basketball and the Blazers to bring the Nike Hoop Summit to the City of Portland," said George Raveling, Nike Director of Global Basketball Sports Marketing. "We feel this is a great platform to provide the best young basketball players in the world with a truly unique premium basketball experience."

The 2008 USA Basketball Junior National Select and the World Select teams that will compete in the Nike Hoop Summit will be announced at a later date.

The 2008 USA Basketball Men's Junior National Select Team that will compete in the 2008 Hoop Summit will consist of 10 players, a head coach and one assistant coach, and will be selected by USA Basketball's Cadet and Youth Committee.  

The Junior Development Committee is chaired by Don Showalter (Mid-Prairie High School, Wellman, Iowa), and also includes AAU appointees William Anderson (AAU YMOCA, Memphis, Tenn.), William Brown (AAU Boo Williams, Norfolk, Va.) and Rod Seaford (AAU Charlotte Royal, N.C.); National Federation of State High School Associations appointees Todd Butler (Pacific Grove H.S., Calif.) and Eric Flannery (St. Edwards High School, Ohio); as well as athlete representatives Kermit Homes (1999 USA Pan American Games) and Jimmy Oliver (1998 USA World Championship Team).

The World Select Team, consisting of top players worldwide who are 19-years-old or younger with the approved sanctioning of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the world governing body of international basketball. The World Select Team will consist of 11 players from FIBA's five geographic zones: FIBA Africa, FIBA Americas, FIBA Asia, FIBA Europe and FIBA Oceania.

USA Basketball