USA Basketball named University forward Glen Davis one of 16 remaining contenders Sunday for a roster spot on the 2005 USA U21 World Championship Team.
Twenty players participated in six sessions of the team trials Thursday through Saturday in Dallas, Texas, for a chance to make the 21-years-old and younger team.
Davis said he was honored to be considered for the U21 team, but said he was somewhat shocked when he first received the invitation to the trials because the basketball team did not have a lot of national publicity last season.
“It’s a great opportunity and privilege to come out here and put a USA jersey on and tryout for the team,” Davis said.
The Baton Rouge native averaged 13.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game last season, and the Southeastern Conference named him their Freshman of the Year.
He also shot 51.3 percent from the floor and 69.8 percent from the free-throw line.
“It is obviously quite an honor for Glen Davis and our basketball program to have him invited to the trials,” University basketball coach John Brady said in a news release. “But it is also an important honor for LSU. Any time one of our basketball players or any student-athlete goes above and beyond the program to bring recognition to LSU is a positive.”
Davis said he wants to grow as a player and a leader through the experience.
“I want to try to get my confidence up by playing with some of the best college players in the country,” Davis said. “I want to learn something from these guys. A lot of these guys are leaders for their team, and I just want to bring some of that back to my team so we can be successful in SEC and post-season play.”
Davis said he has enjoyed working with USA Basketball and St. Joseph’s University coach Phil Martelli, whom he said is a great guy who likes to have fun with the players while also getting the job done.
“It’s a different system and way of doing things,” Davis said. “I like the way he does things. He’s a great coach, and it’s a privilege to play for him and learn from him.”
Martelli said Davis is an unbelievable-looking athlete with great hands and feet, and said he is also impressed with Davis’ humble nature and enthusiasm.
Martelli said the unique aspects Davis brings to the U21 team are his powerful nature around the basket and that he is the widest player in the post at the trials.
Davis is listed at 6-feet-9-inches tall and 310 pounds on the USA Basketball and University Athletic Department Web sites, but Davis said he currently weighs 305 pounds.
The 16 finalists will participate in a training camp in Dallas July 24-Aug. 1, during which the 12-man roster will be named.
“It would be a privilege and honor to put on a USA jersey, and represent the USA, LSU and my mom, dad and family back home,” Davis said of his feelings about possibly making the final roster. “It would mean a lot to wear a USA jersey and participate in these activities.”
Martelli said in a news release he was impressed with the seriousness the players approached the trials.
“I was also impressed with their willingness to try and improve,” Martelli said. “The quality of play has gotten significantly better since the beginning of the trials.”
Syracuse University basketball coach Jim Boeheim presides over the USA Basketball Men’s Collegiate Committee, which chose the invitees and finalists.
The committee also will decide the eventual 12-player roster, which will compete at the 2005 International Basketball Association U21 World Championship in Cordoba and Mar de Plata, Argentina, Aug. 5-17.
Martelli said they intend to select the best team and not just the 12 best players.
“We’re going to concentrate on guys who are great teammates, as opposed to those who are just great talents,” Martelli said.
 
Davis’ off-season goals
Davis said the experience he gained his freshman season has given him an understanding about what it takes to win in the SEC and NCAA post-season.
“My overall goal is to be the best player I can be, and help my team win games,” Davis said. “I want to be there for my team.”
Davis said he weighed 345 pounds at the end of last season in March, but that he has been determined this off-season to lose weight and get in better shape.
He said he changed his diet and eating habits and has been weight training and running to shed the pounds.
Davis said another aim this off-season is to build camaraderie with his teammates — especially the incoming freshman.
“I like to joke around and have fun with them,” Davis said. “I also do things off the court like serious talks with the freshman about the SEC and getting over obstacles they may face their first year.”
The Tigers lost two starters and two key reserves from last season’s team.
Starting power forward Brandon Bass entered the NBA draft after his sophomore season, and starting small forward Antonio Hudson was a senior.
The team also lost its No. 1 options off the bench in the backcourt and frontcourt in guard Xavier Whipple and forward Ross Neltner, respectively.
Neltner transferred to Vanderbilt to pursue other opportunities, and Whipple was a senior.
The team also will be without suspended starting point guard Tack Minor until after the fall semester because of an academic-related infraction of the University’s Code of Student Conduct.
Davis said although the incoming freshmen are new to the University, they are not new to him.
“These guys are basically like my brothers,” Davis said. “I’ve known most of them as long as I can remember. They know their responsibility, and I know my responsibility. We’re just a big family and have a lot of team chemistry. This year is going to be a pretty good year for us.”