Charlotte, NC - Through the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), a men's basketball team comprised of two-year college basketball players will represent the United States at the 31st Summer World University Games in Chengdu, China. The United States International University Sports Federation (USIUSF) selected the NJCAA to field the United States team to replace the team from Baylor University, which is unable to participate.
"The opportunity to showcase the NJCAA on the international stage is phenomenal," said Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President and CEO. "I want to personally thank the USIUSF for working with the NJCAA to make this a reality for these student-athletes, coaches, and administrators. To wear the colors of the USA and compete to represent our country should be one of the proudest moments for everyone involved."
This is the first time the NJCAA has been selected by the USIUSF board to represent the United States in the World University Games, which will take place from June 26 to July 7, 2022. Only four NCAA men's basketball teams previously have participated in the games: Clemson (2019), Purdue (2017), Kansas (2015), and Northern Iowa (2007).
"We are grateful to Dr. Christopher Parker for providing the USIUSF, for the very first time, with an opportunity to showcase student-athletes from some of the finest basketball programs in the NJCAA at this year's Summer Games in Chengdu," said Dan Guerrero, President of the USIUSF. "The competition on this world stage will be outstanding and it will be exciting to witness this team meet this unprecedented challenge."
The NJCAA men's basketball team will be led by Steve Green, head men's basketball coach at South Plains College and three-time NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball national champion.
Head coaches from other NJCAA programs set to serve as assistant coaches include Joe Eatmon, Shelton State (AL); Drew Kelly, Harcum (PA); Hank Plona, Indian Hills (IA) and Kyle Taylor, Salt Lake (UT).
Twelve student-athletes from current and past NJCAA men's basketball teams will be selected by this team of quality coaches, who have three national championships under their belts. The delegation will be accompanied to China by NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Chair Dean Myrick, NJCAA Region 11 Director Brett Monaghan, and Indian Hills Athletic Trainer and 2020 NJCAA Athletic Trainer of the Year Kristin Mayson.
"The opportunity to represent the United States and the NJCAA is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for this team and staff," stated Myrick. "This team will create lifelong memories, not only on the court but off the court. The delegation will represent the United States and the NJCAA to the highest ideals in which we all may be proud".
The World University Games are held every two years in cities across the globe. The 2021 Chengdu games were rescheduled for 2022 due to COVID-19. The United States began participation in the World University Games in 1965. In Chengdu, the United States will compete in 18 sports against 10,000 athletes from over 150 countries.
The University of Louisville women's basketball team previously selected, will continue to represent the United States in this year's women's basketball games.
To learn more about the World University Games, visit the FISU World University games website, by clicking here.
For more information regarding USIUSF and the FISU World University games, please visit our website, by clicking here.