Two Missouri players picked to try out for USA men's basketball squad

COLUMBIA — Missouri men's basketball players Marcus Denmon and Kim English are among the 22 players chosen for a training camp to form a team to represent the United States in the 2011 World University Games men's basketball competition set for Aug. 13 to 23 in Shenzhen, China.

The training camp will be held from July 29 to Aug. 7 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Finalists for the 12-member team are scheduled to be announced just before a second training camp begins on July 31. The official roster will be announced at the end of this camp just before the team departs for China on Aug. 8.

"It's an honor to have a chance to represent your country," Denmon said in a release. "Obviously there are a lot of talented guys trying out and we all have the same goal, earn our way onto the team and bring home the gold for USA Basketball."

Purdue's Matt Painter will be the head coach of this year's squad, and he will be assisted by Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin and Butler coach Brad Stevens.

At the end of last season, Denmon was an All-Big 12 Conference selection last season after averaging 16.9 points and leading the Tigers in 3-pointers with 82. English is currently 38th on Missouri's all-time scoring list with 1,036 career points.