Maryland men’s basketball has gone global this summer. Senior forward James Gist is bringing Maryland’s brand of energetic basketball to international play, as he was named to the U.S. National team that will compete in the USA Pan American Games tournament on July 25-29 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“I did not know what to expect and then I heard my name and it was a sign of relief,” Gist said of his selection. “I got outside and started jumping around and really enjoyed it.”

He and his 13 teammates were whittled down from 30 collegiate players who tried out for the team last week.

“[The tryouts] have been as competitive as any we have had,” said USA Basketball Men’s Collegiate Committee chairman and Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim in a statement. “We don’t have a superstar type player, but we have good all-around guys.”

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The team will train at Haverford College in Pennsylvania through Wednesday before heading to Verizon Center in Washington to conclude its training prior to heading to Rio de Janeiro Sunday. Team USA will compete in Group A with Argentina, Panama, and Uruguay.

“It is challenging to get a talented group of guys from a bunch of good teams to play together in a short period of time,” said USA and Villanova University head coach Jay Wright in a statement. “We have got to get to know each other and come together as a family to be the best possible team for the United States.”

“We have great options. We’ve got shooters, we’ve got penetrators, we’ve got size, we’ve got post people,” Wright said. “I just love this group.”

Gist was Maryland’s leading scorer in Atlantic Coast Conference play this past season, averaging 13.9 points per game. He was eighth in the conference in blocked shots, recording 2.12 a game. Maryland finished 25-9 after losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

“Coach [Gary] Williams stresses to us at Maryland is bringing excitement and bringing energy to the team as far as defense and offense and everything,” Gist said. “That is what I can bring to this team.”

TERPS AROUND THE WORLD

Gist is not the only of Coach Gary Williams’ players competing on the international level this summer. Sophomore point guard Greivis Vasquez will play for the Venezuelan national team in the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Americas Championship in Las Vegas from August 22 to September 2. In the first game of competition, Venezuela will face USA and its roster of NBA players.