ROCK HILL, SC—Winthrop men's basketball standout
Xavier Cooks has been named to the 12-man roster for Australia to compete in late August of this year at the 29
th Summer Universiade.
The Summer Universiade (also known as the World University Games) will be held in Taipei with competition starting on Aug. 20 and ending with the Bronze and Gold medal games on Aug. 29.
"I am super excited to play on this team," said Cooks, who will be the top returning score for the Eagles for the 2017-18 season. "It is always an honor to put on the green and gold and represent your country and I'm getting the chance to do that. My freshman year when I made the team I got sick and had to come home early so I did not get to experience the whole tour. This year I know a lot of the team and they are a great bunch of dudes so it should be a lot of fun and a great learning experience."
Cooks is one of eight collegiate players to make up the roster, which consists of players all under the age of 25. This past season at Winthrop, Cooks was an All-Big South First Team selection and set career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and free throws made.
"I've coached many NBA players and I can say without hesitation that
Xavier Cooks can be the next to be added to that group," said head coach
Pat Kelsey. "He's a special talent and possibly the best to ever put on a Winthrop uniform. From the day I met him he told me his dream is to represent Australia in the Olympics. His appointment to the World University team is a step in that direction. He is on the Boomer's (Australian men's national team) radar as he should be. My suggestion is to get your season tickets today and savor having this young man represent our school and Rock Hill for one more special year."
Australia will be in Group D for pool stage where they will face Ukraine, Lithuania, Israel, Russia (2015's bronze medallists) and Mozambique.
The 2017 Emerging Boomers Schedule for the 2017 World University Games (all times AEST):
August 20: Australia vs. Ukraine at 2.30pm
August 21: Australia vs. Lithuania at 5.00pm
August 23: Australia vs. Israel at 5.00pm
August 24: Australia vs. Russia at 2.30pm
August 25: Australia vs. Mozambique at 12.00pm
August 27: Quarter-Finals
August 28: Semi-Finals
August 29: Bronze and Gold medal games
The 2017 Emerging Boomers Team for the 2017 World University Games:
|
Name
|
Age
|
Home State
|
College/University
|
|
Kyle Adnam
|
23
|
Victoria
|
Deakin University
|
|
Emmett Naar
|
23
|
Australian Capital Territory
|
St Mary's College
|
|
Dejan Vasiljevic
|
20
|
Victoria
|
University of Miami
|
|
Matthew Kenyon
|
19
|
Queensland
|
University of Southern Queensland (USQ)
|
|
Tanner Krebs
|
21
|
Tasmania
|
St Mary's College
|
|
|
23
|
New South Wales
|
Winthrop University
|
|
Jack McVeigh
|
21
|
New South Wales
|
University of Nebraska
|
|
Rhys Vague
|
22
|
Western Australia
|
Edith Cowan University
|
|
Craig Moller
|
22
|
Victoria
|
Sydney University
|
|
Tyrell Harrison
|
19
|
Queensland
|
University of Southern Queensland (USQ)
|
|
Duop Reath
|
21
|
Western Australia
|
Louisiana State University
|
|
Gorjok Gak
|
20
|
New South Wales
|
Florida State
|
