| Three Movin’ Mavs players invited to try out for USA Wheelchair Basketball team |
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| Written by Travis Detherage, The Shorthorn staff | ||||
| Monday, 08 February 2010 08:14 PM | ||||
 Junior guard Josh Rucker was recently invited to try out for the USA Wheelchair Basketball team. (The Shorthorn: File Photo) Senior guard James Patin, junior guard Josh Rucker and graduate student guard Tim Caldwell are three of 36 players invited to participate in the USA Wheelchair Basketball Trials April 11-13 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Patin, Rucker and Caldwell will get a shot on the USA team that already has had former UTA Movin’ Mavs Paul Schulte and Jay Nelms. Head coach Doug Garner said Patin, Rucker and Caldwell all made it a goal before this season started to make it on the USA team. “It says a lot about the opportunity you have given those players to come work and that’s what all three of them have done,” he said. Caldwell is the co-captain of the team. He is also the Graduate Student Senate president. Garner said Caldwell reflects a great UTA student-athlete off the court. “He is very active on campus,” Garner said. Graduate student guard Tim Caldwell was selected to participate USA Wheelchair Basketball team trials. (The Shorthorn: File Photo) “He is a great reflection of our program and what a student-athlete should be. On the court Tim provides a lot of maturity, he brings a lot of high expectations for the program and the players feed off that.” Garner said Patin, who is captain of the team, talks with Caldwell to share knowledge of what they are seeing on the court to help make the team better. “Caldwell’s and Patin’s roll is probably more important than a lot of teams because we don’t have four assistant coaches on the bench,” he said.  Senior guard James Patin was selected to try out for the USA Wheelchair Baskteball team. (The Shorthorn: File Photo) “So they kind of represent the eyes and ears of the program among the team. At games they are a sounding wall with me about what they are seeing because its better to have more than one opinion.” Rucker transferred to UTA from Oklahoma State because OSU has not been playing in the college division in recent years. “Josh knew a couple of the guys here and said he wanted to train with some of the best players in the country.” Garner said. Players were chosen through a selection process that required each player to send in a recent game DVD of themselves, a player biography including their current team, classification, international and NWBA experience. They also needed three recommendations and a written letter of recommendation from the head coach. Views: 433 | E-mail
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 08 February 2010 09:01 PM ) | ||||
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