“I’m very happy and proud for Chris,” UD head coach Brian Gregory said. “This is another in the long list of accomplishments Chris has earned as a Flyer, but this is uniquely special because in a small way he will be representing his country. The players chosen to this team have been given the responsibility to best prepare our national team for the World Championships and it is an opportunity Chris welcomes. He’s excited about it, and we’re excited for him.”
The Trotwood, Ohio native is entering a senior season that will cap one of the most memorable careers in a Dayton uniform. Already 32nd in career scoring at UD with 1,127 points in just 87 games, he is a two-time NABC All-District selection. Named First Team All-Atlantic 10 in 2009-10, Wright averaged 13.7 points and 7.3 rebounds a game.
Wright also led the team in minutes (28.6), dunks (a school-record 68), blocked shots (a school-record 53), free throws attempted (185) and free throws made (125). He led UD with 29 double-figure games in 2009-10.
The Flyers have won 75 games since Wright came to the University of Dayton campus for the 2007-08 seasons. With Wright in the lineup, Dayton has defeated 10 BCS teams, including four straight in this year’s run to the NIT title. At UD Arena, the Flyers have won 44 of their last 46 games with him in the lineup.
“We believe bringing in a USA Basketball Select Team will help the USA National Team be better prepared for the upcoming FIBA World Championship,” said Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball chairman. “We had USA select teams comprised of young, up-and-coming NBA players train against the national team in 2007 and 2008. That proved not only beneficial for our national team, but also for the select team players who got a great training opportunity and became involved in USA Basketball’s pipeline. This will be a tremendous opportunity for these collegians to be involved in USA Basketball and to get a look at the next level.”
Named to the 2010 USA Basketball Select squad along with Wright were: Lavoy Allen (Temple University/Morrisville, Pa.); William Buford (Ohio State University / Toledo, Ohio); LaceDarius Dunn (Baylor University/Monroe, La.); Jimmer Fredette (Brigham Young University/Glens Falls, N.Y.); Scotty Hopson (University of Tennessee/Hopkinsville, Ky.); Scoop Jardine (Syracuse University/Philadelphia, Pa.); JaJuan Johnson (Purdue University / Indianapolis, Ind.); Jon Leuer (University of Wisconsin / Orono, Minn.); Shelvin Mack (Butler University / Lexington, Ky.); Marcus Morris (University of Kansas / Philadelphia, Pa.); Jacob Pullen (Kansas State University / Maywood, Ill.); John Shurna (Northwestern University / Glen Ellyn, Ill.); Kyle Singler (Duke University / Medford, Ore.); Chris Singleton (Florida State University / Canton, Ga.); Nolan Smith (Duke University / Upper Marlboro, Md.); Howard Thompkins (University of Georgia / Lithonia, Ga.); Mike Tisdale (University of Illinois / Riverton, Ill.); Kemba Walker (University of Connecticut / Bronx, N.Y.); and Tyler Zeller (University of North Carolina / Washington, Ind.).
Dayton returns nine letterwinners from last year’s 25-12 team that won the 2010 NIT. Headlining with Wright is NIT MVP Chris Johnson. Johnson, a junior from Columbus, Ohio, was second to Wright on the team in scoring (11.9) and rebounding (6.9) and led UD in FT% (.848, 84-99). He was the Atlantic 10’s Chris Daniels Memorial Most Improved Player Award winner in 2010.
The Flyers will also welcome five additional new faces to the program in 2010-11, led by Oak Hill Academy point guard Juwan Staten.