Men's Basketball: Pair Begin Jones Cup Play

MSNsportsNET.com
July 9, 2008

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University men’s basketball players Da’Sean Butler and Wellington Smith will begin play on Thursday for the Athletes in Action team representing the United States at the 2008 Jones Cup held in Taipei, Taiwan.

The team recently assembled in Xenia, Ohio, for training camp in preparation for tomorrow’s first game against Jordan. In addition to playing nine games in a span of nine days, the team will perform numerous outreach activities including basketball clinics and visits to a local orphanage. Last summer, Darris Nichols and Alex Ruoff played for Athletes in Action.

Butler and Smith were key parts to West Virginia’s run to the 2008 NCAA Sweet 16 on the way to a 26-11 record. Both players will be juniors next season for the Mountaineers.

The official website of the 2008 Jones Cup is taiwanhoops.com.