Former Morehead State standout and current Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried has been selected to represent the United States in the 2014 FIBA (International Basketball Federation) World Cup. The event will be held Aug. 30-Sept. 14 in Spain.
"I want to thank everyone who has been in my corner supporting me," Faried told Nuggets.com. "It means a lot to me to be a part of an elite group and represent our country in Spain. I can't wait to take the court with my teammates and come back home a gold medalist."
Faried, who stands 6-foot-8 and weighs 228 pounds, has recorded 2,490 points and 1,770 rebounds in 206 National Basketball Association games over the past three seasons. He averaged 13.7 points and 8.6 boards while shooting 55 percent from the field in 2013-14.
Faried was taken 22nd overall in the 2011 NBA Draft. He earned a spot on the NBA's All-Rookie First Team in 2012. The Newark, N.J., native was tabbed to the NBA's Rising Stars Challenge in 2013 when he also picked up the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.
Faried helped MSU to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances (2009, 2011) and was named the Ohio Valley Conference's Male Athlete of the Year as a senior. He was a two-time OVC Basketball Player of the Year (2010-11) and three-time Defensive Player of the Year (2009-11).
Chosen the 2011 Kentucky Sportsman of the Year, Faried was selected to multiple All-America lists following his final campaign. He was also tabbed by the National Association of Basketball Coaches as the National Defensive Player of the Year after his final season.
Faried finished his college career with 1,673 rebounds. The total set the NCAA's modern-era record, which was previously held by 14-time NBA All-Star Tim Duncan.
DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento), Stephen Curry (Golden State), Anthony Davis (New Orleans), DeMar DeRozan (Toronto), Andre Drummond (Detroit), Rudy Gay (Sacramento), James Harden (Houston), Kyrie Irving (Cleveland), Mason Plumlee (Brooklyn), Derrick Rose (Chicago) and Klay Thompson (Golden State) join Faried on the 12-player U.S.A. roster. The roster features six NBA All-Stars and no one older than 28.
