Thad Matta was dying of curiosity, so the new Xavier basketball coach flew to Colorado last weekend to see his new superstar in action. David West didn't fail to impress.

Matta

West

        Despite a bothersome toe, West drew rave reviews at USA Basketball's National Team Trials in Colorado Springs. The 6-foot-8 center was among 16 finalists selected for the World Championship For Young Men team (ages 21 and under).

        “He played very, very well,” Matta said. “Watching him play against the best in the country and doing as well as he did — and knowing (the toe) wasn't all the way there — is exciting.”

        Matta had previously seen West's game only on tape. West, just a monthafter surgery on the middle toe of his right foot, excelled the first two days of tryouts — including 7-for-7 shooting in a game Friday — before skipping the final day when he aggravated the toe. “It was a good feeling to prove I could compete with the elite,” West said.

        The final 12 members of the team will be named during a training camp July 22-26 in Dallas. The 12-team tournament will be Aug. 3-12 in Saitama, Japan.

        The U.S. placed fifth in the competition when it was last held in 1997.

        “Hopefully I'll feel better and can play with the team,” West said. “But that's getting close to the start of (preseason) workouts. If it's going to (jeopardize) my season, I won't play.”

        University of Cincinnati guard Steve Logan, who was invited to attend the Trials, withdrew to concentrate on academics, coach Bob Huggins said.

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