July 15, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Craig Brown understands the benefits of international competition for a college basketball player. The UCF assistant coach competed for the United States at the 1991 FIBA U19 World Championship.
Brown's squad, which featured several future National Basketball Association players including Cherokee Parks and Wesley Person, went 8-0 at the event in Canada. Following the tournament, Brown had a strong sophomore campaign at Florida, averaging 10.8 points as the Gators advanced to the semifinals of the postseason National Invitation Tournament.
Brown and the rest of the UCF coaching staff have been watching with interest this week as freshman guard Isaac Sosa (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) competes for Puerto Rico at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Argentina.
Puerto Rico opened the eight-team, five-day event on Monday and Sosa totaled 17 points and five boards in a victory over the Bahamas. His squad will meet Venezuela on Tuesday.
Brown believes that the experience that Sosa will gain from playing in the event with help him as he begins his collegiate career with the Knights.
"Playing with guys of equal or better talent [is beneficial]. He is going to be matched up with players who are better than what he has been playing with in high school," Brown said. "In addition to that, playing against equal or better level talent will really help him. From a physical standpoint, going against kids from other countries, in particular the U.S., will be tremendous for Isaac."
Sosa attended Grandview Prep in Boca Raton and was a Florida Class 1A All-State First-Team selection a year ago. He suffered an injury during the state playoffs and missed both of Grandview's contests at the state championship.
Although Sosa is missing UCF's offseason workouts in Orlando, Brown is happy that he is returning to the floor in Argentina.
"The thing for Isaac is to get back out there and compete. Playing in actual games is going to be big for him and his confidence level."
Season tickets for the 2008-09 campaign are scheduled to go on sale later in July.
For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel, log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also visit www.ucfphotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.