Low still on the list

Honolulu's Derrick Low is two steps away from an all-expenses-paid trip to Brazil.

The Iolani grad was one of 14 players who survived yesterday's first cut at the tryouts for the U.S. men's basketball team that will play in the Pan American Games. Two more players will be cut from the original field of 30 college players.

"It's just an honor to make it past that first cut," said Low, an All-Pacific-10 Conference player from Washington State. "But I'm also not getting too hyped about it, because there's still two players left that's not going to make the trip."

Villanova coach Jay Wright, who is coaching the U.S. team, is playing Low at point guard in workouts at Haverford (Pa.) College in suburban Philadelphia.

"I just love this group," Wright said. "I think we have great options. It's just a really diverse group that has great personality, and I think the committee did a great job putting together a really strong team."

The U.S. plays in an eight-team tournament July 25-29 in Rio de Janeiro. Athletes competing in the Pan Am Games hail from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean.