Another member of the Valparaiso University men’s basketball program will gain international experience representing his native country, as junior Markus Golder (Portland, Ore./Clackamas [North Idaho]) will suit up for the USA Team at the inaugural FISU America Games in São Paulo, Brazil later this month.
Golder was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Bench Team last season after averaging 9.5 points/game in his first season at Valpo, scoring in double figures 19 times. He paced Valpo with 138 total rebounds and also led the team in both 3-point percentage (42.9%) and free throw percentage (83.1%). Golder became a fan favorite immediately for his above-the-rim play, finishing his first season in the Valpo uniform with a team-best 22 dunks.
USA Team is an organization overseen by the United States International University Sports Federation (USISUF). Members of the USA Team compete globally as representatives of the United States in university-level sports competitions organized by FISU, the governing body of university sport worldwide. Together with the USA Team, US-IUSF represents the official governing body for the United States at all FISU events, including the World University Games, the World University Championships, and FISU America Games.
The FISU America Games are a multi-sport event sanctioned by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). Alternating with the Summer and Winter Universiades, which invite all the countries of the world for the biennial events, the FISU America Games are a regional multi-sport event similar to the Pan-American Games for FISU member-countries of North and South America held in even-numbered years. The 2018 Games will be the inaugural FISU America Games held in São Paulo, Brazil, July 20-29, 2018.
Golder will be joined on the USA Team in Brazil by nine other current collegiate players as they compete against Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Uruguay. The USA Team is slated to begin play against either Mexico or Chile on Wednesday evening, July 25. All teams will play a pair of group games before bracket play, with the basketball schedule culminating on Saturday night, July 28 with the gold medal game.
