TCU sophomore guard Desmond Bane missed the cut Tuesday to become one of the final 18 players under consideration to play for the USA Under-19 World Cup Team that will compete in the FIBA U19 World Championships, July 1-9 in Cairo, Egypt.

Bane played the last two days at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the USA U19 World Cup Team training camp and ended up being one of the seven players head coach John Calipari sent home after the first cut.

“It was a great experience,” said Bane. “It was a great chance to see where I am against the top players in the country. By being selected to the training camp, I proved that I belong.”

Bane said the experience also showed him how far he had come.

“Just over a year ago I was talking to NAIA and (NCAA) DII schools,” Bane said. “It’s a testimony for me to be at this level and show the passion I have for the game.”

Bane chose TCU, instead of a DII school, in May of last year, just a few months before the start of his freshman year in Fort Worth. While in high school, Bane scored 30 points per game, which was the second-best average in the state of Indiana and led Seton Catholic to a section championship.

This past season with the Horned Frogs, Bane played in all 39 games, while starting in 13. He averaged 7.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game and helped TCU to a 24-15 record and an NIT championship. Read More