COLORADO SPRINGS, May 27 (UPI) -- Citing concerns with SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), the International Basketball Federation has moved the men's junior world championship from Malaysia to Thessaloniki, Greece.
The 2003 FIBA men's junior world championship was originally scheduled to be held in Penang and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The dates of the junior world championship will remain from July 10-20, as will the 16 previously qualified teams.
FIBA also announced that Malaysia would host the 2007 junior world championship.
The 2003 men's junior world championship will feature 16 teams that qualified last summer, including the United States, Argentina, China and Croatia.
Finalists for the USA junior team will be selected following the USA Basketball National Team Trials that will be conducted May 30-June 1 at the U.S. Olympic training center in Colorado Springs.
The official 12-member USA junior team will be selected during the team's June 24-July 6 training camp, which will be held in Dallas, Texas.
Oregon's Ernie Kent, who was coach of last summer's junior qualifying team, will serve as coach of 2003 USA Basketball men's junior world championship team.
The USA men boast a 38-9 all-time record and have won three gold medals (1991, 1983, 1979) and two silver medals (1999 and 1987).
