Former Deacon Great Chris Paul Named to 2008 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team
All-NBA guard holds press conference to talk about making the Olympics, as well as his annual Winston-Salem Weekend

June 23, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Former Wake Forest All-American Chris Paul has been named to the 2008 United States Olympic basketball team, as announced by USA Basketball on Monday. Paul held a press conference on Monday morning in Winston-Salem to talk about making the Olympic team, as well as his annual Winston-Salem Weekend.

"I got a call from [USA Basketball managing director] Jerry Colangelo and he said welcome to Team USA, which is the best feeling I think I've ever had," said Paul during his press conference held at Windsor Jewelers. "Like I always say, to play in the NBA is a blessing...but there are so many guys who have that opportunity to play in the NBA. To play on the USA team and represent your country, I don't think there is any greater honor than that. There are so many people who fight everyday for our freedoms in this country, and I get to play basketball and say that is my way to stand up for the USA."

Paul, the starting point guard for the New Orleans Hornets, was one of 12 NBA players named to the 2008 Olympic squad which will take on the world Aug. 10-24 in Beijing, China.

The other 11 members of the team include Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks); Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons); Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat); and Deron Williams (Utah Jazz).

"I think it's a great honor for Chris, and an incredibly very-well deserving honor," said Wake Forest head coach Dino Gaudio. "After the year he had, and the years that he had at Wake Forest, we are very proud of all he's done, not only on the basketball court, but off the court in the communities of Winston-Salem and New Orleans. He'll be a great ambassador for us and this country."

Paul is one of three point guards on the team, joining Kidd and Williams. Paul, Boozer (Duke) and Bosh (Georgia Tech) are the only three Atlantic Coast Conference alums to be named to the team.

Current Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski will lead Team USA, along with assistants Jim Boeheim of Syracuse, Mike D'Antoni of the New York Knicks and Nate McMillan of the Portland Trail Blazers.

"I am excited about it," said Paul when asked about playing for Duke's Coach K. "I actually had the opportunity to play for him two years ago, and he is an outstanding coach--a Hall of Fame coach. The first day we got there, we talked jokingly about getting past this Wake-Duke thing for the sake of USA. And that's what USA basketball is all about. You bring guys from different teams...but when you put on that red, white and blue, all of us have to win now."

Paul was a member of the 2006 USA Basketball Men's World Championship Team that won the bronze medal in Japan. He also played on the 2004 USA U-20 Team that captured the gold medal at the World Championship Qualifying Tournament in Nova Scotia.

Paul joins Tim Duncan as the only Deacons to ever make a U.S. Olympic basketball team. Duncan was on the 2004 squad that won the bronze medal in Athens, Greece. Duncan was also a member of the 1999 Olympic qualifying team but was forced to sit out the 2000 Games due to a knee injury. Former Deacon Darius Songaila was on the 2004 Lithuanian Olympic team that lost to Duncan and the U.S. in the bronze medal game.

Paul and Team USA will have a minicamp this week in Las Vegas and reconvene there July 21-25 to train and play an exhibition game against the Canadian National Team before heading overseas. The Americans open Olympic play against China on Aug. 10.

In Monday's press conference in Winston-Salem, Paul also announced some details pertaining to the third annual Winston-Salem Weekend, which is to be held Sept. 18-21. The Weekend will kick off on Thursday, Sept. 18, with an R&B concert (the artist to be announced formally at a later date) at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

All proceeds from the concert along with the weekend-long charity event will benefit the CP3 Foundation which supports a variety of programs and charities in Paul's hometown. This year, the CP3 Foundation will reach a number of organizations in the Winston-Salem area through the Day of Service including the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club, Meals on Wheels, Feed the Children, YMCA and YWCA and the Special Olympics among others.

"I'm really excited about the addition of the concert to the event schedule that the great people of Winston-Salem will get to enjoy," said Paul. "This event continues to grow each year with more people and programs getting involved. My family and I are really thrilled with how many different charities and organizations will benefit from the money we are raising."

Chris Paul's Winston-Salem Weekend, hosted by the Twin City Quarter, is the signature fundraising event of the CP3 Foundation. Established in 2006, the CP3 Foundation is the focal point of Paul's philanthropic initiatives. In addition to the concert on September 18, the 3rd annual Chris Paul's Winston-Salem Weekend will include a Youth Day of Service (9/19), Banker's Ball (9/19), Issuer Direct Youth Basketball Clinic (9/20), Celebrity Bowling Tournament (9/20) and a Community Church Service and Social sponsored by Mountain Fried Chicken (9/21).

For more information about Chris Paul's Winston-Salem Weekend or to check out photos and news from last year's event, log on to www.chrispaul3.com.