June 20, 2013
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Editor’s Note: The following first appeared in the University of Iowa’s Hawk Talk Daily, an e-newsletter that offers a daily look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered free each morning to thousands of fans of the Hawkeyes worldwide.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — When Roy Devyn Marble attends the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s World University Games Team Training Camp, he is out to show he belongs.
“I want to prove I am one of the best players in the country,” said Marble, a senior on the University of Iowa men’s basketball team. “I feel I don’t get that recognition as much as I deserve. This is another opportunity to go up against some of the country’s best and show what I am capable of doing.”
Marble will be one of 29 of the nation’s top collegians converging upon the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs from June 24-30. The 29 players are from 23 schools and the group consists of six sets of collegiate teammates, including Iowa’s Marble and Aaron White.
Marble is coming off a junior campaign where he earned third-team All-Big Ten and NIT All-Tournament laurels. He led the team in scoring (15.0 points per game), assists (3.0 apg.), free throw percentage (81.0), and 3-pointers (49).
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“I have been preparing for this, and I am not going there just because I was invited. I want to go there, compete, and make the team, and play for a gold medal in Russia. That is the goal, and I am going to take it one step, one day, and one practice at a time.”
UI senior Roy Devyn Marble
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During Iowa’s run to the National Invitation Tournament championship game, Marble’s production increased. He averaged 20.6 points, 2.6 steals, and four rebounds in five NIT contests.
Marble knows the week-long training camp will determine the final roster, but he believes his game and style of play would be an asset to the U.S. team in international competition.
“I am unselfish and versatile,” he said. “I can do a variety of things — create for others, myself, score and pass. When you’re going over into another country, the game style is much different. I have the qualities to perform well over there.
“At the end of the day, I am going to work hard and do what I have to do to try to make the team.”
Marble is looking forward to the opportunity to learn from some of the nation’s top coaches during the training camp. The World University Games coaching staff includes Davidson’s Bob McKillop (head coach) and assistants John Beilein (Michigan) and Frank Martin (South Carolina).
“It is going to be a blessing to learn from some of the best,” said Marble. “Coach Beilein is a guy that I see yearly with him being at Michigan, and I am looking forward to learning from him because he is one of the best offensive coaches in college. I know he can help me out with my offensive game.
“Coach Martin brings the intensity and enthusiasm to the game, and he knows how to get the best out of you. It’s an excellent coaching staff, and I am looking forward to being around them.”
While Marble cherishes the opportunity to be invited to participate in the USA Basketball Men’s World Games Team Training Camp, that isn’t enough.
“I have been preparing for this, and I am not going there just because I was invited,” he said. “I want to go there, compete, and make the team, and play for a gold medal in Russia. That is the goal, and I am going to take it one step, one day, and one practice at a time.”
Twelve players from the pool of 29 at the training camp will be selected to represent the USA in Kasan, Russia, on July 6-17.