University of North Carolina Athletics
Haywood Strikes Gold with USA
July 13, 1999 | Men's Basketball
July 13, 1999
Spain - University of North Carolina center Brendan Haywood and his United States teammates won the gold medal at the 1999 World University Games with a 79-65 triumph over Yugoslavia Monday. Haywood, a rising junior at UNC, scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds in the championship game.
Haywood was one of only two USA players to start all eight games in the tournament and averaged the second-most minutes on the team. Cincinnati's Kenyon Martin also started all eight games; Ohio State's Scoonie Penn was the only player to see more playing time per game.
Haywood was second on the team in scoring and rebounding and led the USA in blocked shots. He averaged 10.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game and compiled 11 blocked shots.
"It is a great feeling," Haywood said after winning the gold medal. "A lot of people playing basketball do not get a chance to represent their country. I feel very fortunate to have been chosen and I feel good about winning the gold medal. It is a very good experience, something I can take back to North Carolina and hopefully build on for next year. It is something I can talk to the younger guys about."
