Russ Smith will be taking a European vacation next week as he will be representing the University of Louisville on the East Coast All-Stars. Smith and the All-Stars will compete in the Four Nations Cup in Tallin, Estonia, July 25-27. Russ who averages 18.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assist last season for the Cards will depart for a two-day training camp, held at Fordham University, July 20-21. After two days of training, the team will depart the states and arrive in Estonia the evening of July 22.

The All-Stars will play an exhibition contest against an Estonian Club team on the 23rd and then will have a practice day before competition begins on July 25. The All Stars will play three games against the top FIBA National Teams of Belarus, Estonia, and the Slovak Republic. The 12-man roster includes two players each from Syracuse and Lycoming, and one each from Iowa, Louisville, North Colorado, Notre Dame, UConn, Providence, West Virginia and Binghamton. The team is comprised of six seniors, five sophomores and one junior.

The Louisville men’s basketball program definitely has an international theme this summer. Luke Hancock traveled to Kazan, Russia, for the World University Games with Team USA earlier this month. And Montrezl Harrell won a gold medal with the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship in Prague, Czech Republic.

This experience for these guys will pay big dividends in the upcoming season as our Cards will look to repeat as national champs.