Nov. 29, 2007
Greenville, S.C. -
Furman defender Jon Leathers has been named as one of 22 players on head coach Peter Nowak's United States Under-23 National Team roster for training camp beginning this weekend at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
Leathers, a senior from Athens, Ga., is the only current collegiate player on a roster that includes 20 professionals. The team will train for a week before embarking on a trip to China to face the Chinese U-23's on December 13 and 16, in preparation for final round action of the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Under-23 Championship to be held from March 11-23, 2008, in Los Angeles, Tampa and Nashville. The eight-team tournament will send the two finalists to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
"We are really proud of Jon and appreciate all he has done for our team over the past four years," said Furman head coach Doug Allison. "This is a tremendous opportunity for him with the national team program. We all wish him the best with the national team and in his professional career.
Leathers, a two-time Southern Conference Player-of-the-Year and four-time All-SoCon pick for the Paladins, led Furman to the SoCon regular season and tournament titles this season. He helped Furman fashion a 19-4-0 record while earning an NCAA Tournament bid and no. 20 national ranking. Leathers is the first defender in league history to earn player-of-the-year honors twice.
The roster, announced on Thursday, includes a number of players from last summer's U.S. U-20 team that took part in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. Seven of the players have seen time with the full U.S. senior team, including 2007 MLS Rookie-of-the-Year Maurice Edu and forward Josmer Altidore of the New York Red Bulls. Leathers is one of seven defenders on the roster.
The Home Depot Center and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., will each host three doubleheaders in group play, while LP Field in Nashville, Tenn., will host the semifinals on Thursday, March 20, and the championship match and third-place game on Sunday, March 23.
