Aug. 1, 2011

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Junior Jack Cooley (Glenview, Ill.) will join the East Coast All-Stars as one of ten collegiate players who will participate in the Four Nations Cup in Tallinn, Estonia, August 5-7.

The 6-9, 244-pound forward will participate in a two-day training camp at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa., before traveling to Estonia for games against teams from Sweden, Georgia and Estonia. Training camp takes place July 31-August 1, with travel on August 2. The squad will play an exhibition on August 3, before the tournament takes place August 5-7.

The exhibition will take place on August 3 against Vilmsi Spordikekuss, before the squad opens the tournament on August 5 against Sweden. Game two on August fifth will be against Georgia, while the tournament concludes with the East Coast All-Stars versus Estonia on August 7.

The Four Nations Cup takes place in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, which sits on the Baltic Sea. Sweden, Georgia and Estonia will all be represented by their respective national teams.

The East Coast All-Stars (ECA) was founded in the summer of 2006. Comprised of the best college talent in the country, the All-Stars assemble in the New York City area each summer for a two-day training camp. From New York, the team will depart to their European destination for eight days of top-flight competition. In 2007 the ECA’s took on the Dutch National Team (lead by the NBA’s Francisco Elson, of the Seattle Sonics) to open Holland’s brand new 10,000-seat UCF Arena. Some of the best club and national teams in Europe have gone against the All Star’s. The team has competed in Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, France and Switzerland. August of 2011 has the All-Stars scheduled to play in multiple events throughout Estonia.

In touring with the East Coast All-Stars each participant will be assisted in obtaining a valid passport. The lessons learned by the players go a long way in preparing them for life after college. Living within foreign cultures, learning the history of other countries, and competing at Europe’s highest levels make this an unforgettable experience.

Irish forward Scott Martin was on the East Coast All-Stars in 2010, when he traveled to Switzerland and Paris.

Cooley is joined on the squad by a host of BIG EAST and Big Ten players, as well as representatives from the ACC and Big 12. He concluded his sophomore season averaging 3.7 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, appearing in all 34 contests. He was instrumental in helping the Irish to 27 wins, including a 14-4 mark in the BIG EAST.

Joining Cooley on the roster are Anthony Johnson (Purdue), Matt Gatens (Iowa), Baye Moussa Keita (Syracuse), Brandon Triche (Syracuse), Pe’Shon Howard (Maryland), Rodney McGruder (Kansas State), Bryce Cartwright (Iowa), Mike Bruesewitz (Wisconsin) and Elliott Eliason (Minnesota).

2011 East Coast All-Stars Roster

NAME          HGT    CLASS   POS   SCHOOOLAnthony Johnson  6-3    Fr. G     PurdueMatt Gatens      6-5    Sr.     G     IowaBaye Moussa Keita 6-10   So.     F     SyracuseBrandon Triche   6-4    Jr.     G     SyracusePe'Shon Howard   6-3    So.     G     MarylandRodney McGruder  6-4    So.     F     Kansas StateBryce Cartwright 6-1    Sr.     G     IowaMike Bruesewitz  6-6    Jr.     F     WisconsinJack Cooley      6-9    Jr.     C     Notre DameElliott Eliason  6-11   RS Fr.  C     Minnesota

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