Kansas guards Mario Chalmers, left, and Sherron Collins slap hands during a break from action in the second half of the Saturday, February 10, 2007, game against the Tigers at Mizzou Arena.

Kansas University guards Mario Chalmers and Sherron Collins are two of 30 college basketball players invited to participate in USA Basketball’s Pan American Games Team Trials on July 12-14 at Haverford College in Pennsylvania.

The backcourt players join Darrell Arthur as Jayhawks representing their country this summer. Arthur last week accepted an invitation to try out for USA Basketball’s Under-19 world-championship team later this month in Dallas.

“Sherron and I have been going extra hard ever since we got the call,” said Chalmers, a junior guard from Anchorage, Alaska. “This is going to be a great opportunity for us against some very tough competition.”

The Trials will be used to select the 12 finalists for USA Basketball’s Pan American Games squad to compete Aug. 13-29 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Others to participate at the Pan Am Games Trials: Jon Brockman, Washington; Brian Butch, Wisconsin; Josh Carter, Texas A&M; Brandan Costner, North Carolina State; Eric Devendorf, Syracuse; Joey Dorsey, Memphis; Wayne Ellington, North Carolina; Randal Falker, Southern Illinois; Shan Foster, Vanderbilt; Alonzo Gee, Alabama; James Gist, Maryland; Richard Hendrix, Alabama; Roy Hibbert, Georgetown; Marty Leunen, Oregon; Chris Lofton, Tennessee; Derrick Low, Washington State; Wesley Matthews, Marquette; Eric Maynor, Virginia Commonwealth; Jerel McNeal, Marquette; Tasmin Mitchell, LSU; Drew Neitzel, Michigan State; DeMarcus Nelson, Duke; Ahmad Nivins, Saint Joseph’s; Scottie Reynolds, Villanova; Jon Scheyer, Duke; Bryce Taylor, Oregon; Kyle Weaver, Washington State and D.J. White, Indiana.

The Pan Am Games team will be led by Villanova University coach Jay Wright. He’ll be assisted by Alabama’s Mark Gottfried and Yale’s James Jones.

“This is a great opportunity for Mario and Sherron, but unfortunately Brandon was not able to try out due to his injury,” Kansas head coach Bill Self said of Brandon Rush, who had right ACL surgery last week.

“It’s a stacked squad and both of them are going to have to be in great shape and play very well in order for them to make this team.

“Like Darrell (Arthur), this is another great opportunity for our guys to represent our country and these two will play for Jay Wright, who I consider to be one of the best in the business.”

Chalmers was named the co-Big 12 defensive player of the year last season after totaling a KU single-season record 97 steals. An All-Big 12 third-team selection, he was second on the team in scoring at 12.2 points per game. Sophomore point guard Collins, from Chicago, averaged 9.3 points. He earned All-Big 12 honorable mention after averaging 11.3 points per game in conference contests.

The first trials session will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, in Haverford, Pa. Two trials sessions (10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.) will be held July 13 and 14. The selected USA team finalists will remain for the USA’s July 15-21 training camp.

¢ Measurements: Former KU forward Julian Wright was measured at 6-foot-6 1/2 without shoes, 6-8 1/2 with shoes at last week’s NBA pre-draft camp in Orlando, Fla., ESPN.com has reported. Wright weighed in at 211 pounds with a 7-2 1/4 wingspan and 9-foot standing reach. At the start of last season, Wright was listed as 6-foot-8 with shoes and 225 pounds.

ESPN’s Chad Ford said if one rated five top small forwards in the draft, (Wright, Corey Brewer, Jeff Green, Al Thornton, Thaddeus Young), Wright would place fourth in the group in terms of physical testing and size. Wright’s vertical was tested at 33.5 inches.