Kansas University basketball signee Royce Woolridge will represent the United States at the 2010 Albert Schweitzer Tournament set for April 3-10 in Mannheim, Germany.

“I think it’ll be an awesome experience,” said Woolridge, a 6-foot-3 combo guard from Phoenix Sunnyslope High. “I think it’ll help my game a lot to play against other countries. It will be an honor to play for the United States.”

Woolridge averaged 29.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists a game his senior season for 26-4 Sunnyslope High.

Arizona’s Class 4A-1 state player of the year, who hit 49 percent of his floor shots (37 percent from three) and 80 percent of his free throws, scored 34 points in Sunnyslope’s 73-71 state title loss to McClintock.

“We had a good year, but the last game didn’t go well,” Woolridge said. “It was pretty sad. It’s my last year. You want to win it all.”

Woolridge will be joined on the U.S. team by Ryan Boatright, Michael Chandler, Joshua Henderson, Damian Leonard, Christophe Manhertz, Farooq Muhammad, Marshall Plumlee, Jamal Tucker, Dillon Watsack and Andrew White.

Because of his conflict with the Schweitzer Games, Woolridge declined an invitation to play in the Derby Classic all-star game, set for April 10 in Louisville. Woolridge said he’ll be playing in an all-star game in California on May 1. He plans on reporting to KU for summer school on June 6.

Woolridge was on spring break in Mexico last week when KU fell to Northern Iowa in the second round of the NCAAs.

“I was watching some other game on TV. The score was on the screen. It was disbelief,” Woolridge said. “It hurts. It’s sad. Northern Iowa came to play. They definitely should be proud of what they accomplished. They had a great season,” he added of the Jayhawks.

Woolridge said he’d yet to text any of his future teammates.

“I thought I’d give them a week,” Woolridge said.

He was asked who he favored in the NCAA Tournament the rest of the way.

“I don’t even know. My whole brackets are messed up,” Woolridge said. “I don’t know if I’ll still watch it (tourney). Now it’s like … whatever.”

Recruiting

Rivals.com reports that KU coach Bill Self was scheduled to be in St. Louis on Thursday to check in on Ben McLemore, a 6-5 junior shooting guard from Eskridge High. McLemore averaged 28.3 points, 12.5 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game his junior season. He’s being recruited by KU, Missouri, Tennessee and others.

Assists update

Bill Self’s Assists Foundation has announced plans to fund a four-year scholarship for the Lawrence Public Schools Foundation.

The fund will provide four scholarships annually, two to Lawrence High School and two to Free State High School.

Applications have been available this spring through the college counselors in each school. Each scholarship is renewable by the recipient each year for a maximum of four years.

The endowment will support four $2,500 four-year college scholarships, which will grow to a total of 16 sustaining scholarships.

“The scholarships program is something we wanted to do from the outset and we are really excited to get this going,” Self said.

“It is one of the most direct ways we can impact Kansas youth.”

Assists will host the second Bill’s Basketball Boogie June 11 at the College Basketball Experience at Sprint Center. To participate, log on to www.basketballboogie.org or e-mail info@assistyouth.org.