Temple University Athletics
Juan Fernandez To Play For Argentina at Pan American Games
10.21.11 | Men's Basketball
Temple guard becomes sixth Owl to compete in 2011 Games
PHILADELPHIA – Senior guard Juan Fernandez has been added to the Argentine squad that will compete in the 2011 Pan American Games. Fernandez joins the team this weekend with the basketball portion of the Games running from October 26-30 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
"It is a great honor and privilege to represent my country,” said Fernandez. “ I am thankful for the opportunity, and for Temple University and Coach Dunphy to allow me to take this time away to compete at the Pan American Games."
"We are excited for Juan and we wish him all the best as he competes for his country in the Pan Am games. It is a great honor,” said Temple head coach Fran Dunphy.
A native of Rio Tercero, Argentina, Fernandez is no stranger to international competition. In 2008, he helped Argentina win the Under-18 World Championship. He averaged 8.4 points, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 17 minutes per game during that competition and scored 16 points against the United States in the championship game. ] In the 2009 U19 World Championship, he averaged 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. The past two summers he has worked out with the Argentine National Team.
A 2011-12 preseason first team all-Atlantic 10 selection, Fernandez earned third team all-Atlantic 10 Conference and A-10 all-Academic team accolades in 2010-11. He finished third on Temple in scoring (11.2 ppg.) as a junior, while leading the team and ranking sixth in the A10 in assists (3.9 apg.). The Owl point guard exploded for a season-high 23 points, including the game-winning basket with 0.4 seconds remaining, in the Temple's NCAA?second round win over Penn State. His career three-point percentage (.389, 141-362) is fifth on the TU?all-time list. He enters his final season with 302 career assists, and is on pace to become just the seventh Owl, and first since Lynn Greer (437, 1997-02)?to surpass 400 assists.
Fernandez becomes the sixth person with Temple University ties to compete in the 2011 Pan American Games. He joins gold medalists current TU women's rowing coach Jason Read ('03), Marcus McElhenney ('03) and Joe Spencer ('05), who were part of the United States winning men's 8+ rowing boat; current Temple assistant track coach Shameka Marshall, who is one of two long jumpers competing for the USA women's track team; and former men's track standout Josue Louis, ('10), who will take part in the men's high jump for the United States.
