Sophomore third baseman Tony Thompson didn’t even realize that Team USA was still looking for players. He figured that, with the college season all but over and the professional season well under way, the national team’s roster would be set.

That doesn’t mean he wasn’t excited when Jayhawks coach Ritch Price told him he was wrong, and that the United States national team wanted Thompson to come tryout.

“I really didn’t know anything about it until our interviews at the end of he year,” Thompson said. “Skip told me when we all went in for our end of season meetings that they wanted me to go out there. So when he told me that, it was pretty amazing. It was a great honor for me.”

Price said he recommended Thompson not only for his skill on the baseball diamond — Thompson had arguably the most productive season at the plate ever by a Jayhawk — but also for his character off of it.

“When I recommended Tony to Team USA, I was proud to point out that not only is he an outstanding player, he is an even better person,” Price said. “He will represent our country, himself, his family, the University of Kansas and our program in a first-class manner.”

Thompson, who hit .389 with 21 home runs and 82 RBI and became the first Triple Crown winner in Big 12 history (leading the conference in all three categories), was one of 36 players to get the invite. Despite fighting for a spot on the roster against some of the top players in the country, Thompson feels comfortable in his abilities.

“I feel pretty confident,” Thompson said. “If I play the way I have the whole year, I think I’ll have a pretty good shot.”

Price also said he thought Thompson had the ability to represent the University and the country in international play.

“I am confident that he will continue to play this great game at the highest level and will earn a roster spot on our 2009 team,” Price said.

Thompson will have the chance to see if Price’s and his own confidence is well founded starting June 14. The final 22-man roster will be announced 10 days after the start of tryouts, on June 24.

“Even if I don’t make the team, just the honor of being invited to play for my country is really amazing,” Thompson said.

If he does make it through tryouts unscathed, he’d become the first Jayhawk to do so as a player. Price was an assistant coach on 2008’s undefeated national team, but no player from the University of Kansas has ever donned the national colors in international play.

“It’s amazing,” Thompson said. “I never thought I’d have the chance to do that. When Skip told me that I had the chance to play for Team USA in international competition, it was really pretty humbling. Just knowing that, you know, I’m representing not only myself and the University of Kansas, but also our country, that would be the greatest honor I could have.”

Should Thompson make the final roster, he will be part of a team that will play host to teams including the Canadian national team, and will travel as far as Japan for games. Price said the experience would be one that Thompson would remember forever.

“Having been an assistant coach on the 2008 gold medal and undefeated club, I know first-hand the experiences that lie in front of Tony,” Price said. “It will be the greatest experience of his baseball life.”