CHICAGO (August 29, 2019) – Blake Schilb, one of Loyola University Chicago men's basketball all-time greats, will compete for the Czech Republic at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which begins Saturday in China. 
 
The FIBA Basketball World Cup will directly qualify seven teams for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, while the next 16 best classified teams at the World Cup will get the opportunity to qualify through one of the four FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in 2020.
 
Schilb and the Czech Republic will compete in Group E in pool play and open competition with a September 1 matchup versus the United States. Following the opening game against Team USA, the Czech Republic will face Japan (September 3) and Turkey (September 5) before second-round action commences September 7.
 
During his collegiate playing days at Loyola, the Rantoul, Illinois native, who was one of the most versatile players to ever wear a Ramblers jersey, was a three-time First Team All-Horizon League pick and averaged 15.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in his career. During his junior season in 2005-06, in which he was named Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America, Schilb contributed 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals per outing, and to this day, he remains the only player in Loyola men's basketball history to amass over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists in his career.
 
The 6-foot-7 guard/forward has had a lengthy and successful professional playing career in Europe and last season played for Chalons-Reims in France.