DENVER University of Denver freshman forward Sam Garza (Highland Village, Texas) will attend an eight-day training camp with the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team in Sunrise, Fla., from Dec. 15-22, U.S. U-20 head coach Thomas Rongen announced today.

“This is certainly a well-deserved honor for Sam to be included among the best under-20 players in the country,” DU head coach Bobby Muuss said. “He is an outstanding talent, and all of us at the University of Denver are proud of what he has accomplished and proud that he is a member of our team.”

The training camp will include a pair of friendly scrimmages against CONCACAF foes Haiti on Dec. 20 and Canada on Dec. 22. The roster includes a mix of professional, youth and college players.

Garza was named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Newcomer of the Year after helping Denver win its first-ever MPSF championship and first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1970. Garza played in all 19 of DU’s games as a freshman this season, starting 14 times. The forward’s four goals and four assists were both tied for second on the Pioneers, and his 12 points were third. Three of Garza’s assists came in games in which he also scored a goal, including a two-goal, one-assist effort in a 3-3 tie with San Jose State on Oct. 31. A highly-touted recruit out of high school last year, Garza was named the 2007-08 Gatorade Texas Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year.