(Stateline, Nev.) – Jimmer Fredette, the BYU guard selected tenth overall in the NBA Draft, will have his talents on display as a professional athlete for the first time this summer at the 2011 American Century Championship (www.tahoecelebritygolf.com) celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe. The 54-hole tournament will be televised live by NBC Sports and VERSUS July 15-17.

Through a three-way trade with the Charlotte Bobcats and Milwaukee Bucks, the Sacramento Kings were able to acquire Fredette, the 2011 College Basketball Player of the Year. During the 2011 season, the 6’2’’ guard averaged almost 29 points per game and displayed an uncanny ability to knock down big shots. His phenomenal performances gave birth to “Jimmermania” among BYU fans and members of The Church of Latter Day Saints across the country.

Fredette is the first college athlete to be invited to participate in the American Century Championship, which is a professional competition for celebrities and athletes who play golf. “Just to have an invitation extended to me was a real honor,” said the Glens Falls, NY, native. “Even though I’m not the best golfer in the world, I’m going to go out there and have a great time, and just relax and have fun.”

According to Harrah’s & Harveys Lake Tahoe Sports Book, his odds of winning the tournament are 40-1, along with Michael Jordan and Ray Allen. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, and former MLB pitcher Rick Rhoden are co-favorites to win the tournament with 5-2 odds. On the other end of the spectrum, Charles Barkely has 500-1 odds of winning. “I’m not up to Jordan’s level, that’s for sure,” Fredette offered. “I’m probably more towards Barkley. I don’t play a whole lot. I can hit the ball, and I’ll hit some decent shots, but I need to continue to work on my driving so it doesn’t hook so much.”

As Fredette led BYU to new heights of success and national attention, BYU fans and followers of the Church of Latter Day Saints across the country fell in love with the exciting backcourt star. Fredette is expected to draw large galleries at Lake Tahoe, which is just 100 miles from Sacramento, his new NBA home. Sacramento and Reno (NV) – 50 miles from Lake Tahoe – both have large LDS populations.

Further information on the tournament can be found at www.tahoecelebritygolf.com.

Tournament title sponsor American Century Investments is a leading, privately controlled investment management firm serving professionals, institutions, corporations and individuals. Through its ownership structure, more than 40 percent of company profits support research to help find cures for genetically based diseases including cancer, diabetes and dementia.