COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Now the hard part begins.
USA Basketball announced Wednesday the 33 athletes who have accepted invitations to attend the 2013 USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team Trials from May 23-27 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
After putting in countless hours honing skills and oodles of sweat equity, the star prep players are ready to compete for a Red, White and Blue jersey.
Wait, there’s more.
In addition to the 33 invitees, USA Basketball is conducting an open application process that is expected to add another 100-125 players who will compete for a roster spot on the USA U16 Team. The entire trials roster will be announced prior to the start of trials in mid-May.
“The committee is excited to welcome these 33 athletes and all of the applicant athletes that will participate in trials at the end of this month, and we are confident that we will have a very deep, talented pool from which we will select a 12-member roster,” said Carol Callan, USA Basketball Women’s National Team Director and non-voting chair of the Women’s Developmental National Team Committee.
“It will be a challenge given the great interest, but it is one we look forward to meeting. Trials also will be an important opportunity to get to know these players and to help them understand what USA Basketball is all about. We have designed the weekend to provide every athlete with individual skill work, team concepts and off-the-court information that hopefully will help them develop as they move forward.”
Invited from the Class of 2015 include (players are listed with their high school and city, state): Bri Berryman of Indian Creek (Wintersville, Ohio); DeJanae Boykin of C.H. Flowers (Springdale, Md.); Kalani Brown of Salmen (Slidell, La.); Kennedy Burke of Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.); Amari Carter of St. John’s Washington, D.C.); Taja Cole of Byrd (Chesterfield, Va.); Te’a Cooper OF McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.); Asia Durr OF St. Pius X Catholic (Atlanta); Ashley Hearn of Sachse (Texas); Aliyah Jeune of Life Center Academy (Burlington Township, N.J.); Arike Ogunbowale of Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee); Teniya Page of Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights, Ill.); Caliya Robinson of Kell (Marietta, Ga.); Katie Lou Samuelson of Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.); and Faith Suggs Plainfield (Ill.) East.
Class of 2016: Jaelyn Brown of Vista Murrieta (Murietta, Calif.); DiJonai Carrington of Horizon Christian Academy (San Diego, Calif.); Chassity Carter of Dickson Academy (Burns, Tenn.); Lauren Cox of Flower Mound (Texas); Crystal Dangerfield of Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.); Chelsea Dungee of Preston (Okla.); Nicole Ekhomu of Joliet (Ill.) Catholic; Kysre Gondrezick of Benton Harbor (Mich.); Joyner Holmes of Cedar Hill (Texas); Jocelyn Jones of Cosby (Midlothian, Va.); Stephanie Jones of Havre de Grace (Md.); Tori McCoy of St. Thomas More (Champaign, Ill.); Krystaline McCune of Manual (Louisville, Ky.); Nancy Mulkey of Cypress Woods (Cypress, Texas); Amber Ramirez of Wagner (San Antonio, Texas); Celeste West of Garces Memorial (Bakersfield, Calif.); Jocelyn Willoughby of Newark Academy (Livingston, N.J.); and Anna Wilson of Collegiate School (Richmond, Va.).
Due to the anticipated number of participants, athletes will be divided into two groups for the skills sessions and the first four trials sessions. The roster will not be reduced until after at least the second trials session on May 25. The team is expected to be announced early on May 27.
The 12-member roster will reassemble for training camp June 10-16 at the USOTC prior to the team’s departure for Cancun, Mexico and the 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship from June 19-23.
Sue Phillips of Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) is the head coach of the U16 National Team, while Mary Coyle Klinger of Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.) and Brian Robinson of Bishop McGuinness (Kernersville, N.C.).
