COLORADO SPRINGS. Colo.—USA Basketball has announced the 35 athletes invited to next month’s 16 and under trials for 12 spots on the 2015 USA Women’s U16 National Team. The team will compete this summer for the FIBA Americas U16 Championship that will be held June 24-28 in Puebla, Mexico. Featuring many of the elite 2017 and 2018 prospects nationally, the select group of players will vie for roster spots during trials held at the United States Olympic Training Center May 21 – 25.
“This roster is full of exceptionally talented players, and we expect to have a tremendous amount of competition for the 2016 USA Women’s U16 National Team,” said Carol Callan, USA Basketball women’s national team director and chair of the USA Basketball Women’s Developmental National Team Committee, which is responsible for selecting the U16 players and coaches.
Ironically, the 2017 class will have 17 athletes on hand while 2018 will have the remaining 18. Geographically, 17 states make up the impressive list. Texas leads the way with eight players among the invitees while Georgia follows with four. California and Florida each will be represented by three with Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio and Virginia sending two each. Nine other states will have one player in the mix.
Additionally, other participants who have applied for participation will be on hand challenging for the opportunity to wear red, white and blue. The list of additional athletes will be released by USA Basketball prior to the trials.
“We continue to see great interest in our developmental programs, and athletes are excited to participate. Further, we see a great response within the basketball community and our applicant athletes.” Callan continued “We look forward to welcoming everyone to the trials and watching these elite athletes vie for a roster spot.”
The 2015 FIBA Americas U16 Championship will be played June 24-28, where the USA women will set their sights on a fourth-consecutive U16 gold medal, along with a berth into the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship, which will be awarded to the top four finishing teams. The USA owns three gold medals and is a perfect 15-0 all-time in U16 play, including most recently in 2013, when the USA topped teams by 63.9 points per game.
2017 Invitation Participants
Rellah Boothe (Potter’s House Christian Academy/Jacksonville, Fla.); Mikayla Boykin (Clinton H.S./Clinton, N.C.);Ayanna Clark (Long Beach Poly H.S./ Long Beach, Calif.); Maya Dodson (St. Francis H.S./Alpharetta, Ga.); Andra Espinoza-Hunter (Blair Academy, N.J./Ossining, N.Y.); Chelsie Hall (Seffner Christian Academy/Wesley Chapel, Fla.);Jaala Henry (Eleanor Roosevelt H.S./Riverdale, Md.); Taylor Kissinger (Minden H.S./Minden, Neb.); Kasiyahna Kushkituah (St. Francis H.S./Austell, Ga.);Destiny Littleton (The Bishop’s School/San Diego, Calif.); Alexis Morris (Legacy Christian Academy/Beaumont, Texas); Deauzya “DiDi” Richards (Cypress Ranch H.S./Cypress, Texas); Taya Robinson (Huguenot H.S./Richmond, Va.); Unique Thompson (Faith Academy/Theodore, Ala.); Madison Treece (Rock Bridge H.S./Columbia, Mo.); Kiana Williams (Karen Wagner H.S./San Antonio, Texas); and Jade Williams (Prestonwood Christian Academy/The Colony, Texas).
2018 Invitation Participants
Jenna Brown (The Lovett School/Marietta, Ga.);Desiree Caldwell (Johnson H.S. /San Antonio, Texas); Christianna Carr (Eden Prairie H.S. /Eden Prairie, Minn.); Jessika Carter (Harris County H.S./Waverly Hall, Ga.); Charli Collier (Barbers Hill H.S./ Baytown, Texas); Amira Collins (St. Johns College H.S./White Plains, Md.); Aquira DeCosta (St. Mary’s H.S./Stockton, Calif.);Katlyn Gilbert (Heritage Christian School/Indianapolis, Ind.); Honesty Grayson (Blair Academy/Brick, N.J.); Zarielle Green (Duncanville H.S. /Dallas, Texas);Destanni Henderson (Fort Myers H.S./Fort Myers, Fla.); Lindsey Jarosinski(Montini Catholic H.S./Medinah, Ill.); Ayoka Lee (Byron H.S./Byron, Minn.);Valencia Myers (Solon H.S. /Solon, Ohio.); Sedona Prince (Faith Academy/Liberty, Texas); Mykasa Robinson (Paul G. Blazer H.S. /Cattlesburg, Ky.);Bexley Wallace (Pickerington Central H.S./Pickerington, Ohio); and Xaria Wiggins (Princess Anne H.S./Virginia Beach, Va.).
Dori Oldaker (Mt. Lebanon – Pennsylvania) will head up the USA U16 team. She’ll be assisted by Diane Lewis (Thomas Edison – Virginia) and NAIA coach Samantha Quigley (St. Francis – Illinois).
Chaired in a non-voting position by Callan, the USA Basketball Women’s Developmental National Team Committee also includes AAU representatives Bill Larson and Sherri Pegues, National Federation of High Schools representatives Jody Patrick and Jill Rankin Schneider and athlete representative Yolanda Griffith, a 2000 and 2004 Olympic gold medalist who played on five USA Basketball teams.
