May 25, 2010
USA Basketball website | Official website release
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -
Incoming Maryland women's basketball freshmen Laurin Mincy and Alyssa Thomas were invited to partake in the 2010 USA Basketball Women's U18 National Team Trials, June 8-11 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball announced yesterday. First year-Terp Whitney Bays was also included in the list of invitees but decided against participating this year.
Mincy, a McDonald's All-American, played in 91 games during her high school career accumulating 1,845 points. She averaged 20.3 points per game and pulled down 6.5 rebounds per game, averaged 4.1 assists, 3.2 steals and 3.1 blocks per game. Mincy was the first sophomore in her high school to exceed 1,000 points and the first junior to pass the 1,500 point mark. She was named "Best of the Decade" by the New Jersey Star Ledger this year, a list of 10 female athletes from various sports made up the list, including former Terp Crystal Langhorne.
Thomas was named a PARADE and USA Today All-American after leading her team to the Pennsylvania state semifinals to cap off a stellar career. She became her school's all-time scoring leader after accumulating 2,291 points. Thomas also amassed 1,390 rebounds, 452 assists and 372 steals.
Counting 17 All-Americans and 12 of the top 20 senior prospects, 26 elite high school athletes have accepted invitations to participate in the trials. The 26 players will battle for one of 12 roster spots on the 2010 USA Basketball Women's U18 National Team that will compete in the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women June 23-27 at the USOTC in Colorado Springs.
Included in the field of 26 set for trials are 13 McDonald's All-Americans, eight USA Today All-Americans, 15 Parade Magazine All-Americans and seven Gatorade State Players of the Year.
"I'm obviously excited to be working with these kids," said Jennifer Rizzotti, USA U18 and University of Hartford head coach. "You can see that they're all the best of the best. Our goal is to find a group that will come together and help represent the United States in the tournament, and I'm looking forward to finding out who that's going to be."
The 2010 graduates on the trials roster are Stefanie Dolson (Minisink Valley H.S./Port Jervis, N.Y.); Karla Gilbert (A&M Consolidated H.S./College Station, Texas); Cassie Harberts (San Clemente H.S./San Clemente, Calif.); Bria Hartley (North Babylon H.S./North Babylon, N.Y.); Kaneisha Horn (Ramsay H.S./Birmingham, Ala.); Richa Jackson (Midwest City H.S./Midwest City, Okla.); Sara James (Oak Ridge H.S./El Dorado Hills, Calif.); Afure Jemerigbe (St. Mary's H.S./Stockton, Calif.); Kayla McBride (Villa Maria Academy/Erie, Pa.); Shanece McKinney (LeFlore H.S./Mobile, Ala.); Laurin Mincy (University H.S./Newark, N.J.); Chiney Ogwumike (Cy-Fair H.S./Cypress, Texas); Haley Peters (The Peddie School/Red Bank, N.J.); Theresa Plaisance (Vandebilt Catholic H.S./Marrero, La.); Lindsay Sherbert (Great Oak H.S./Temecula, Calif.); Meighan Simmons (Steele H.S./Cibolo, Texas); Alyssa Thomas (Central Dauphin H.S./Harrisburg, Pa.); and Samarie Walker (Chaminade-Julienne H.S./West Carrollton, Ohio).
"The committee is certainly excited to have this talented group of players from which to select our 2010 USA U18 Women's National Team," said Sue Donohoe, chair of the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee. "We have 26 talented athletes and depth at every position. It will be a competitive trials, and the USA will be well represented at the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women."
All sessions will be held at the training center's Sports Center I June 8 through June 10. The 12-player 2010 USA Women's U18 National Team will be announced on the morning of June 11 and will remain in Colorado Springs for training through the start of the FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women on June 23.
Rizzotti, an assistant coach for the gold medal-winning 2006 USA Women's U18 National Team, will be assisted by Florida State University head coach Sue Semrau and University of Central Florida head coach Joi Williams, both of whom are first-time USA coaches.
Selection of the USA U18 National Team will be made by the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee.
Overall, the 26 players on the trials roster represent 10 different states, and seven of the athletes are from California. Five players are from Texas, and three more from Ohio, while Alabama, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania each claim two. Florida, Louisiana and Oklahoma have one player each.
Contributed by usabasketball.com
