By Mel Greenberg

And the Guru updates Monday with Candi Whitaker to add to last Thursday with Debbie Black, Stacie Terry, Cameron Newbauer, and Semeka Randall to earlier update this week with Billie Godsey, Ed Swanson, Jim Foster, and Kristy Curry hires through May 20.

Previous to that the Guru updated, with help from follower David Saw in LA, to add vacancies at Alabama A&M and Iona, since filled, a change at Houston Baptist, and moving Belmont, which just says vacancy, out of the rookie category, though it could end up back there.

David is counting the departure and quick return at UMBC but the Guru is ot and the Guru is holding off on Incarnate Word in San Antonio for a future update when they become Divisionh I and the fulltime hire is made.

The opening comments after this note will reflect all the changes as will the boxscores.

So with the down time between collegiate and pro seasons going a little while longer, the Guru after initially catching up now updates again the running edition of the Coaching Carousel spins for 2013-14.

The Guru breaks it down into special categories to establish the rookie contenders for Maggie Dixon honors -- the Guru called the last one as soon as the carousel finished its final spin for 2012-13 -- the BCS hires and the other D-1 hires with boxscore breakdowns on the movement.

Playing catch up, initially, the Guru culled the WBCA and ESPN lists -- some apppear on one and not the other -- so if someone vacancy or hire is missing or filled but not listed, feel free to notify the base here.

Though there was a crush early in March, the switches are running far behind the massive 75 of last season, including 40-some rookies. In fact, if all the remaining four vacancies listed to date, barring new moves, are filled with rookies the overall Dixon contenders will reach only a total of 25.

Overall, the total is 45, perhaps challenged by the number of schools about to undergo new conference identities. Two names repeat because both Mississippi's Matt Insell and Washington's Mike Neighbors are BCS hires and rookie candidate.
Barb Smith is not listed as a rookie because of a previous stint in her life as a D-1 coach and same for Cindy Stein and Candi Whitaker.

The purest rookie is Sheryl Swoopes, one of the all-time greats, who in the manner of the fabled Dawn Staley back in 2000, is becoming a head coach at Loyola, Chicago, without ever serving over or on the staff of another program.

With this in place, the Guru will be updating as more spins occur, which will happen in filling the three existing vacancies at Howard, Saint Peter's and Sacred Heart. This is updated through Monday (May 20). So here we go.

Rookies in D-1 Hires

Alabama-Birmingham, Randy Norton from BCS-Missouri associate head coach

Belmont, Cameron Newbauer from BCS-Louisville assistant

California State-Fullerton, Deron Park from BCS-Southern California assistant

Coastal Carolina, Jaida Williams from BCS-Wake Forest assistant

Dartmouth, Belle Koclanes from MM-American University assistant

Duquesne, Dan Burt, promoted from MM-Duquesne assistant

Eastern Illinois, Debbie Black, from BCS-Ohio State assistant

Houston Baptist, Donna Finnie, promoted to head coach

Iona, Billie Godsey from BCS-Virginia Tech assistant

Jacksonville University, Yolett McPhee-McCuin from BCS-Clemson assistant

Lamar, Robin Harmony from D2/NAIA-St. Thomas (Miami, Fla.)

Loyola-Chicago, Sheryl Swoopes from WNBA playing experience

Miami (Ohio) University, Cleve Wright from D2-Gannon

BCS-Mississippi, Matt Insell from BCS-Kentucky assistant

Pepperdine, Ryan Weisenberg promoted from MM-Pepperdine assistant

Radford, Mike McGuire from MM-Richmond assistant

San Diego State, Stacie Terry, from BCS-LSU assistant

South Alabama, Terry Fowler from D2-North Alabama

Texas-Arlington, Krista Gerlich from D2-West Texas A&M

Texas Southern, Johnetta Hayes-Perry promoted from MM-Texas Southern assistant

Youngstown State, John Barnes from MM-Wis.-Green Bay associate head coach

BCS-Washington, Mike Neighbors promoted from BCS-Washington assistant head coach

Boxscore Total (as of May 20): 22 hires. 11 Male, 11Female. 10 from BCS staffs, 7 from MM-staffs, 1 from D2/NAIA head coach, 3 From D2 head coach, 1gets first coaching job.

BCS Hires

Alabama,Kristy Curry hired from BCS Texas Tech head coach

Clemson, Audra Smith from MM-Alabama-Birmingham

@-Missisippi, Matt Insell from assistant at BCS-Kentucky

North Carolina State, Wes Moore from MM-Chattanooga

Ohio State, Kevin McGuff from BCS-Washington

Pittsburgh, Suzie McConnell-Serio from MM-Duquesne

&&-Seton Hall, Tony Bozella from MM-Iona

Southern California, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke from MM-Texas Southern

Texas Tech, Candi Whitaker from BCS-Oklahoma State associate head coach who at one time had been head coach at UMKC

@-Washington, Mike Neighbors promoted from BCS-assistant head coach

Boxscore total (as of May 20) 10 positions all filled. (Running count minus 2 because Neighbors and Insell also listed in rookie list. 5 males, 5 females.)
&&-Designation may change out of BCS because of Big East breakup.
2 from BCS-head coach, 3 from BCS-staff-1 promotion, 5 from MM-head coach

Other D-1 Hires

Alabama A&M, Semeka Randall, former MM-Ohio U. head coach before let go

Chattanooga, Jim Foster had been BCS Ohio State head coach before let go

Columbia, Stephanie Glance from MM Illinois State

East Tennessee State, Brittney Ezell, from MM-Belmont

George Mason, Nyla Mileson from MM-Missouri State

Howard University, vacant

Illinois State, Barb Smith from MM Saint Louis assistant

Missouri State, Kellie Harper from BCS-North Carolina State before let go

Ohio University, Bob Bolden from MM-Youngstown State

Sacred Heart, vacant

Saint Peter’s, vacant

Southern Illinois, Cindy Stein who had been at one time BCS-Missouri head coach

Texas-Pan American, Larry Tidwell from MM-Lamar

Towson, Niki Geckeler from MM-Howard

William & Mary, Ed Swanson hired from MM-Sacred Heart

Boxscore (as of May 20). 15 positions, 3 vacant. 4 males, 8 females. 2 from BCS head coach, 1 former BCS head coach, 8 from MM-head coach, 1 from MM assistant.

Total Boxscore to date (as of May 20). 45 positions. 3 vacants. 18 males, 24 females. 5 BCS head coach, 13 MM head coach, 11 BCS staff.

-- Mel

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By Mel Greenberg

PHILADELPHIA -- While Temple coach Tonya Cardoza is off at meetings at the new American Athletic Confetence, the former football chunk of the Big East with additional newcomers such as the Owls for all sports, she has announced four newcomers to join the the team in it inaugural season of competition.

Here is a copy of the Temple release. The Guru is posting here for a better presentation without photos than would appear on Philahoopsw.com but remember coverage of the competitive Philadelphia/Suburban NCAA Women's Summer Basketball League starting June 15 will be over there. The draft is May 29. Contact David Kessler for further information at deucedbk@comcast.net

Four incoming recruits will join Temple women's basketball for the 2013-14 season as the Owls make their debut in the American Athletic Conference. Feyonda Fitzgerald (Norfolk, Va./Lake Taylor), Safiya Martin (Fayetteville, Ga./Sandy Creek), Taylor Robinson (St. Louis, Mo./Ladue Horton Watkins) and Mama Traore (Mali, Africa/Burlington County CC) have all committed to Temple for next season.

Fitzgerald, a 5-7 guard, recently led her Lake Taylor Titans to their second state title by setting the state tournament scoring record with 96 points in three games. The previous record belonged to Kara Lawson who went on to star at Tennesee and in the WNBA. Among many other honors she garnered in her senior season, Fitzgerald was named the VHSCA AAA Girls Hoops State Player of the Year in Virginia, the All-Tidewater Girls Basketball Player of the Year and the Virginian-Pilot Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She was also the Eastern Region Player of the Year and the Eastern District player of the year for a second time after averaging 22.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. In addition to being a standout at Lake Taylor, Fitzgerald played for the Boo Williams AAU team.

Martin, a 6-4 center, led her Sandy Creek High School team to the state tournament for a second straight year as a senior, coming up just one point shy to Columbia High School in the championship game. She was named Class AAAA Honorable Mention All-State by the Georgia Sportswriters Association as a senior, and was named to the all-conference second team as a junior. Martin also played for the Georgia Pearls AAU squad.

Also a 6-4 center, Robinson was the Suburban East Player of the Year as a junior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School after averaging 20 points and nine rebounds per game. She returned to dominate once again in her senior year and led the team to a conference championship averaging 14.9 points and 7.3 rebounds heading into the district playoffs. Robinson, who also played for the Midwest Elite AAU team, was nominated to play in the 2013 McDonald's All-American Games.

Traore, a native of Mali, Africa, joins the Owls after playing two years at Burlington County Community College. As a sophomore at BCC, she averaged 19.8 points, 13.4 rebounds, three steals, two blocks and shot 46 percent from the field on her way to being named to NJCAA Region 19 Player of the Year. A 6-1 center, Traore led the team to a 22-7 record and the Garden State Athletic Conference championship. Before coming to the states, Traore was a member of the under-18 and under-20 African Championship winning team in 2006. She joined the Mali senior team for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing as the country made its first-ever appearance in women's basketball.


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By Mike Siroky

Just as it was in the U19 USA Basketball team (see post below this one), UConn is represented on the World University Games team under the direction of USA Basketball.

At the same time as the U19 trials, the World University Games team was assembled at Colorado Springs.

That team will include two from UConn, 6-0 forward Kaleena Mosqueda-Leiws and 5-7 guard Bria Hartley. No other school placed two. With three on the U19 team, UConn has five players in international play this summer representing the United States.

Others on the Gamesteam: 5-7 guard Aaryn Ellenberg of Oklahoma (her coach is also the Games coach); 6-0 guard Crystal Bradford of Central Michigan; 6-2 forward Jordan Hooper of Nebraska; 6-1 guard Tricia Liston of Duke; 6-3 forward ReShanda Gray of California; 6-2 forward Cassie Harberts of UCLA; 6-1 guard Ariel Massengale of Tennessee; 6-5 forward Theresa Plaisance of LSU; 5-9 guard Shoni Schimmel of Louisville; and 5-8 guard Odyssey Sims of Baylor.

The same selection committee, chaired by the University of Chattanooga’s Jim foster, selected this team as well.

“We were able to put together a very diverse team and a very good shooting team,” Foster said. “They can really space the floor, spread the floor and will have the opportunity to play small at times, and I think will be able to take advantage of those attributes.

“It's a versatile team that allows Sherri (Coale) to play a lot of ways.”

Coale, the Oklahoma coach, is the Games coach, assisted by Brian Girogis of Marist and Coquese Washington of Penn State.

“Well, I was incredibly impressed with the respectful nature of the group, the way they competed, they're willingness to learn,” Coale said.

“They are tremendous college basketball players from great programs all across the country, and they were incredibly willing to take direction. Selfless play, trying to make one another better. It was a really high-energy trial and a bunch of really great kids."

Sims is the odd-on favorite to be the Player of the Year in the NCAAs next edition.

She was the last name announced and, “I was a little nervous. I thought maybe my name wasn't going to get called. I was excited. I had decided if I did make I was going to be happy, and if I didn't make I was still going to be happy.”

She had a steady trials and felt she got better as they progressed.

“I was able to make my team around me look good even when we didn't win. I tried to do the best I could. So, I am excited. I will be more excited when we come back and practice, and I get a chance to be with all of these other players, surround myself with them, learn what they do best and be able to just play with them and compete for a gold medal.”

Mosqueda-Lewis, dealing with having won the NCAA title, said she concentrated on her all-around game.

“I was a little nervous because I definitely did not shoot very well during this whole tryout, and that's kind of my job. I tried to do a lot of other stuff, like rebounding, hustling hard on defense. Luckily it worked.”

She in her fourth USA Basketball lineup.

“It's still special,” she said. “Every time is special. Now it's really cool because I will be playing with girls that I have played against in college. A lot of them, Odyssey and Tricia and a lot of them I watched before I even got to college and said, 'They're really good.' Now I get to play with them, so it's really cool.”

Massengale said it was very difficult to relax.

“I was nervous. I barely slept last night (before the announcement),” she said. “It's just nerve-wracking when you are competing against 32 other great players. Anyone here was capable of making the team, so it's just an honor.”

She used her skills as the Lady Vol leader to stand out.

“I think it was just my leadership. Being a point guard, being vocal with my teammates, not worrying about myself but trying to put them in the best position for our team to be successful.”

It is also her fourth USA Basketball assignment.

“It's very special,” she said. “The committee doesn't really look at if you made it before, because that is in the past. It depends on what you do during these try outs here. It's definitely an honor. I'm blessed. Coaches tell me, ‘You put in the work and it's going to pay off for you,’ so I'm very excited.”

The irrepressible Hooper used her rookie energy to deal with the altitude of Colorado Springs and the nerves of being a first-timer at trials. She blanked out the rest of the team announcement.

“Blank. I honestly didn’t hear anything except my name, and that was it. It was just a huge shock.

“This is pretty cool. I honestly didn’t think I was going to make it, so getting called was just huge. I don’t even know what to do with myself right now.

“The first two days I didn’t really play my best, and then I just kind of stepped up and played my game, and I think that’s kind of what they saw.”

Her Cornhusker work ethic paid off.

“What I brought – my rebounding, my shooting, stuff like that. Hopefully I can work on my defense, so just whatever they need. (I will do) whatever they want me to do.

"Probably get in shape and stuff like that. I wasn’t in very good shape (laughing), so I’m definitely going to work hard on that. Just play hard and keep playing.

“There’s definitely an (altitude) difference, especially from Lincoln and what I’m used to. It’s just a whole different altitude level, no breath and all that kind of stuff.”

Hartley seemed smooth throughout, with enough doubts about the selection to play with an edge.

“I thought I played OK,” she said. “I didn't think I played my best basketball ever. I'm just really happy that the committee picked me. I'm really excited that I was good enough to make the team.

“I was a little nervous. Even though I have made the team before, you don't want to come in here thinking, 'Oh, I'm definitely going to make the team.' You have to stay humble, but you also want to be confident, thinking you could possibly make the team. You have to come out and play basketball the way you know how to.”

She stressed her overall game.

“I think it was versatility, because I am a combo-guard. I can play a little bit of the 1 and the 2 and I can make sure all of my teammates are involved. Also, just talking and encouraging, that's the main thing I like to do.”

The 2013 World University Games women’s basketball competition is scheduled for July 8-15 in Kazan, Russia.


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By Mike Siroky

Seven players from the Southeastern Conference accepted invitations to the United States tryouts for FIBA U19 World Championships; 34 athletes were invited.

In the end, only Bashara Graves of Tennessee and incoming freshman Linna Harper of Kentucky made the cut from the conference.

The 6-foot-2 Graves was the 2013 SEC Freshman of the Year and a Full Court Freshman All-American. She is one of six members of the 2012 USA U18 National Team that captured the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in August to secure a berth in this summer's U19 competition.

The 5-8 Harper is from Chicago. She won gold medals as a member of the 2012 USA U17 World Championship Team and the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship Team. She also was awarded an honorary bronze medal in the inaugural 2011 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championship.

She is the Wildcats’ top recruit ever, both a McDonald’s All-America and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-America. She averaged 19 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game during her senior season.

UConn is the best-represented school on the team, with all three invited players making the cut. If there was a solid lock it had to be UConn’s Breanna Stewart, the MVP of the Huskies’ National Championship team.

Stewart was the MVP of the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship and member of the five-member 2009 All-FIBA U19 World Championship Tournament Team.

She has helped USA squads earn gold at the 2010 U17 and 2011 U19 FIBA World Championships, as well as the 2009 U16 and 2012 U18 FIBA Americas Championships. The 2011 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year was the lone high school athlete on the 2011 USA Pan American Games Team.

Moriah Jefferson, a 5-7 guard from Glenn Heights, Texas; and Morgan Tuck, a 6-2 forward from Bolingbrook (a Chicago suburb) are the other two with UConn futures on this team. They are the only three to ever repeat as U19 teammates.

Other high schoolers to make it are A’ja Wilson, a 6-4 forward from Hopkins, S.C.; Brianna Turner, a 6-3 forward from Pearland, Texas; and Gabby Green, a 6-1 guard from Oakland, Calif. This was Wilson’s first tryout for USA Basketball. As if life for other teams was not difficult enough in UConn’s universe, she said last week – during the trials – that Storrs was a likely college destination. She flew to the trials on the same flight as the UConn trio.

With that, UConn has dropped its pursuit of Turner who has Baylor and Duke as her top two choices. Green, though, remains another UConn possibility. The hint: She played on Team Taurasi in California summer leagues.

Others with collegiate experience are 6-6 center (the tallest selectee) Candice Agee of Penn State; Alexis Jones, a 5-8 guard from Duke; Kelsey Plum, a 5-8 guard from Poway, Calif, committed to Duke; and Nia Coffey, a 6-2 forward from Minneapolis committed to Northwestern.

In addition to chairman and new Tenn.-Chattanooga coach Jim Foster, the 2013-16 USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee included NCAA appointees Melanie Balcomb (coach, Vanderbilt University), Lindsay Gottlieb (coach, University of California) and Joi Williams (coach, UCF), as well as athlete representative, WNBA player Kara Lawson, a 2008 Olympic Gold medalist who has played on nine USA Basketball teams. Lawson spoke to the group during the trials, about the responsibilities of representing their country.

“We were able to pick a U19 team that has a lot of strengths in a lot of different areas,” said Foster. “I think that bodes well for them. They have good size. They have some people who can put the ball in the basket. They’re athletic, and I think they can be good defensively. It’s a team that has a lot of potential to be very successful.

“The team has some players whose skill set is a little different than their position. Breanna Stewart, A’Ja Wilson and Brianna Turner are all 6-3 or above and are equally as comfortable putting the ball on the floor after they get a rebound and starting a fast break on their own. It’s an interesting dimension, and it makes the team that much more versatile because you could actually play some of them at wing positions and have a very, very big team on the floor. It makes for a lot of versatility.”

The coach this summer, Miami’s Katie Meier, agreed.
“I’m thrilled,” she said. “The length is incredible, the talent, the diversity. Everybody brings a little something different.

“That gives us a lot of choices as coaches in a lot of different ways that we can win basketball games. (The committee) put together what I think is the team that answers any type of a question. We have speed. We have quickness. We have size. We have shooters. They really made sure that they gave us every weapon.”

Drawn into Group D, the U.S. will play its preliminary and second round games in Panevežys, and opens against Lithuania on July 18, followed by China on July 19 and caps the preliminary round against Mali on July 20.

The top three finishing teams from each first-round group will advance to the second round, held July 22-24. The 12 nations qualifying for the second round will be divided into Groups E and F. Each team will play the three new teams in its new group, with all results of games played in the preliminary round carrying over to determine the second-round standings.

Just as it was in the U19 USA Basketball team, UConn is represented on the World University Games team

At the same time as the U19 trials, the World University Games team will also be assembled. The U19 participants are also eligible for that team.

The 2013 World University Games women’s basketball competition is scheduled for July 8-15 in Kazan, Russia.

Numerous top athletes have represented the United States at the U19s and eight players from the first seven USA U19 squads have advanced to compete in the Olympic Games.


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By Mike Siroky

Two international teams representing United States women’s basketball are being put together this weekend (starting Thursday).

At least seven players from the Southeastern Conference have accepted invitations to the trials; 34 athletes were invited.

The selected team will attempt to win a fifth-consecutive gold medal for the United States at the FIBA U19 World Championships. The 2013 tournament will be hosted by Lithuania from July 18-28 in Klaipeda and Panevežys. The USA team will start training on July 1 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. USA Basketball, the nation al coordinating organization, is in charge.

The selection is under the direction of hall-of-Fame Coach Jim Foster of Chattanooga.

"This group has a nice nucleus with some former gold medal winners in the mix and some new candidates that will allow us to field a very competitive team," said Foster. This is his ninth USA Basketball assignment.

This is the team that will provide a look at the younger players on the USA Olympics team for Games to come. Certainly, the experienced professionals will make up the core of the Games teams, but these Under-19s will be the future foundation.

From the University of Tennessee, sophomore Bashaara Graves – whom coach Holly Warlick credited al season with being the glue that held together the SEC champions -- and incoming freshman Jordan Reynolds will attend.

The 6-foot-2 Graves was the 2013 SEC Freshman of the Year and a Full Court Freshman All-American. She is one of six members of the 2012 USA U18 National Team that captured the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in August to secure a berth in this summer's U19 competition.

That makes her a prohibitive favorite to continue playing.

Georgia also has two invitees, both of whom started for the Lady Bulldogs as freshmen in their run to a Regional Final as an Elite Eight team.

Shacobia Barbee and Tiaria Griffin draw praise from their college coach, Andy Landers.

"I think this is an outstanding opportunity for them and a compliment to the way that they performed this season," Landers said. "This should be a very positive experience for them and I'm confident they'll each represent Georgia Basketball very well."

Barbee, a 5-10, guard/forward from Murfreesboro, Tenn., was named to the All-Spokane Regional team of the NCAA Tournament and also was on the SEC's All-Defensive and All-Freshman teams. Barbee led the Lady Bulldogs in steals with 87, the third-most ever by a Georgia freshman.

Griffin, a 5-7, guard from Monticello, Miss., connected on a team-high 46 3-point field goal attempts. Griffin scored in double figures 10 times, four of those coming in games against ranked opponents. She scored 13 points, including 10 in the second half, in the Lady Bulldogs' upset of No. 1 seed Stanford in the "Sweet 16."

Georgia Lady Bulldogs have a lengthy and storied history representing USA Basketball; 25 Lady Bulldogs have represented USA Basketball in more than 40 international competitions worldwide.

Most notably, Teresa Edwards is the only player – male or female – to participate in five Olympic Games and captured four gold medals. Katrina McClain represented the USA in three Olympics and won gold medals in 1988 and 1996. Edwards and McClain were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Kentucky will be represented by incoming freshman Linnae Harper of Chicago.
Harper, a 5-foot-8 guard, won gold as a member of the 2012 USA U17 World Championship Team and the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship Team. She also was awarded an honorary bronze medal in the inaugural 2011 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championship.

She is the highest-ranked recruit in UK Hoops history.

In addition to Foster, the 2013-16 USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee includes NCAA appointees Melanie Balcomb (coach, Vanderbilt University), Lindsay Gottlieb (coach, University of California) and Joi Williams (coach, UCF), as well as athlete representative, WNBA player Kara Lawson, a 2008 Olympic Gold medalist who has played on nine USA Basketball teams.

Drawn into Group D, the U.S. will play its preliminary and second round games in Panevežys, and opens against Lithuania on July 18, followed by China on July 19 and caps the preliminary round against Mali on July 20.

The top three finishing teams from each first-round group will advance to the second round, held July 22-24. The 12 nations qualifying for the second round will be divided into Groups E and F. Each team will play the three new teams in its new group, with all results of games played in the preliminary round carrying over to determine the second-round standings.

"I think it's a fantastic, dynamic, diverse group for international play," said USA and University of Miami coach Katie Meier.

"The committee understands the important parts of what it takes to win internationally. There's a lot of great and versatile size in this group, some really dynamic players who can do a lot of special things from 20-feet in.

“This is a really exciting, athletic group who are also very, very skilled. That's a real sign for the growth of our game throughout the country, that the U19s have this level of skill.

"This is going to be a very competitive trials. We've got a lot to play for, and the young ladies who have already won gold have already proven how competitive they are.

“But, I think there will be another sense of, absolutely, nothing is given. There's no automatic `you're going to make the team.' That's obvious. We don't even have enough slots for everyone who's won a Gold medal, and then you look at the rest of the talent who's coming in hungry for their first chance to win gold. We're going to see a very, very high level of competition and probably some of the best scrimmages we've ever seen."

Assisting Meier and the U19 squad are collegiate coaches Nikki Caldwell of Louisiana State University, a former Lady Vol player and assistant, and Kelly Graves of Gonzaga University. Additionally, American University head coach Matt Corkery, University of Wisconsin head coach Bobbie Kelsey and University of Tulsa head coach Matilda Mossman will serve as court coaches during the trials.

Six members of the 2012 USA U18 National Team that earned the USA its 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship berth are returning to compete for a spot on the 2013 USA U19 World Championship Team.

The undisputed team leader will be UConn’s Breanna Stewart, the MVP of the Huskies’ National Championship team. Two other UConn recruits have been invited.
Stewart was the MVP of the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship and member of the five-member 2009 All-FIBA U19 World Championship Tournament Team.

She has helped USA squads earn gold at the 2010 U17 and 2011 U19 FIBA World Championships, as well as the 2009 U16 and 2012 U18 FIBA Americas Championships. The 2011 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year was the lone high school athlete on the 2011 USA Pan American Games Team.

In addition to the 13 gold medalists attending the USA U19 trials, 10 others have participated in a USA Basketball trials previously.

At the same time as the U19 trials, the World University Games team will also be assembled. The U19 participants are also eligible for that team.

The 2013 World University Games women’s basketball competition is scheduled for July 8-15 in Kazan, Russia.

Numerous top athletes have represented the United States at the U19s, including Alana Beard (2001); Essence Carson (2005); Tamika Catchings (1997); Crystal Langhorne (2005); Jantel Lavender (2007); Lisa Leslie (1989); Rebecca Lobo (1993); Maya Moore (2007); Nnemkadi Ogwumike (2009); Vickie Orr (1985); Courtney Paris (2005); Cappie Pondexter (2001); Katie Smith (1993); Dawn Staley (1989); Breanna Stewart (2011); Diana Taurasi (2001); Abby Waner (2005); and Candice Wiggins (2005).

Additionally, eight athletes from the first seven USA U19 squads have advanced to compete in the Olympic Games, including Catchings, Leslie, Lobo, Moore, Pondexter, Smith, Staley and Taurasi.

Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men’s and women’s basketball in the United States.

As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions.

USA teams are the current men's and women's champions in the Olympics, men’s and women’s FIBA World Championships; women’s FIBA U19 World Champions; men's and women's FIBA U17 World Champions; and the men's and women's U18 and U16 FIBA Americas champions; as well as winners of the women’s FIBA 3X3 World Championship and 3x3 U18 World Championship.



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