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Women’s College Basketball: 18 finalists for U16 National Team announced

By Daniel Benjamin

Jan 12, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio watches in the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio watches in the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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USA Basketball released the finalists for its U16 Women’s Basketball National Team on Monday. 18 girls were selected to remain with the team following a four-day training camp.

The USA Basketball committee recently released its list of 18 finalists for the U16 Women’s National Team following a four-day training camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Overall, 133 players took part in the training camp.

“As with every trials in our country, it’s an extremely competitive process,” said Carol Callan, USA Basketball Women’s National Team director and chair of the selection committee. “As a committee, we were very pleased with the progression from the very first skills session through the end of the trials. The athletes were engaged, talented and they pushed each other and the committee to make the right decision. We feel like we were able to find 18 athletes who are versatile, who have every position and type of player covered, that can push the ball, play in the half court, and defend in many ways. We have 18 athletes that will make it difficult to get to 12 players, but we feel the team that will be selected will be successful in Argentina.”

The 18 player roster includes 12 players who are members of the class of 2019, five from the class of 2020, and one from the class of 2021.

Samantha Brunelle, ranked No. 1 by ESPN HoopGurlz recruiting in the Class of 2019, is the only player among the 18 finalists to have experience with USA Basketball. Brunelle was a member of the 2016 USA U17 squad that won a bronze medal. She averaged 2.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in six contests.

Brunelle is not the only player from the class of 2019 that is an NCAA prospect. Haley Jones is ranked sixth by HoopGurlz, Jordan Horston is eighth, and Aliya Boston is ninth. Meanwhile, Ashley Owusu is ranked No. 10,  Zia Cook is No. 14, River Baldwin is No. 17, and Diamond Miller is No. 30. Baldwin,  a 6’5″ post player, has already verbally committed to Florida State.

Five prospects from the class of 2020 are ranked by Hoopgurlz. The players, in no particular order, are Cameron Brink, Paige Bueckers, Maddie Burke, Caitlin Clarke, and Kylee Watson.

The finalist will remain in Colorado Springs for training camp until the roster is trimmed down to 12 prior to the team’s departure for Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 4. Team USA will compete in the FIBA U17 Championship in Argentina from June 7-11. The top-four teams in the Championship will earn a berth to the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup.

Next: Crystal Dangerfield among players named to U19 USA Basketball Team

Tufts University head coach Carla Berube gets her first gig leading a USA team. Berube led Tufts to a 30-3 record last season and a berth in the NCAA D-III national title game. She is 118-13 in four seasons with the Jumbos. Lubbock Christian (Texas) head coach Steve Gomez and high school head coach Vanessa Nygaard will assist Berube.

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