2015 U19 FIBA Women's World Championship

[carlo]

Chekhov (RUS), 18 - 26 July.

Groups draw:

Gr A
Netherlands
Russia
Argentina
Asia3 (*)

Gr B
China
Spain
USA
Egypt

Gr C
Canada
Belgium
France
Mali

Gr D
Korea
Australia
Serbia
Brazil

(*) Japan team qualified for the WC, but won't particiapte due to FIBA ban. A 3rd Asia team will be named later by FIBA (Chinese Taipei finished 4th at U18 Asian qualifier).

[carlo]

As expected, Chinese Taipei is the third Asia team that will participate at the tournament.

http://www.fiba.com/news/pr-n4-chinese-taipei-completes-field-for-2015-fiba-u19-womens-world-championship

[CKR13]

According to the CTBA, Chinese Taipei will assemble a team as soon as possible. Expect most of the names from last year's campaign and a couple of names from the UBA (College) or even the HBL (HS).

[carlo]

Group A looks easier without Japan. Provided that all teams qualify and the standings will define the Round of 16 pairings, the host team (expected to be very competitive) should place 1st and therefore have no problem (A1 vs B4, ie vs Egypt) to reach the quarters.

[serbianhoops]

Incoming Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Yo Yo Nogic Invited To Train With U-19 Serbian National Team

Nogic and the U-19 Team will train in preparation for FIBA World Championships in Russia.

March 30, 2015

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Jovana "Yo Yo" Nogic, who recently signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Providence College and compete on the women's basketball team, has been invited to train with the U-19 Serbian National Team in preparation for the FIBA U-19 Women's World Championship. The World Championships will be played in Russia and are scheduled for July 18-26, 2015.

Nogic recently finished play in Senior League and averaged 14.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game. She shot 50-percent from the field, including 43-percent from three-point territory and 90-percent from the foul line.

http://www.friars.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/033015aaa.html

Although an official players list has not been released yet, invitations have clearly been sent out to selected girls.

[carlo]

Dawn Staley (South Carolina) returns as US-team head coach, together with assistants Kim Barnes-Arico (Michigan) and Jeff Walz (Louisville).
Same coaching staff of the 2014 U18 team at the FIBA Americas qualifier.

[carlo]

Australian prelim roster announced.

http://www.basketball.net.au/gems-squad-announced-may-camp/

The 18 candidates will take part in training camp 23-28 May.

Among the selected candidates, 15y old Eziyoda Magbegor is the youngest (but she impressed at the latest AUS-Junior championship) and top players should be Anneli Maley, Alanna Smith, Tahlia Tupaea and Baylor's Kristi Wallace.

[CKR13]

South Korea U19 Women's national team


Guards
Kim Hyeonah
Kim Ji-Young
Kim Hyeonggyeong
Yi Jiwoo
Cha Ji-Hyun
Park Ji-Un

Forwards
Yoon Yebin
Yoo Hyeon-i
Kim Ejin
Kang Yulim
Kim Seon-Hee
Lee Ju-Yeon

Centers
Lee Ha-Eun
Kim Yeon-Hee
Eom Da-Yeong
Jin An
Kim Seyeong
Park Ji-Su

Wondergirl Park Ji-Soo leads the cast. Lee Ha-Eun, Jin An, Kim Ejin and Kim Hyeon-Ah are all products of the U16 and U18 national youth team.

[carlo]

USA team trials roster:

Kristine Anigwe (H.S. 2015)
De’Janae Boykin (H.S. 2015)
Kalani Brown (H.S. 2015)
Alliya Butts (Temple)
Batouly Camara (H.S. 2015)
DiJonai Carrington (H.S. 2016)
Chassity Carter (H.S.2016)
Natalie Chou (H.S. 2016)
Napheesa Collier (H.S. 2015)
Te’a Cooper (H.S. 2015)
Lauren Cox (H.S. 2016)
Sophie Cunningham (H.S.2015)
Crystal Dangerfield (H.S. 2016)
Asia Durr (H.S. 2015)
Katelynn Flaherty (Michigan)
Keiana Gilbert (Chattanooga)
Joyner Holmes (H.S. 2016)
Alexis Jennings (Kentucky)
Paris Kea (North Carolina)
Beatrice Mompremier (H.S. 2015)
Mariya Moore (Louisville)
Nancy Mulkey (H.S. 2016)
Gabbi Ortiz (Oklahoma)
Ali Patberg (H.S.2015)
Katie Lou Samuelson (H.S. 2015)
Destiny Slocum (H.S. 2016)
Azurá Stevens (Duke)
Shakayla Thomas (Florida State)
Mikayla Venson (Virginia)
Destinee Walker (H.S. 2015)
Chatrice White (Illinois)
Gabby Williams (Connecticut)
Anna Wilson (H.S. 2016)
A’ja Wilson (South Carolina)

http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2015/05/wu19-trials-roster-announced.aspx

Major upset is Notre Dame's Brianna Turner missing (injured?). Other top players out, 2014 U18 ex members Marina Mabrey (HS 2015) and Ariel Atkins (Texas).

The core of 2014 U17 WC team is well represented with nine players.

[carlo]

US team trials to take place May 14-17, with 34 participants confirmed.

http://www.usab.com/womens/u19/roster.aspx

[carlo]

US final roster (with several confirmations and some surprises):

Kristine Anigwe C 6-4 (HS 2015)
Napheesa Collier G/F 6-1 (HS 2015)
Lauren Cox F 6-4 (HS 2016)
Crystal Dangerfield G 5-6 (HS 2016)
Asia Durr G 5-11 (HS 2015)
Mariya Moore G/F 6-0 (Louisville 2018)
Gabbi Ortiz G 5-9 (Oklahoma 2018)
Katie-Lou Samuelson F 6-3 (HS 2015)
Azurà Stevens F/C 6-5 (Duke 2018)
Shakayla Thomas F 5-11(Florida St 2018)
Chatrice White C 6-3 (Illinois 2018)
A'ja Wilson F/C 6-3 (South Carolina 2018)

Alternate: Ali Patberg (HS 2015)

Five players come from the 2014 U17 WC (and 2013 U16) groups, four are newcomers (five with Patberg) and just three from the 2014 U18 team.

[carlo]

Breaking down by class-age the freshly named US team:

- 6 players have already one year of college experience (among them the four new entries)
- 4 have completed their HS 2015-class and are incoming freshmen
- 2 are of HS 2016-class.

Front court size is impressive with six players 1.90m (6-3) or more, the tower being newcomer Azurà Stevens (2nd rebounder at Duke) who stands 1.95m (6-5).

Unfortunately, missing are two of the best bigs from the 2014 U18 qualifier team, Brianna Turner (it seems she turned down invitation to concentrate on studies) and Jessica Shepard (injured). Returning from that fine team are MVP A'ja Wilson, experienced Napheesa Collier and Mariya Moore, who had an excellent freshman year at Louisville (1st in scoring, 2nd in assists).

Somewhat surprising was the choice of new entries Gabbi Ortiz, Shakayla Thomas and Chatrice White. They had however fine freshman seasons, Ortiz led Oklahoma in assists, Thomas shot 53% from the field averaging 10ppg at Florida State and White led Illinois in rebounding and blocks, while finishing 2nd in scoring.
On the other hand, a bit surpising too the omission of Tennessee-bound guard Te'a Cooper, the co-MVP at the McDonald's All-American game.

[carlo]

US NT official announcement and roster:

http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2015/05/15-wu19-team-announced.aspx

[carlo]

To add even more suprise on Tennessee signee Te'a Cooper missing the final USA roster, here is the comment on UT site from head coach Holly Warlick (who witnessed the trials as an assistant coach of the WUG team):

Despite what Warlick perceived to be a sterling performance by the point guard, the UT newcomer did not make the USA roster.

"Te'a was outstanding," Warlick said. "She did everything that I would have wanted her to do. In my opinion, I thought she was the best guard out here. She's a very talented player who is going to be a tremendous addition to our Tennessee team."

Strange fate with USA Basketball for Cooper, who already was one of the best at the 2013 U16 trials but didn't make the team, while last year she was named to the 2014 U17 WC final roster but wasn't able to make the trip for an illness and was replaced by Sabrina Ionescu.

All in all, the 2015 U19 backourt looks rather thin, with just three true guards (Durr, Ortiz and Dangerfield, who is the team's youngest at just 17).

[carlo]

According to some sources, star guard Asia Durr didn't play much at the USA Basketball tryouts, due to some injury. She will probably be withdrawn from the 3x3 U18 WC (Fiba doesn't include her on US-roster anymore) and concentrate on U19 WC team. If healthy, she will be a valuable help to the WC team for her talent and experience (she really helped USA to avoid a near-upset from Spain in the last minutes of 2014 U17 WC final). If not healthy, she could be replaced by alternate Ali Patberg.