5/7- Destiny Williams Selected for USA Basketball U19 World Championship Team Trials

Destiny Williams Selected for USA Basketball U19 World Championship Team Trials Incoming Illini Freshman Will Head to Colorado Springs Next Week to Compete for Spot on Team USA COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - University of Illinois incoming freshman Destiny Williams has accepted an invitation to attend the 2009 USA Basketball Womens U19 World Championship Team Trials, USA Basketball announced today. Athlete invitations were extended by the USA Basketball Womens Junior National Team Committee, chaired by NCAA representative Sue Donohoe (Vice President for Division I Womens Basketball). Trials to select finalists for the 09 U19 squad will be held May 14-17 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Training camp will begin on July 8 in Colorado Springs, and the eventual 12-member roster will be announced prior to the team departing for Thailand. Two-time defending FIBA U19 World Championship gold medalists, the USA will look to capture its third straight gold medal at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship, scheduled for July 23 - Aug. 2 in Bangkok, Thailand. Included on the trials roster are 14 student-athletes who recently completed their freshman year at a NCAA Division I school, one who closed out her freshman campaign at a NJCAA Division I institution, 11 who finished their high school campaigns this year and one athlete who has one year of high school eligibility remaining. "Given the wealth of talent we have in these 27 young women, selecting this years USA U19 World Championship Team is not going to be an easy task for the committee," said Donohoe. "We have some amazing players who will be trying out for just 12 roster spots and I expect that each trials session will be very competitive. However, I feel confident that the committee will be able to put together a team that will make the United States proud in its quest for a third consecutive FIBA U19 World Championship gold medal." "Im excited to get started with trials next week," said USA and Northern Illinois University head coach Carol Owens. "We have so many great athletes who will be competing hard for a spot on the team. Im actually happy that I dont have to pick the team because I know its going to be a tough decision for the committee. This is just the first step in what we need to do in order to defend our gold medal and Im looking forward to the entire process."