Jess invited to the 2014 USA Basketball U18 team trials

[Row6Seat10]

A total of 12 athletes with prior USA Basketball experience, including three gold medalists, highlight the list of 28 of the nation’s top 18-and-unders have accepted invitations to participate in the 2014 USA Basketball Women’s U18 National Team Trials, USA Basketball announced today.

 

 

 

Headlining the list of invitees are USA Basketball gold medalists:

Receé Caldwell (Homeschooled / San Antonio, Texas) - 14' UCLA recruit

Brianna Turner  (Manvel H.S / Pearland, Texas) - 14' Notre Dame recruit

A’ja Wilson  (Heathwood Hall H.S. / Hopkins, S.C.) - 14' South Carolina recruit

 

Also scheduled to attend the USA U18 National Team Trials are:

Ariel Atkins (Duncanville H.S. / Duncanville, Texas) Texas recruit

Lyneé Belton (The Bullis School / Clinton, Md.) - 15' Duke recruit

Monique Billings  (Santiago H.S. / Corona, Calif.) - 15' UCLA recruit

Sierra Calhoun (Christ the King H.S. / Brooklyn, N.Y.) - 14' Duke recruit

Batouly Camara  (Blair Academy / New York, N.Y.) - 15' undeclared recruit

Napheesa Collier  (Incarnate Word Academy / O’Fallon, Mo.) - 15' UConn recruit

Mikayla Cowling  (St. Mary’s College H.S. / Benicia, Calif.) - 14' California recruit

Sophie Cunningham  (Rock Bridge H.S. / Columbia, Mo.) - 15' Missouri recruit

LaJahna Drummer  (Long Beach Poly H.S. / Inglewood, Calif.) - 14' UCLA recruit

Kortney Dunbar  (Edwardsville H.S. / Edwardsville, Ill.) - 14' Tennessee recruit

Katelynn Flaherty  (Metuchen H.S. / Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.) - 14' Michigan recruit

Jamasha ‘Meme’ Jackson (Blackman H.S. / Murfreesboro, Tenn.) - 15' Tennessee recruit

Jazmine Jones  (Florida A&M H.S. / Tallahassee, Fla.) - 16' undeclared recruit

Moné Jones  (Riverside H.S. / Durham, N.C.) - 15' undeclared recruit

Paris Kea  (Greensboro Page H.S. / Greensboro, N.C.) - 14' Vanderbilt recruit

Kyra Lambert  (Samuel Clemens H.S. / Schertz, Texas) - 15' undeclared recruit

Marina Mabrey  (Manasquan H.S. / Manasquan, N.J.) - 15' Notre Dame recruit

Teaira McCowan  (Brenham H.S. / Brenham, Texas) - 15' undeclared recruit

Beatrice Mompremier  (Miami H.S. / Miami, Fla.) - 15' undeclared recruit

Mariya Moore  (Salesian H.S. / Richmond, Calif.) - 14' Louisville recruit

Ali Patberg  (Columbus North H.S. / Columbus, Ind.) - 15' Notre Dame recruit

Cierra Porter  (Rock Bridge H.S. / Columbia, Mo.) - 15' Missouri recruit

Jessica Shepard  (Fremont H.S. / Fremont, Neb.) - 15'  Nebraska recruit

Azura Stevens  (Cary H.S. / Raleigh, N.C.) - 14' Duke recruit

Destinee Walker  (Lake Highland Prep School / Ocoee, Fla.) - 15' undeclared recruit

Stephanie Watts  (Weddington H.S. / Wesley Chapel, N.C) - 15' North Carolina recruit

 

Joining Head Coach Dawn Staley (University of South Carolina) on the USA U18 team sideline as assistants are collegiate head coaches Kim Barnes Arico (University of Michigan) and Jeff Walz (University of Louisville). Jackie Carson (Furman University) and Stefanie Pemper (U.S. Naval Academy) will serve as court coaches during the U18 trials.

 

The six trials sessions will be held in Sports Center 1, with two sessions on May 24, starting at 11:00 a.m. (all times are MDT) and 4 p.m. The May 25 sessions tip-off at 10:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.; while on May 26, trials will begin at 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., followed by the U18 team announcement that evening.

 

http://www.usab.com/womens/u18/14_wu18_invitees.html

[HB]

two girls from the same high school in Missouri.  How good will that team be?  Both committed to Missouri.  Perhaps Mizzou will make a run.

[kansashusker]

Rockbridge hs in Columbia is incredible.  They go to the big club tourneys in the summer with their hs team, and compete with the best club teams in the country and do fine. They don't win the tourneys, but they don't embarrass themselves either. They win more than half their games.  Besides the two kids listed they have a 3rd kid who has committed to play for KU; and another who is going to play volleyball for KU (she is still a very good hs bball player and could play at a lot of schools).  They are one of best hs teams in the country. Sophie Cunningham could play for any team in the country. She has a great motor and swagger about her.

[huskerchode]

I've noticed some of the girls on the list haven't committed to a school yet.  Is Nebraska in on any of them?

[HB]

Rockbridge hs in Columbia is incredible.  They go to the big club tourneys in the summer with their hs team, and compete with the best club teams in the country and do fine. They don't win the tourneys, but they don't embarrass themselves either. They win more than half their games.  Besides the two kids listed they have a 3rd kid who has committed to play for KU; and another who is going to play volleyball for KU (she is still a very good hs bball player and could play at a lot of schools).  They are one of best hs teams in the country. Sophie Cunningham could play for any team in the country. She has a great motor and swagger about her.

Thanks Kansas; great information. It is interesting that Missouri was able to keep both of these players at home. MU has had a rough 15 years; perhaps it is ready to move up in the world

[Row6Seat10]

I've noticed some of the girls on the list haven't committed to a school yet.  Is Nebraska in on any of them?

I don't think the Huskers are in on any of the uncommitted huskerchode. You will notice that the ones undeclared are still in high school and will be committing after this tournament most likely. 

 

Missouri was also one of the finalist for Napheesa Collier before she picked UConn. Imagine what Mizzou could have been had she verballed Missouri.

[Row6Seat10]

Best of luck to Jess as she competes today thru Monday in team trials at Colorado Springs trying to make one of 12 coveted spots on the USA 18-U team! 

[Row6Seat10]

The twelve members have been named to the 2014 USA Basketball U18 team and yes our very own Jessica Shepard makes the team!!

 

What a great honor for a fantastic basketball player.

 

The U18 team:

 

Paris Kea - Vanderbilt recruit

Napheesa Collier - UConn recruit

Re'Cee Cauldwell - UCLA recruit

Jessica Shepard - Nebraska Recruit

Mariya Moore - Louisville recruit

Bea Mompremier - undeclared

Teaira McCowan - undeclared

Marina Mabrey - Notre Dame recruit

Destinee Walker - undeclared

Bri Turner - Notre Dame recruit

A'ja Wilson - South Carolina recruit

Ariel Atkins - Texas recruit

[Norm Peterson]

The twelve members have been named to the 2014 USA Basketball U18 team and yes our very own Jessica Shepard makes the team!!

 

What a great honor for a fantastic basketball player.

 

The U18 team:

 

Paris Kea - Vanderbilt recruit

Napheesa Collier - UConn recruit

Re'Cee Cauldwell - UCLA recruit

Jessica Shepard - Nebraska Recruit

Mariya Moore - Louisville recruit

Bea Mompremier - undeclared

Teaira McCowan - undeclared

Marina Mabrey - Notre Dame recruit

Destinee Walker - undeclared

Bri Turner - Notre Dame recruit

A'ja Wilson - South Carolina recruit

Ariel Atkins - Texas recruit

I hate to be greedy, but I would have loved to have seen Napheesa Collier come to Lincoln too.  The description of her game in the blurb in that 2015 recruits thread just seemed like the kind of player that could round out a very solid lineup with the other kids who are committed.

[Tinpanalley]

Nice article on Jess.  She made the team and is playing through her foot injury.  Article states she has three sisters.  A family pipeline???

 

http://www.neprepzone.com/sports/fremont-s-jessica-shepard-honored-by-selection-to-u-s/article_de98a6fa-e890-50b4-9254-421bf5436d81.html
 

[redsteve]

Jessica's sisters:

 

"The eldest of the three, Sam, will be a freshman at Fremont this fall and is playing for the Omaha Grizzlies. She looks to have the same height as her 6-foot-4 older sister, although she’s a little leaner."

 

We'll have to watch for her this fall. She's playng club ball apparently this summer. Only a Freshman this fall.