The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Atkins added to USA Basketball U18 National Team Trials roster
05.23.2014 | Women's Basketball
Texas signee Ariel Atkins added to the USA Basketball U18 National Team Trials roster.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Texas Women's Basketball signee Ariel Atkins (Duncanville, Texas) will join the previously-announced 27 of the nation's top 18-and-unders at the 2014 USA Basketball Women's U18 National Team Trials, held May 24-26 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Of the 28 participants, 12 will be chosen to compete in the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship at the USOTC from Aug. 6-10.
Atkins, born July 30, 1996, is the third-ranked player in the class of 2014 (ESPN.com), winner of the 2014 Morgan Wootten Player of the Year Award, a McDonald's All American, unanimous 2013 Player of the Year in Texas and a finalist for the 2014 Naismith Trophy. During her career at Duncanville High School, Atkins led the Pantherettes to a pair of UIL state titles and a 105-game winning streak.
The U18 National Team is coach by three-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley (South Carolina), with assistants Kim Barnes Arico (Michigan) and Jeff Walz (Louisville).
Athletes participating in the May 22-26 USA U17 World Championship Team Trials are also eligible for selection to the USA U18 National Team and may be asked to contend to be a part of the 12-member roster.
The six trials sessions will be held in Sports Center 1, with two sessions on May 24, starting at 11 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.
The 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship will feature eight national teams from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean, including: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, El Salvador, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States. The top four finishing teams will qualify for the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women.
Players eligible for this team must be U.S. citizens born on or after Jan. 1, 1996.
FIBA Americas U18 Championship
Originally known as the FIBA Americas Junior World Championship Qualifying Tournament, the event was held every four years from 1998-2004. FIBA changed its calendar following the 2004 championship; and the tournament is now conducted every other year, followed in the next summer by the FIBA U19 World Championship.
USA women's teams boast of a remarkable 43-2 overall record in U18 / Junior Qualifiers and have won gold in 1988, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012, while capturing silver medals in 1992 and 1996.
Numerous future stars have competed for USA Basketball at the U18s, including: Jayne Appel (2006); Alana Beard (2000); Kelsey Bone (2008); Tamika Catchings (1996); Marissa Coleman (2004); Skylar Diggins (2008); Sonja Henning (1988); Niesa Johnson (1992); Rebecca Lobo (1992); Maya Moore (2006); Chiney Ogwumike (2010); Nneka Ogwumike (2008); Candace Parker (2004); Courtney Paris (2004); Cappie Pondexter (2000); Nicole Powell (2000); Breanna Stewart (2012); Diana Taurasi (2000); Morgan Tuck (2012); and Candice Wiggins (2004).
USA Basketball
Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball, chaired by Jerry Colangelo, 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 competitions, as well as for some national competitions, and for the development of youth basketball initiatives that address player development, coach education and safety.
During the 2009-12 quadrennium, 1,273 male and female players and 235 coaches participated in USA Basketball, including USA Basketball teams and trials, and USA Basketball 3x3 FIBA?championships.
USA Basketball men's and women's teams between 2009-12 compiled an impressive 262-35 win-loss record in FIBA and FIBA Americas competitions, the Pan American Games, the World University Games, the Nike Hoop Summit and in exhibition games.
USA teams are the current men's and women's champions in the Olympics; men's and women's FIBA World Championships (Basketball World Cup); men's and women's FIBA?U19 and U17 World Championships; men's and women's U18 and U16 FIBA Americas Championships; the FIBA?3x3 Women's World Championship; and the FIBA?3x3 Women's U18 World Championship. USA Basketball currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA's world-ranking categories, including combined, men's, women's, boys and girls.
