Paris Finalist for USA Basketball Women's U19 World Championship Team

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma incoming freshman Courtney Paris was one of 16 finalist named to the 2005 USA Basketball Women's U19 World Championship Team. The announcement was made following five Women's National Team Trials sessions that were conducted May 19-21 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The finalists were selected by the USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee, chaired by Sue Donohoe, NCAA vice-president for Division I women's basketball.

Named as a finalist for the USA U19 World Championship Team were: Jolene Anderson (Wisconsin / Port Wing, Wis.); Nicky Anosike (Tennessee / Staten Island, N.Y.); Erika Arriaran (Norco High School / Norco, Calif.); Keshonda Carrier (LaGrange High School / Lake Charles, La.); Essence Carson (Rutgers / Paterson, N.J.); Quianna Chaney (LSU / Baton Rouge, La.); Marissa Coleman (St. Johns College High School / Cheltenham, Md.); Crystal Langhorne (Maryland / Willingboro, N.J.); Erlana Larkins (North Carolina / Riviera Beach, Fla.); Courtney Paris (Piedmont High School / Piedmont, Calif.); Abby Waner (ThunderRidge High School / Highlands Ranch, Colo.); Candice Wiggins (Stanford / Poway, Calif.); Earnesia Williams (Sapulpa High School / Sapulpa, Okla.); and Christina Wirth (Seton Catholic High School / Mesa, Ariz.). and Sharnee' Zoll (Virginia / Philadelphia, Pa.).

Paris was named the 2005 USA Today Player of the Year and was honored as the Naismith Trophy Female High School Player of the Year, while Parade Magazine named her a first team All-American. The 6-4 center averaged 24 points and 19.5 rebounds per game. She recently led Piedmont High to its second consecutive CIF Division IV State title with an overall record of 33-2 and were ranked fourth in the nation.

Following its 5-0 and gold medal showing in Puerto Rico last August, the USA will be among the gold medal favorites at the FIBA Women's U19 World Championship. The event, which formerly was known as the Women's Junior World Championship, is slated to be contested July 15-24 in Hammamet and Nabeul, Tunisia.

The draw for the 2005 FIBA U19 World Championship took place on March 19 and the USA's first round opponents are finally known. With no time to get acquainted with the tournament, the court or their surroundings, the USA junior women will jump head-first into their quest for gold against 2004 European Championship gold medalist Russia, one of this summer's medal favorites, on July 15 in Tunisia. The red, white and blue will follow that with games against African silver medalists the Democratic Republic of Congo, European fourth place finishers Serbia & Montenegro, Americas silver medalist Puerto Rico and will close preliminary round action against Asia silver medalist South Korea.

In preparation for the 2005 U19 Worlds, the U.S. will compete against international powers Australia, China and Russia June 8-11 in the 2005 International Sports Invitational in San Diego, California.

Twelve teams will compete for the U19 World Championship gold medal in 2005. The U19 World Championship Draw took place March 19 in Tunisia and the tournament schedule is starting to fall into place. While exact preliminary round dates and times are still to be announced, the United States is in preliminary round Group A and will play the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Africa No. 2), Puerto Rico (Americas No. 2), Russia (Europe No. 1), Serbia & Montenegro (Europe No. 4) and South Korea (Asia No. 2). Group B consists of Australia (Oceania No. 1), Canada (Americas No. 3), China (Asia No. 1), Hungary (Europe No. 3), Spain (Europe No. 2) and Tunisia (host and Africa No. 1)

The U.S. boasts of a 24-10 overall record in past U19 Championships (previously known as the FIBA Junior World Championships) and has won one gold and one bronze medal in the five prior competitions.

Quick Q&A with Courtney Paris:
How do you feel about being named as one of the finalists?
It was good. There are a lot of great players here. To be able to be selected to come back and hopefully make the team is pretty exciting.

It's got to be hard for you and your twin sister Ashley to come out and have this happen again you making the cut, but not Ashley.
It's pretty tough. But I'm sure she will still want me to go out and play hard to make the team.

What do you bring to the table that the Committee saw?
I think my size and my strength inside. I think I'll be big for international basketball.

What did you learn last summer to help you make the final cut?
In the end I think it comes down with how you work with the team, not necessarily the individual because everybody's really good. Be a good teammate and not necessarily worry too much about yourself.

What does it mean to you to represent your country?
It's the best thing in the world. Last year to be able to walk into the gym with U-S-A on your shirt, everybody is looking at you. That's just the best thing in the world, to be able to play basketball and represent your country.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Paris Finalist for USA Basketball Women's U19 World Championship Team

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