Texas A&M signee Chennedy Carter was named to the 2017 USA Basketball Women's U19 World Cup Team on Sunday. The United States, a six-time defending FIBA U19 World Cup for Women gold medalists, looks to make it seven gold medals in a row at the July 22-30 event in Cividale del Friuli and Udine, Italy.
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"I was really surprised," said Carter. "This is truly a blessing and an honor to be able to play for the USA U19 team."
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Carter was the No. 6 recruit in the 2017 recruiting class, and will join the Texas A&M team for the 2017-18 season. Carter played in both the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic this spring.
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The 12-person team was selected by the USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee following four days of trials featuring 32 athletes at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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"I'm really excited about the personnel that we have on this team as the journey begins to prepare to try and win a gold medal," said USA U19 and University of Pittsburgh head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio. "Watching these players through the trials, there were so many great players here, and this is a special team. The committee put together a team we feel very confident in, in their skill-set, in the energy that they will bring in representing the United States and the pride they will have in doing so. I'm really excited to have the opportunity to work with these players."
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After opening against Mali on July 22, the USA will face China on July 23 and cap the preliminary round against host Italy on July 25. Also competing in the 16-nation tournament are Australia, Canada, Egypt, France, Hungary, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Korea and Spain.
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Following the preliminary round, teams will be seeded according to group play, and all participating teams will advance to the July 26 round of 16. Winners will advance to the July 28 medal quarterfinals, while the remaining teams will continue playing out for classification. The medal semifinals will be held July 29, and the gold and bronze medal games are slated for July 30.
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Chennedy Carter Quotes
What was your initial reaction to hearing your name called for the team?
Honestly, I was a little bit nervous. Coach came in, and they were talking. I was kind of, in my head, praying for my name to be called. It got called and a tear came out. I was really surprised, but this is truly a blessing and an honor to be able to play for the USA U19 team.
As a younger member of this team, what do you hope to learn from the more experienced girls?
I feel like, just me being younger, the older and more experienced girls will be able to show me and guide me through the practice and training camp. I feel like we have a great group of girls and a great team. Just in trials, I jelled with a bunch of them that I got the opportunity to play with. I'm really looking forward to coming back July 7 to get playing with them.
What do you hope to learn from the other group of guards?
I'm hoping to learn from Crystal Dangerfield and Tyasha Harris. Crystal playing at UConn and her being one of the best point guards in the country, and me being close behind, I hope she can give me a lot of good advice so that one day, I can be up there and competing like her.
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"I was really surprised," said Carter. "This is truly a blessing and an honor to be able to play for the USA U19 team."
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Carter was the No. 6 recruit in the 2017 recruiting class, and will join the Texas A&M team for the 2017-18 season. Carter played in both the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic this spring.
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The 12-person team was selected by the USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee following four days of trials featuring 32 athletes at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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"I'm really excited about the personnel that we have on this team as the journey begins to prepare to try and win a gold medal," said USA U19 and University of Pittsburgh head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio. "Watching these players through the trials, there were so many great players here, and this is a special team. The committee put together a team we feel very confident in, in their skill-set, in the energy that they will bring in representing the United States and the pride they will have in doing so. I'm really excited to have the opportunity to work with these players."
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After opening against Mali on July 22, the USA will face China on July 23 and cap the preliminary round against host Italy on July 25. Also competing in the 16-nation tournament are Australia, Canada, Egypt, France, Hungary, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Korea and Spain.
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Following the preliminary round, teams will be seeded according to group play, and all participating teams will advance to the July 26 round of 16. Winners will advance to the July 28 medal quarterfinals, while the remaining teams will continue playing out for classification. The medal semifinals will be held July 29, and the gold and bronze medal games are slated for July 30.
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Chennedy Carter Quotes
What was your initial reaction to hearing your name called for the team?
Honestly, I was a little bit nervous. Coach came in, and they were talking. I was kind of, in my head, praying for my name to be called. It got called and a tear came out. I was really surprised, but this is truly a blessing and an honor to be able to play for the USA U19 team.
As a younger member of this team, what do you hope to learn from the more experienced girls?
I feel like, just me being younger, the older and more experienced girls will be able to show me and guide me through the practice and training camp. I feel like we have a great group of girls and a great team. Just in trials, I jelled with a bunch of them that I got the opportunity to play with. I'm really looking forward to coming back July 7 to get playing with them.
What do you hope to learn from the other group of guards?
I'm hoping to learn from Crystal Dangerfield and Tyasha Harris. Crystal playing at UConn and her being one of the best point guards in the country, and me being close behind, I hope she can give me a lot of good advice so that one day, I can be up there and competing like her.
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