2009 USA Women's U19 and World University Games Team Trials: Where's Your Medal?

May 14, 2009 - Colorado Springs, Colo.

- Session I Photo Galleries: U19 / WUG

Thursday evening, 50 of 54 expected athletes had arrived in Colorado Springs, Colo., to take part in one of two USA Basketball trials taking place this weekend at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Twenty-seven college players are contending for one of 12 roster spots on the 2009 USA Women's World University Games (WUGs) Team; while 27 of the nation's best are battling for a spot on the 12-member 2009 USA U19 World Championship Team.

Among the dozens of USA hopefuls are 14 players who have helped the USA to a gold medal finish at a FIBA world championship, a FIBA Americas championship or a Pan American Games, including four who own gold medals in two competitions. USABasketball.com caught up with 12 of those players before their first trials session to ask about their medals, their memories and their experiences while wearing red, white and blue.

Jayne Appel
WUGs trials participant
2007 Pan American Games gold
2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship
What is your favorite USA Basketball memory?
I think off the court at the Pan American Games our team was so much fun. My favorite memories are from the times when we weren't playing, pretty much anything with coach, Dawn Staley.

What did you learn from your USA Basketball experience?
With that team, I was put in a different role than I had ever been in before. That helped me a lot as a player. I didn't play much, but I was OK with that. I knew my role was to push people in practice and be the best teammate I could be. Overall, it helped me a lot.

Sarah Boothe
U19 trials participant
2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship
What is your favorite USA Basketball memory?
Probably playing with the best talent in the country every day. We got to experience the whole thing, traveling, Argentina and the tournament, together as a team. There was a camaraderie that was special because it was the first time I was around a group of girls that had the same goals as I did and the same determination as I did. They wanted what I wanted. That was my first time out of the country, and the whole experience was amazing.

What did you learn from your USA Basketball experience?
To not take for granted what you have. When we went to Argentina, they did not have the same kind of facilities that we have here at the training center, or in college, or even in high school. It made me thankful for the opportunities I have had here. Basketball-wise, I learned how to come to practice every day ready to work and how that pays off in the end.

Kelsey Bone
U19 trials participant
2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship
Where's your gold medal?
It's hanging on my wall at home with my jersey. I framed them.

What is your favorite USA Basketball memory?
There are a lot, but the one that stands out the most was the celebration after we won the gold medal in Argentina. The gym was packed, and all the fans wanted our autographs and our stuff. Just to see how much people loved our team was amazing.

Skylar Diggins
U19 trials participant
2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship
Where's your gold medal?
It's hanging right when you come in my room. It's on display. My mom looks at it every time she comes in my room, and my brother puts it around his neck and says, 'I want one of those.' It's definitely on a pedestal in our house.

What is your favorite USA Basketball memory?
Just establishing relationships. You were a team, and you will never forget that. You see the college girls on TV, and you still feel like they are your teammates. When we see each other, we still have a camaraderie. We were a sisterhood, and you never forget that even though life moves on to other things.

Kelly Faris
U19 trials participant
2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship
Where's your gold medal?
It's actually with my high school medals because I recently had my senior pictures taken, and I included it in that.

What is your favorite USA Basketball memory?
Obviously the best experience was winning the gold medal, stepping up on the podium like you see in the Olympics. That was a once in a lifetime type of experience. Honestly, there were a lot. Just hanging out with the girls and getting to know them. It was one big learning experience.

Amy Jaeschke
WUGs trials participant
2008 FIBA U19 World Championship
What is your favorite USA Basketball memory?
Winning the gold medal was definitely one of my favorite memories, but getting to know my teammates was the best part. They were awesome on the court, of course, but we had a lot of fun hanging out too.

What did you learn from your USA Basketball experience?
I think traveling to another country helped me get used to what college was going to be like - being away from home, having to compete for your teammates and not having the support of your family close by. I had been overseas with my family before, but never without my parents. That experience helped me grow a lot.

Jantel Lavender
WUGs trials participant
2007 FIBA U19 World Championship
2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship
What is your favorite USA Basketball memory?
I had a great time in Slovakia with the U19 team. I remember winning the gold medal, and the whole team did the Soldier Boy dance. The crowd loved it. That was really fun. That was a great team.

What did you learn from your USA Basketball experience?
I basically learned to always work hard and that it always pays off in the end. Being able to play for your country is like no other feeling. The one thing I've taken from USA Basketball to college is that being able to compete against the best-of-the-best is a blessing for your game, and I was grateful for that opportunity.

Maya Moore
WUGs trials participant
2007 FIBA U19 World Championship
2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship
What is your favorite USA Basketball memory?
Probably all the downtime. Playing was great, but just traveling and hanging out with all the girls because you don't always get the chance to hang out with that many elite athletes and different personalities as you do here, so I just enjoyed the company.

What did you learn from your USA Basketball experience?
A lot of mental toughness. I remember a couple years ago being frustrated at one of our scrimmages because we weren't really playing well, and I wasn't playing as well as I could. You just have to fight through it and keep playing because at the international level, its different. It's tougher, and it may take a while to get into your rhythm. I remember Coach (Cynthia) Cooper talking to me and telling me to stick with it. We ended up winning pretty big the rest of the summer.

Nneka Ogwumike
U19 Trials Participant
2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship
Where's your gold medal?
It's home with my parents. My mom has a whole area where she keeps the awards and trophies I have earned. I catch myself looking at it sometimes, and imaging how it would feel to win more of those.

What is your favorite USA Basketball memory?
When we went into town in Buenos Aires. We went as a team and had a chance to experience the culture together. I thought that was pretty exciting. I have lots of pictures of that outing.

Kayla Pedersen
WUGs trials participant
2007 FIBA U19 World Championship
2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship
What is your favorite USA Basketball memory?
There are so many. Actually, one of the most memorable things was not my best decision. One of my teammates and I kind of got into trouble in Slovakia. We threw fruit at a dumpster from our hotel room, and the police came to our door. It was the most terrifying moment of life, and then after everything was OK, it was hilarious.

Samantha Prahalis
U19 trials participant
2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship
What is your favorite USA Basketball memory?
The first couple of days in Argentina, it just felt really different being there - it was a whole new culture. The best part though was when we actually started playing. We had practiced and trained, and it felt great to come together on the floor and finally play a real game.

What did you learn from your USA Basketball experience?
I think I grew a lot. Working hard, and then playing with other great players, you have to be a team player. Everyone had to be a team player. I definitely grew in that aspect, as a leader.

Nikki Speed
U19 Trials Participant
2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship
Where's your gold medal?
It's hanging on my wall at home, right above a Mohammed Ali poster. I'm away at school most of the time, but when I do go home I see right when I walk into my room.

What is your favorite USA Basketball memory?
My favorite memory is the monument walk we took when we were training in Washington, D.C. We walked along the Washington Mall, just looking at the monuments, talking and getting to know each one another. It was a nice evening, and we had ice cream. We just bonded as a team.