Marscilla Packer Gains Spot on USA Basketball Under-20 National Team – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
July 31, 2006
COSTA MESA, Calif. – Following three days of training in Costa Mesa, Calif., USA Basketball named the final 12-member USA Women’s U20 National Team roster that will compete in the 2006 FIBA Americas U20 Championship for Women Aug. 8-12 in Mexico City, Mexico. The roster is headlined by USA Basketball veterans and 2005 FIBA U19 World Championship gold medal winners Jolene Anderson (Wisconsin / Port Wing, Wis.); Essence Carson (Rutgers / Paterson, N.J.); Erlana Larkins (North Carolina / Riviera Beach, Fla.); and Courtney Paris (Oklahoma / Piedmont, Calif.).
In addition, the official roster includes DeWanna Bonner (Auburn / Fairfield, Ala.); Devanei Hampton (California / Oakland, Calif.); Victoria Lucas-Perry (Michigan State / Flint, Mich.); Renee Montgomery (Connecticut / St. Albans, W.Va.); Marscilla Packer (Ohio State / Pickerington, Ohio); Kia Vaughn (Rutgers / Bronx, N.Y.); Erica White (Louisiana State / Jacksonville, Fla.); and Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton (Purdue / Naperville, Ill.). The team was selected by the USA Basketball Women’s Collegiate Committee, which is chaired by Sue Donohoe, the NCAA’s vice president of Division I women’s basketball.
“This is a high-energy group that is extremely coachable and willing to work very hard,” said Joanne P. McCallie, Michigan State and USA U20 National Team head coach. “I feel we had an excellent training camp. The training here in California was an on another level from the trials in Colorado Springs. I think that these 12 young ladies really rose to that level of competition, and I know I speak for my staff that we’re really excited to work with them.
“I think we have a nice mix of veterans and age groups and people who are also new at this. Erlana Larkins and Erica White will be serving as captains, and I also feel that many of the other players have solid leadership qualities to bring to the table too. I think that’s what helps perpetuate the chemistry this team has.” McCallie will be assisted by the University of California’s Joanne Boyle and Furman University’s (S.C.) Sam Dixon. The USA U20 National Team will train through Aug. 5 in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Departing for Mexico City on Aug. 6, the squad is currently practicing twice daily at the University of California, Irvine’s Crawford Court through Aug. 2, and on Aug. 3 and 4, the team will practice at Crawford Court in the morning and at Concord University’s CU Arena in the evening. The sites for the Aug. 5 morning and evening sessions are to be determined.
– Courtesy USA Basketball
