Jessica Davenport Practices with USA Basketball in Italy – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
April 9, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jessica Davenport’s schedule the last month has been the definition of non-stop.
After completing her career with the Buckeyes in California in mid-March, the three-time Big Ten player of the year made the three-hour drive to the Final Four in Cleveland March 31-April 3, where she was honored with her third All-American award and as a player of the year candidate.
On April 4, a day following the national championship game, Davenport was the No. 2 overall selection in the 2007 WNBA Draft, also in Cleveland. She initially was selected by San Antonio, but within a half hour her player rights were traded to New York.
If Davenport, and her rights for that matter, had not traveled enough, she was off to Rome April 6 with USA Basketball to start prepping for a shot at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Team USA will tour Italy from April 7-19, playing four games, including a tilt with the Italian National Team. The Americans also will face two Italian professional clubs and a regional all-star team.
Davenport, from Columbus Independence High School, is on her third trip with Team USA. In 2005, she joined with then-OSU teammate Brandie Hoskins to win the Gold medal at the World University Games in Turkey. In 2006, Davenport played alongside former Buckeye standout Katie Smith in helping the Americans take gold in the Opals World Challenge in Australia.
The WNBA opens its season May 19. Davenport and the Liberty tip off the 2007 campaign vs. Chicago at 4 p.m. May 20 in New York.
