Walker Invited to U19 World Championship Team Trials

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Basketball has invited Texas A&M freshman Courtney Walker to try-out for the Under-19 World Championship Team. The trials to select the 12-member USA squad will be held May 16-19 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The five-foot-eight guard was surprised and honored to accept the invitation from USA Basketball to attend the upcoming team trials. If Walker is successful in making the team, she will begin training camp on June 25. Following training camp, the U19 Team will take on the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship field beginning July 1 in Klaipeda and Panevėžys, Lithuania. Invitations to the trials were issued by the USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to put on the USA jersey,” Walker said. “I am really looking forward to competing with these great players and the chance to enjoy a great experience at the USA training facility.”

The Edmond, Oklahoma, native will be will join 33 other tryout participants vying for one of the coveted 12 roster spots on the U19 team. Walker is one of only five current SEC student-athletes chosen to travel to Colorado Springs for the trials.

“Courtney earned this opportunity with her great play throughout her freshman season,” Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair said. “She was our most consistent wing-player this season and the league’s coaches took notice by voting her to the SEC All-Freshman team. Courtney has a great chance to make this team with how well she has been playing and her ability to do so many things at a high level.”

Walker recorded an impressive first season in an A&M uniform, leading the Aggies in minutes while starting every game this year. The resilient guard finished second on the team with 10.4 points per game, second in assists at 93 and third at 4.2 rebounds per game. Walker thrived on the mid-range game and recorded an impressive 45.2 field goal percentage en route to being named to the SEC All-Freshman team by the league’s coaches and Second-Team Freshman All-American by FullCourt.com.

The USA U19 team will face stiff competition in Group D matched up with China, Mali and host country Lithuania. Each of USA’s games are set to take place in Panevėžys.  Brazil, Korea, Russia and Serbia comprise the teams selected for Group A. Group B includes Argentina, Australia, Japan and Spain. Canada, France, Netherlands and Senegal round out the field in Group C.

The entire list of athletes participating in the trials can be found at http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/u19/13_wu19_trials_invitees.html.

Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics

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