Jenks' Jessica Washington makes U.S. U17 squad
BY KELLY HINES World Sports Writer
Monday, May 21, 2012
5/21/12 at 3:06 AM
After three days of tryouts in Colorado, Jenks guard Jessica Washington was named Sunday as one of 12 players in the country to make the USA Basketball Women's U17 team.
"Whenever I was at trials, I was doing all that I could, just being a leader, playing the game that I play," Washington said. "And it all worked out. The committee liked what I had, so they chose me for the team."
The 5-foot-8 Washington is the reigning Tulsa World All-Metro Player of the Year. She earned one of 35 invitations to Colorado Springs after averaging 18.4 points last season and surpassing 1,000 for her career.
The state's top recruit for the Class of 2013 and ranked 15th nationally by HoopGurlz, Washington verbally committed to North Carolina two weeks ago. Georgia forward Diamond DeShields, who committed to the Tar Heels the same day, also made the U17 team.
Washington leaves for training camp in Florida next week, and action begins in August with an exhibition tournament in Italy, followed by the FIBA U17 World Championship in Amsterdam on Aug. 17-26.
"I'm really excited," Washington said. "I don't know what to expect, because I've been out of the country once to Mexico, but we're going to Italy, the Netherlands. It's going to be crazy."
After trying out for the U16 team last year and not making the cut, Washington had to edge one of the gold-medalist returners from that squad.
"Last year, I wasn't invited; I was just an applicant," she said. "I was just really overlooked. No one really knew me.
"Whenever I got cut, I was just like, 'Man, I need to show them that I deserve to be on the team.' Whenever I got invited, I knew I had to make the team."
Original Print Headline: Jenks' Washington makes U.S. U17 squad
Kelly Hines 918-581-8452
kelly.hines@tulsaworld.com
