U-Hi’s Bjorklund makes initial cut

USA Basketball has announced that 16 athletes have been selected as finalists for the 2007 USA Women’s U19 World Championship Team following the USA Junior National Team Trials that featured 36 athletes.

Among them is University High’s Angie Bjorklund, a first-team high school All-American.

The selections were made Sunday 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.

“The committee had a very tough assignment in having to select three teams from a group of 81 girls in just a few days,” said USA U19 World Championship Team and DePaul University head coach Doug Bruno. “I think they did an excellent job naming the U19 finalists. They gave us a solid mix of talent and skill from which I think we can create a very strong, competitive team.”

Still in contention for one of 12 roster spots as a finalist for the U19 World Championship team are: Jayne Appel (Stanford/Pleasant Hill, Calif.); Victoria Baugh (Sacramento H.S./Sacramento, Calif.); Bjorklund; Allyssa DeHaan (Michigan State/Grandville, Mich.); Elena Delle Donne (Ursuline Academy/Wilmington, Del.); Amy Jaeschke (New Trier H.S./Wilmette, Ill.); Jantel Lavender (Cleveland Central Catholic H.S./Cleveland, Ohio); Melissa Lechlitner (Notre Dame/ Mishawaka, Ind.); Demauria Liles (Gulf Coast Community College/Suitland, Md.); Italee Lucas (Centennial H.S./Las Vegas, Nev.); Maya Moore (Collins Hill H.S./Lawrenceville, Ga.); Kayla Pedersen (Red Mountain H.S./Fountain Hills, Ariz.); Khadijah Rushdan (St. Elizabeth H.S./Wilmington, Del.); Jasmine Thomas (Oakton H.S./Fairfax, Va.); Krystal Thomas (The First Academy/Orlando, Fla.); and Monica Wright (Virginia/ Woodbridge, Va.).

Bjorklund is one of 10 finalists who completed their high school careers in 2006-07. All 10 were recognized All-Americans by USA Today, including Moore, the 2007 USA Today, Naismith and Gatorade Girls High School Player of the Year.

Joining Moore on the All-USA first team were Baugh, Bjorklund and Jasmine Thomas. Included on the second team were Lavender, Lucas, Pedersen and Krystal Thomas. Delle Donne and Rushdan made third team.