May 17, 2009
USABasketball.com Article
PITTSBURGH -
Pitt sophomore center Shawnice "Pepper" Wilson has been named a finalist for the USA Basketball U19 World Championship Team. Wilson participated in trials during the weekend at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., as the group was cut from 27 participants to the 14 finalists.
"I'm really excited; this is my first time experiencing something like this," Wilson said. "Never did I think when I first started playing basketball that I would have the opportunity to represent my country, so it just really motivates me to work really hard to become a part of this final team."
Wilson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Westinghouse) will participate in Training Camp in Colorado Springs beginning July 9 with the eventual 12-member team to be announced prior to the team's departure for Thailand for the FIBA World Championships.
"I can't believe I'm here and have the opportunity to represent my country," Wilson said. "So I'm just going to really work hard, and hopefully I will be able to win a gold for my country."
Wilson earned 2009 Big East All-Freshman team honors and helped lead Pitt to its second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance in 2008-09. As a starter in her rookie season, Wilson finished the year second on the team in rebounding with 6.4 per game and led the team with 44 blocks on the year, while scoring 6.8 points per game.
While at Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh, Wilson was named the City League Player of the year as a junior and senior. Throughout her high school career, she was awarded with All-City League honors all four years and was the 2005 Freshman of the Year.
The 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship will be held July 23-Aug. 2 in Bangkok, Thailand. The athlete selections were made by the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee, chaired by NCAA representative Sue Donohoe (Vice President for Division I Women's Basketball).
The U.S. is slated to open preliminary round play against Spain on July 23, followed by China on July 24 and Mali on July 25. The top three finishing teams in each preliminary round group will advance to the July 27-29 second round, the quarterfinals will be played on July 31, semifinal action is scheduled for Aug. 1 and the gold medal will be contested on Aug. 2.
The U19 FIBA World Championship features 16 national teams comprised of athletes 19-years-old or younger (born on or after Jan. 1, 1990) that qualified through their FIBA zone tournaments. Included in the field of nations are: Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Japan, Lithuania, Mali, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Tunisia and the USA.
Complete quotes from Pepper Wilson as compiled by USA Basketball:
Shawnice `Pepper' Wilson (University of Pittsburgh)
How does it feel to be named a finalist?
I'm really excited; this is my first time experiencing something like this. Never did I think when I first started playing basketball that I would have the opportunity to represent my country, so it just really motivates me to work really hard to become a part of this final team.
What do you think you did to standout to the committee?
The ability to run the floor up and down getting back with transition defense. My offense wasn't the greatest, but I made it a point to work hard on defense and get up and down the floor.
What do you think you can bring to the team?
My head coach always told me that I have the potential to be a leader, so on and off the court just becoming a leader and leading by example, working hard and showing some of these younger girls that hard work will get you very far.
How do you feel about the possibility of playing for the USA this summer?
Words can't even express it, I'm just really excited and can't believe I'm here and have the opportunity to represent my country. So I'm just going to really work hard, and hopefully I will be able to win a gold for my country.
