University Southern California Trojans
Women of Troy Invited To USA Team Trials
May 17, 2011 | Women's Basketball
May 17, 2011
The USC women's basketball team boasts four players tabbed as invitees for USA Basketball national team trials. On the way into their final seasons as Women of Troy, USC guards Jacki Gemelos and Briana Gilbreath have been invited to the World University Games team trials. Incoming Trojan Alexyz Vaioletama will participate in the U.S. Under-19 team trials, while soon-to-be sophomore Cassie Harberts also received an invitation to the U-19 trials.
Both All-Pac-10 honorees last season, Jacki Gemelos and All-American Briana Gilbreath will shove off for Colorado Springs during the same May 22-25 timeframe in order to participate in the trials for the USA's World University Games roster. The two Trojans will be among 35 participants in the WUG trials. The Games will be held in China from August 11-23. USA Basketball women's teams have participated in 15 prior World University Games and collected a record seven gold medals, six silvers and one bronze medal. Since 1973, the first year the USA women competed in the WUGs, the United States has compiled an 89-15 overall record. In 2009, led by 2010 FIBA World Champion Tina Charles, the USA posted a 7-0 slate en route to the gold medal.
A member of the USA's U-18 gold-medalist team from the 2010 FIBA World Championships, USC forward Cassie Harberts was invited to join the U-19 team trials but has declined the invitation in order to remain in Southern California for the summer. Incoming freshman Alexyz Vaioletama, meanwhile, will head to Colorado Springs, Colo., for the May 22-25 trials as one of 35 players in the mix for a spot on the upcoming USA roster for the 2011 FIBA World Championships. As the winner of the past three U19 World Championships, the USA will look to defend its title at the 2011 U19 Worlds, hosted by Chile from July 21-31.
