A pair of UConn recruiting targets from the Class of 2015 headline in the list of 135 players who have accepted invitations to try out for the U.S. U-16 national team later this month.

Katie Lou Samuelson, a 6-foot-3 forward out of Mater Dei High in Santa Ana, Calif., and Asia Durr, a 5-foot-11 guard from St. Pius X Catholic High in Atlanta, were among the group of 32 players initially invited to try out. The other 102 players were chosen after they applied for inclusion into the U-16 training camp.

Samuelson, the youngest of the three sweet-shooting Samuelson sisters who each have drawn recruiting interest from UConn, averaged 20.5 points as a sophomore and had 89 3-pointers aided by recording at least six 3-pointers in four games after transferring to Mater Dei before the start of her sophomore season. She was also named the California sophomore of the year by the www.calhisports.com site. Durr averaged 21.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.6 steals per game as a sophomore. She shot 52 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range and 86 percent from the free-throw line.

Another top player heading to the tryouts is DeJanae Boykin The 6-foot-2 Boykin, who averaged 15.7 points as a sophomore for national power Riverdale Baptist although she has decided to transfer to Flowers High School. Boykin recently told the Washington Post that she is planning to take an unofficial visit to UConn this summer.

No Connecticut products were among the invitees to the U-16 training camp (although Qalea Ismail a 6-foot sophomore guard from Bel Air, Md. is the daughter of former North Branford High and Syracuse star Holly Oslander). The only players from New England are Braintree (Mass.) High sophomore forward Bridget Herlihy who led Braintree to the MIAA South Division I title and a trip to the Massachusetts’ Division I semifinals, and Lexington (Mass.) freshman guard Anna Kelly.

The U-16 training camp starts Thursday at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. with the team being announced on May 27. The team will compete in 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Cancun from June 19-23.

It has not been the best of times for former first-round draft picks of the Connecticut Sun.

The WNBA franchise had three first-round picks in the 2008 and 2009 and all three players have been waived during training camp.

Former UConn guard Ketia Swanier, the 12th overall pick in the 2008 draft, was the first to be let go when Atlanta cut her last week.

Earlier today the Tulsa Shock cut loose Amber Holt (taken by Connecticut with the No. 9 pick in 2008) and Chante Black (the 10th overall selection in 2009). Black played in 33 with Connecticut in 2009 as she averaged 2.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks. Holt played in 57 games during the 2008 and 2009 seasons (starting 41 contests). She averaged 6.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists for the Sun. Black and Holt were traded to Tulsa for the first-round pick Connecticut used to select Danielle McCray in the 2010 draft. Ironically, McCray will miss the entire 2013 season with a torn Achilles.

                                                                    (Photo courtesy of USA Basketball)
UConn rising sophomore Breanna Stewart (left) and Class of 2014
recruiting target A'ja Wilson were named to U-19 national team.

UConn will be well represented on the U.S. World University Games and FIBA U-19 World Championship squads.

All-Americans Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Bria Hartley were among the 12 players selected to play for the U.S. in the World University Games while the trio of Moriah Jefferson, Breanna Stewart and Morgan Tuck were named to the U-19 squad after a three-day training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. UConn Class of 2014 recruiting target A'ja Wilson was also named to the U-19 squad.


This is the fourth straight year that Hartley will represent the U.S. in an international competition as she was a member of the U-18 squad in 2010, U-19 team in 2011 and last summer played for the U.S. in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup while Mosqueda-Lewis was a member of U.S. junior national teams from 2009-11.

Jefferson, Stewart and Tuck were teammates on the U.S. team which won the 2012 FIBA Americas U-18 championship. Jefferson started all five games and averaged 5.6 points, 4.2 assists and 1.6 steals while Tuck and Stewart were the top two scorers on the U.S. team. Stewart has played on five different U.S. squads since 2009 including the 2011 U-19 team while Tuck was the leading overall scorer in the U-18 tournament in 2012 at 17.8 points per game.

The World University Games will be held in Kazan, Russia from July 6-17 while Lithuania will host the U-19 World Championships from July 18-28.

Here are quotes from the four players with UConn ties on the U-19 roster courtesy of the folks at USA Basketball.


MORIAH JEFFERSON
How did you feel when you heard your name called for making the USA U19 Team?
Coming out here, you’re playing with a bunch of great people and everybody is doing their best and going their hardest and you never really know until the last second when they call your name.

You’re on the U19 team that includes the coaches and five players from last year’s U18 team, how is that going to be helpful this year?
It will help a lot because we already know what coach (USA U19 head coach Kate Meier) expects and we know a lot of the plays, so we can help the younger guys, and the people that just came in we can show what it is like to be on this team.

What is your role going to be on this team, what can you bring to this year’s team?
Leadership, point guard experience and trying to get everybody into their position. And also defense, that’s one of the main things I take pride in, so I can come out and try to push the tempo a little bit with my defense.

What is it that brings you back to USA Basketball each summer?
I just love it. You come out here and get a lot of great experience, you get in shape with the altitude, you meet a lot of great people and that’s just the basketball part of it and you want to represent your country, but outside of that you meet a lot of great people and have a great time while you’re here.

BREANNA STEWART
This is your sixth USA Basketball team, what keeps you motivated to keep coming back?
USA Basketball is the best thing about my summer. That’s what I look forward to, creating new experiences with new people. Sometimes they’re with the same people, but it’s just really fun. And I enjoy going for the gold medal.

At the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship you were one of the youngest players on the team. How will your role change with this team?
It’s funny how my role is changing, because this is my second U19 team. Last time I was one of the younger ones. This time I’m one of the older ones, and it’s weird. But, I have to be a leader because I’ve been in these situations before and some people haven’t. I have to help show them the ropes.

What does it mean for you to represent your country in this manner?
It’s an honor. I appreciate everything USA Basketball has done for me in letting me keep coming back to try out again and again, and continuing to go for gold medals. I don’t think there’s anything else you can ask for.

What can you teach some of the younger players about USA Basketball, both on and off the court?
USA Basketball on the court, obviously you’re going to go out, you’re going to play your heart out, you’re going to leave everything on the court because this is 12 people who are considered at the top of high school and college basketball for their age group. Teams are coming after us, and they want to beat us. We have to know that every team’s going to play us the best they can, and we need to just keep our composure.

Off the court, you really have to represent the United States and show people in other countries who we are, create our own image of ourselves. We need to try to change their minds about the United States in a positive way.

MORGAN TUCK
How does it feel to be returning to USA Basketball for another chance at a gold medal?
It feels really great. Every time just gets better and better. We have a different group. We have a couple I’ve played with before with USA Basketball, but I think it’s more exciting because we have a lot of new people on this team.

At the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship you were one of the youngest players on the team. How will your role change with this team?
Definitely being more of a leader. When I was on the team the last time I just tried to fit in and try to make my mark. Now I need to take more of a leadership role and try to make sure that the younger players who haven’t been here before understand the international game and they feel comfortable with it.

What can you contribute to this team?
I think I can help with the low post presence. We are a really big team and I’m the smallest post, but I feel that I can use my physicalness around the basket. I think I can be a good leader out on the court.

You already have three gold medals in international competition. Can you describe the feeling of winning a gold medal and why it keeps you coming back for more?
It’s a great feeling. It makes you feel like you’re the best in the world. When I get up there, I think of the pictures of the Olympic team when they’re on the podium, and that’s my dream one day. I feel like I’m slowly getting closer. I just love coming back. You get to play with the best players in the country. You play with people at school and your same team, but to come out in the summer, get together, practice a little bit and then go play, it’s a great feeling.

A'JA WILSON
What kind of emotions were you feeling when you heard your name called as one of the USA U19 World Championship Team members?
Oh my gosh! It was a great feeling. At first I was shocked, to tell the truth because this weekend I felt that I had the roughest time. I did not feel that I played really well. But, when my name was called and my named being Wilson, it was the last name. I was just like, ‘uh oh.’ And then finally she said A’ja Wilson, and I was like, ‘oh my gosh, this is such an honor.’ I’m really excited.

What do you think stood out to the committee this weekend, what do you bring to the team?
I guess, me being so young, I kind of bring the energy sometimes. I’m not saying that everybody else is old, but I guess I can bring the energy. We have height, of course, and then we also have versatility. I think I also bring those things to the team, and being a good teammate.

What does it mean for you to be able to represent your country?
It means a lot. It really does. I’ve watched these girls on TV. I’ve gone to some of their games, and just to play with them, it means a lot. Playing the sport that I love and playing for the country that I love, it’s just a great feeling to have.

Are you excited about learning from the coaching staff and the rest of your teammates?
Definitely I am. I’m very excited.

Now here are some quotes from Hartley and Mosqueda-Lewis after they were named to the WUG team.


BRIA HARTLEY
Did you think you had played well at trials?

                                  (Photo courtesy of USA Basketball)
UConn teammates Bria Hartley and Kaleena Mosqueda-
Lewis were among 12 players named to U.S. team playing
in World University Games.

I thought I played OK. I didn't think I played my best basketball ever. I'm just really happy that the committee picked me. I'm really excited that I was good enough to make the team.

Were you nervous this morning?
I was a little nervous. Even though I have made the team before, you don't want to come in here thinking, 'Oh, I'm definitely going to make the team.' You have to stay humble, but you also want to be confident, thinking you could possibly make the team. You have to come out and play basketball the way you know how to.

What do you think the committee saw in you?
I think it was versatility, because I am a combo-guard. I can play a little bit of the one and the two, and I can make sure all of my teammates are involved. Also, just talking and encouraging, that's the main thing I like to do.

KALEENA MOSQUEDA-LEWIS
Were you nervous this morning?
I was a little nervous because I definitely did not shoot very well during this whole try-out, and that's kind of my job. I tried to do a lot of other stuff, like rebounding, hustling hard on defense. Luckily it worked.

How does it feel to make your fourth USA Basketball Team?
It's still special; every time is special. Now it's really cool because I will be playing with girls that I have played against in college. A lot of them, Odyssey and Tricia and a lot of them I watched before I even got to college and said, 'They're really good.' Now I get to play with them, so it's really cool.


Joining Jefferson, Stewart, Tuck and Wilson on the U-19 are former UConn recruiting targets Linnae Harper (who signed with Kentucky) and Brianna Turner (one of three high school juniors to make the team) as well as Penn State's Candice Agee, Tennessee's Bashaara Graves, Duke's Alexis Jones, Northwestern signee Nia Coffey, Washington incoming freshman Kelsey Plum and St. Mary's High School guard Gabby Green. Hartley and Mosqueda-Lewis are joined on the World University Games squad by Central Michigan's Crystal Bradford, Oklahoma's Aaryn Ellenberg, ReShanda Gray of California, Southern California's Cassie Harberts, Nebraska's Jordan Hooper, Tricia Liston of Duke, Tennessee's Ariel Massengale (a high school teammate of Morgan Tuck's), LSU's Theresa Plaisance, Shoni Schimmel of Louisville and Baylor's Odyssey Sims.

The World University Games squad will return to the U.S. Olympic Training Center on June 25 for final preparations before embarking for Russia on July 1. The U-19 team will hold its training camp in Colorado Springs from July 1-9 before playing in a tournament with Australia, Canada and Spain in the Canary Islands from July 11-14.

The complete list of the players trying out for the U-16 national team will be coming out soon, perhaps as early as tomorrow.

UConn incoming freshman Saniya Chong was named the national high school player of the year by Parade Magazine and headlines the All-American team which will be published in Sunday's magazine.

Other finalists for the award was North Carolina signee and former UConn recruiting target Diamond DeShields, Duke incoming freshman Kianna Holland as well as Rebekah Dahlman and Toni Jankoska, who have signed with Vanderbilt and Michigan State respectively.

Chong, who averaged nearly 35 points and more than 9 assists as a senior at Ossining (N.Y.) High, is the third straight UConn recruit to win the award following Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Breanna Stewart.

VAN GRINSVEN CUT BY SUN
The Connecticut Sun moved a step closer to finalizing its opening-day roster by cutting Chatilla van Grinsven, who was signed out of Saint Joseph's University as an undrafted rookie free agent.

The 6-foot-3 forward and member of the Netherlands' national team had six points and three rebounds in Connecticut's preseason opener against New York on May 11.

Barring any signings, the Sun will need to cut two more players to get down to the opening-day maximum of 11.

Wander around the Internet these days and it won't take long for rumors about where top high school junior A'ja Wilson will decide to go to college. However, the multi-faceted 6-foot-4 star for Heathwood Hall in Columbia, S.C. is still months away from figuring out her college of choice.

I spoke with Wilson for about 10-15 minutes by phone after today's first practice session at the U.S. U-19 national team trials at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. I will be writing a story for tomorrow's paper about Wilson's humbling early days on the court but figured I would pass on some of her thoughts on the recruiting process.

"I am taking all of my officials," Wilson said. "I sit down with my parents and every night we have a discussion about what is going to happen over this summer and pray over it

"I am very open right now because I am focusing on getting out of junior year," Wilson said. "I don't have a top 10, a top five, a top three. Once I get out of school and that is May 31. In June that is when I will start settling in because I will have a lot more time on my hands without worrying about school so much and that is when I will start thinking about it."

So what is she looking for when she picks her school?

"Just having a great relationship with the coach and the team, of course and also what would I do after I graduate from the school, where could I go, where could they get me. I want to go to the next level, I want to go to the highest level of basketball I could possibly go. Also, if I would get hurt or couldn't play anymore, could I still see myself there for the rest of the years that I have there. In college my team is going to be my second family, almost pretty close to my immediate family because I am going to be around them for so long."

As luck would have it, she ran some of the UConn players heading to Colorado for the U-19 or World University Games training camp in the Dallas airport.

"When I got to the airport the first people I saw were Breanna Stewart, Bria Hartley and Morgan Tuck and it was amazing because they had just won a national championship and I was in the airport with them," Wilson said. "Then I look over and I see (North Carolina's) Xylina McDaniel, Meighan(Simmons) from Tennessee and Cierra (Burdick) and it really hit me 'wow, I am here with these girls and I am flying on the same plane with these girls.' It is great to see how they could have lost to a team but they come together as one here."

When I spoke with her AAU coach recently, he said one of Wilson's greatest attributes is her work ethic. Maybe since she was on the small side of things when she first started playing basketball before a major growth spurt between her freshman and sophomore years in high school, but she doesn't act like the resident superstar on or off the court (until the ball is in her hands).

"I never walk off the court with a 'what if' question in my mind," Wilson said. "I give it 110 percent every single time."

Considering how much passion Wilson plays with, the last several months have been trying for her at times.

She missed the first seven games of the season for Heathwood Hall due to a wrist injury. When her team opened the season by losing three of the first four games, she was just a tad bit restless.

"It was so hard to watch because I was out with my wrist injury," Wilson said. I missed our opening game and it was against Pinewood Prep and they are out rivals. It was very tough, I don't even think I slept that night because it was very tough to watch and knowing that I can't go out and help my team but on a positive note, it helped me build my leadership skills. I have a goal for myself every year and last year my goal was to be poised on the court and I think I handled that pretty well. This year it is building my leadership role. That really helped me from a leadership perspective."

More recently, Wilson injured her knee during an AAU game.

"I came down on a girls' foot and I tweaked my LCL so I have been in therapy for two weeks leading up to the trials so it was good to get back," Wilson said.

Tryouts for the U.S. teams competing in the World University Games and FIBA U-19 World Championships kick off today.

The U-19's first practice is scheduled to start n about an hour with UConn sophomores to be Moriah Jefferson, Breanna Stewart and Morgan Tuck and UConn Class of 2014 recruiting target A'ja Wilson among the 34 players vying for the 12 roster spots. The team is expected to be announced on Sunday around 10:30 a.m.
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The UConn duo of Bria Hartley and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis are among the 33 players trying out for the World University Games squad. The first practice is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. in Colorado (8:30 p.m. Eastern time) with the 12-member roster being revealed Sunday morning.

Connecticut Sun guard Kara Lawson was named the winner of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award.

“Kara Lawson has represented the WNBA admirably and has done a phenomenal job in elevating its name over the course of her career,” said WNBA President Laurel J. Richie in a statement.  “As evidenced by her efforts on behalf of the Pat Summitt Foundation, Kara is an ambassador and leader for all levels of basketball as well as a role model to girls and women everywhere.”

During the 2012 season, Lawson donated $50 for each three-pointer made to the Pat Summitt Foundation in honor of her collegiate coach. Summitt was diagnosed with early-onset dementia.  In total, the three-point campaign raised 32,000.  In January of 2013, Lawson was named an honorary co-chair of the Pat Summitt Foundation Advisory Board.

The Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award is presented annually.  Each WNBA team nominated one player and a designated committee selected Lawson as the winner.  The WNBA will make a $10,000 donation to the Pat Summitt Foundation on behalf of Lawson.

"I'm thrilled to receive the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award.  My relationship with Dawn goes back over 20 years,” said Lawson in a statement.  “She was the first female basketball player I looked up to and tried to model myself after.  She left an indelible impression on the women's game.  I've always felt that being mentioned in the same breath as Dawn meant you were doing things the right way.  My goal has always been to have a positive impact in my community.  In my role with the Pat Summitt Foundation, I have the opportunity to work with a passionate group dedicated to end Alzheimer's. Thank you to Dawn and the WNBA for this prestigious award."

Stefanie Dolson became the latest member of the national champion UConn squad to be on the receiving end of a congratulatory proclamation from the state of New York.

Freshman Breanna Stewart, the Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four, previously was honored the same honor and it's logical to assume Bria Hartley's turn is next.

Former UConn forward/center Jessica Moore has been signed by the Washington Mystics.

Moore has played for five different WNBA teams during her eight seasons including the eight games she appeared in with the Connecticut Sun during the 2012 season.

Former UConn guard Ketia Swanier was cut by the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday.

Swanier, a first-round pick of the Connecticut Sun in 2008, played in 171 career games (counting the playoffs) for Connecticut, Phoenix and Atlanta during her five years in the league.

Swanier appeared in 34 games and started twice for Atlanta during the 2012 season. She averaged 2.2 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.4 steals per game. She only played five minutes in the playoffs for the Dream.

Swanier's roster spot was placed in jeopardy as Atlanta traded for Jasmine Thomas and drafted Alex Bentley.

Swanier played 13 minutes in Monday's preseason game against Brazil and had two points, one rebound and two assists in the 97-47 victory. Swanier started in Atlanta's preseason opener against Tulsa but did not score in 10 minutes of action.

Even with Kelly Faris being drafted by the Connecticut Sun, the 2013 season will feature the smallest contingent of WNBA players from UConn in some time. Injured veterans Sue Bird (Seattle) and Asjha Jones (Connecticut) are sitting out the 2013 season and free agent Jessica Moore wasn't signed by a team. Now Swanier is looking for a team.

By my count there are nine former Huskies still vying for roster spots.
Swin Cash, Chicago
Tina Charles, Connecticut
Kelly Faris, Connecticut
Kalana Greene, Connecticut
Tiffany Hayes, Atlanta
Charde Houston, Phoenix
Renee Montgomery, Connecticut
Maya Moore, Minnesota
Diana Taurasi, Phoenix

An injured foot has delayed the start of Kelly Faris' professional career and she has already found an overseas team to play for.

Sopron, the defending Hungarian league champions, announced that they signed former Faris and fellow first-round pick Tianna Hawkins out of Maryland.

Sopron finished 3-9 in Group B in the EuroLeague last season resulting in a revamping of the roster as well as a change in coaches as Norbert Szekely, who coached Sopron to the EuroLeague Final Four in 2009, is out and Serbia assistant coach Igor Polanek has been named the team's head coach.