The United States team which won the U-19 World Championship for Women were named the 2011 team of the year by USA Basketball.

Not only was the team coached by former UConn great Jen Rizzotti but also four of the top five scorers either currently play for UConn or in the case of leading scorer Breanna Stewart, has signed a letter of intent with Connecticut.

Joining Stewart on the squad were UConn sophomores Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley, freshman Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and another UConn signee Morgan Tuck as well as UConn recruiting target Diamond DeShields.

The team certainly deserves recognition for winning the world title but if I had a vote (which I do not) I would have selected the U.S. 3x3 girls team that was forced to play in the semifinals with just two players when Rebecca Greenwell suffered a knee injury and UConn recruiting target Taya Reimer was already out with a sprained ankle. The team lost in the semifinals and in the bronze-medal game but received an honorary bronze medal for their efforts.

Also, USA Basketball will hold a press conference to announce its Olympic assistant coaches on Friday in Chicago. Hmm, UConn is playing at DePaul on Saturday and DePaul coach Doug Bruno has been an assistant with head coach Geno Auriemma during the run to the World Championship gold medal. Something tells me there will be a Bruno sighting at the press conference (especially since the DePaul official athletic site will be providing a live stream of the press conference). Barring any traveling issues, I'm planning to be at the press conference and will file a report when it becomes official.