Initial GB U20 Women’s Squad Announced

British Basketball has invited 20 players to under-20 women’s camp in preparation for the Division B European Championship which will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria in July.

Nine of last year’s under-20 group return, including Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby who not only played at England under-18 level last summer but also made her senior international debut. The former Charnwood College student is still only 18 years old and has two more years at under-20 level to develop, alongside her studies at Lafayette University in the United States.

2013 England Basketball under-18 Player Of The Year Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott is also included. Both she and Ottewill-Soulsby are among six survivors from last year’s England Under-18 group which secured the first-ever Division A victories against Slovakia and Belarus, with Bravo-Harriott top scorer.

Three graduates of the Regional Institute of Basketball at Barking are named (Melita Emanuel-Carr, Shequila Joseph, Michelle Turner) while three Sevenoaks Suns players (Cheridene Green and both Lewis sisters, Megan and Kaitlyn) – are also included.

Six of the twenty have represented Scotland, including returnee Hilary Wood, Sarah Thomson who helped Team Northumbria win the National Cup Final and last year’s under-18 captain Robyn Lewis (Robyn is not related to either Megan or Kaitlyn).

The talented and youthful group of 20 will be coached by GB Senior Women’s Head Coach Peter Buckle, with support from Assistant Coach Karen Burton and Assistant Coach/Performance Analyst Matt Harber. Ollie Jerram will take responsibility for the team manager duties and Eve Emaru will act as physiotherapist for the team.

Buckle said, “I’m looking forward to coaching our next generation and observing our future senior players perform. It will be beneficial to introduce them to our GB style, themes and expected behaviour.”

British Basketball National Teams Director Warwick Cann said, “The squad has very good depth. The home countries national teams have been working diligently to our T16 areas of emphasis guidelines over the past four years. To link what was our Under-16 group from 2010 to the fringes of the senior team, is very gratifying to me and adds a final piece of our talent development jigsaw.”

“This tournament presents a great opportunity for our players to discover the requirements of the final step to senior international competition under the Senior Head Coach.”

Staff and players will meet for a short training camp in late June, prior to the tournament, which will begin with an opening game against Norway on July 3rd.

GB U20 Women’s Preliminary Squad

(Player Name, Position, Club/College, Nation)
Whitney Allen*, Forward, Edinboro University, Pennsylvania, England
Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Guard, Haringey Angels/Greig City Academy, England
Mollie Campbell, Forward, Univ of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, England
Melita Emanuel-Carr*, Point Guard, Univ of Illinois-Chicago, England
Cheridene Green, Centre, Sevenoaks Suns, England
Shequila Joseph*, Forward, Univ of Mississippi, England
Kaitlyn Lewis*, Point Guard, Sevenoaks Suns, England
Megan Lewis*, Guard, Sevenoaks Suns, England
Robyn Lewis, Point guard, Loughborough Riders, Scotland
Billie Lucas*, Guard, Sandringham Sabres, Aust, England
Lauren Milligan*, Forward/Guard, Chestnut Hill College, PA, England
Janice Monakana, Forward, Univ of Toledo, OH, England
Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby, Forward, Lafayette University, PA, England
Claire Paxton*, Forward, Colorado Christian Univ, Scotland
Hannah Peacock, Centre, Edinburgh Kool Kats, Scotland
Jessica Shillito, Centre, Tennessee Temple Univ, England
Sarah Thomson, Guard, Northumbria Univ, Scotland
Michelle Turner, Point Guard, Fort Lewis College, England
Hilary Wood*, Point Guard, Polonia Phoenix, Scotland
Yhana Van Wees, Forward, Tayside Musketeers, Scotland

(* Played for GB under-20 in 2013 European Championships.)

GB U20 Division B European Championships Schedule

(All games played at the Universiada Hall and all times in BST)
Date Game Time
Thu July 3rd Norway under-20 v Great Britain under-20 18.30
Fri July 4th Lithuania under-20 v Great Britain under-20 18.30
Sat July 5th Great Britain under-20 v Bulgaria under-20 16.15
Mon July 7th Germany under-20 v Great Britain under-20 11.45
Tue July 8th Great Britain under-20 v Portugal under-20 09.30
Wed July 9th Bosnia-Herzegovina under-20 v Great Britain under-20 14.00
Fri July 11th Great Britain under-20 v Romania under-20 09.30
Sat July 12th Hungary under-20 v Great Britain under-20 09.30
Sun July 13th Great Britain under-20 v Israel under-20 14.00