Great Britain Under-20 coach Peter Buckle has named a 20-strong initial squad for July’s European Championships in Sofia.
Nine of the squad which were relegated from Division A last summer are back, including Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby who  made her senior international debut in 2013 at the age of 17.
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.
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.
While Whitney Allen, sister of senior star Dominique, is also in the frame on a roster that will eventually start its competitive campaign against Norway on July 3.
Buckle join the group after the senior women’s qualifiers, with support from assistant coaches Karen Burton and Matt Harber.
And the Australian 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.”
Player | Position | Club/College |
Whitney ALLEN | Forward | Edinboro University, PA |
Jay-Ann BRAVO-HARRIOTT | Guard | Haringey Angels/Greig City Academy |
Mollie CAMPBELL | Forward | Univ of Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
Melita EMANUEL-CARR | Guard | Univ of Illinois-Chicago |
Cheridene GREEN | Centre | Sevenoaks Suns |
Shequila JOSEPH | Forward | Univ of Mississippi |
Kaitlyn LEWIS | Guard | Sevenoaks Suns |
Megan LEWIS | Guard | Sevenoaks Suns |
Robyn LEWISÂ | Guard | Loughborough Riders |
Billie LUCAS | Guard | Sandringham Sabres, Aus |
Lauren MILLIGAN | F/G | Chestnut Hill College, PA |
Janice MONAKANA | Forward | Univ of Toledo, OH |
Harriet OTTEWILL-SOULSBY | Forward | Lafayette University, PA |
Claire PAXTON | Forward | Colorado Christian Univ |
Hannah PEACOCK | Centre | Edinburgh Kool Kats |
Jessica SHILLITO | Centre | Tennessee Temple Univ |
Sarah THOMSON | Guard | Northumbria Univ |
Michelle TURNERÂ | Guard | Fort Lewis College |
Hilary WOODÂ | Guard | Polonia Phoenix |
Yhana VAN WEES | Forward | Tayside Musketeers |
Meanwhile, Lewis, Peacock, Paxton, Thomson and van Wees will all get an early international run-out this weekend as Scotland’s senior women travel to Luxembourg for three friendlies as warm-up for the European Small Nations in July.
However with the Under-20s over-lapping with the minnows event, it is expected that any of the Caledonian sextet, including Hilary Wood, making the GB squad will be ruled out of Scotland duty.
Scotland team to play Luxembourg: Rebecca Allison, Toni Carvill, Natalie Chaloner, Rebecca Cumming, Emma Findlay, Robyn Lewis, Laura Nimmo, Leanne Page, Claire Paxton, Hannah Peacock, Sarah Thomson, Yhana Van Wees. Head Coach: Ben Gunn
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