Initial GB U20 Women Squad Announced

By Sam Neter on May 7, 2015

British Basketball have revealed a sixteen strong candidate list ahead of this summer’s U20 European Championship, Division B Women campaign in Montenegro.

Headlining the initial roster are NCAA participants and 2014 returnees, Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Janice Monakana and Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby.

The trio were all influential last summer and are currently in the process of trying to impress at the senior women’s camp, in a bid to land a precious spot at EuroBasket Women Final Round in Hungary and Romania next month.

Bravo-Harriott and Monakana are team-mates in the NCAA at the University of Toledo, with the latter having led the team with 10.6 points per game last year and the former finishing her freshman year at College with All-Conference honours.

Ottewill-Soulsby was a premier performer in the paint and she will be joined by Hannah Peacock of Scotland, who is also currently trying to impress with the senior team.

There is also a slot for Megan Lewis who led the team last year in assists and steals, as well as strong representation from so many of the young players who made it a first season to remember for the Women’s British Basketball League.

The WBBL has six candidates including Sarah Thomson of Team Northumbria, Barking Abbey duo Sadie Russell and Evelyn Adebayo, along with Leicester trio Robyn Lewis, Georgia Elliott-King and Anna Forsyth.

“We are delighted to have such a strong pool of players to choose from,” stated head coach, Karen Burton who will be at the helm for the first time.

“It is also exciting to see so many players gaining the priceless experience of being at senior camp at the University of Worcester Arena.

“There is no doubt they are learning so much from the more experienced players and the coaching staff.

“That means they will arrive with even more to offer the team as we look to continue providing an exciting pathway for all of our players towards their aims of one day representing the senior side.”

GB U20 Women 2015 Preliminary Roster

Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott (University of Toledo, USA)
Sarah Thomson (Team Northumbria, GBR)
Janice Monakana (University of Toledo, USA)
Hannah Peacock (City of Edinburgh Kool Kats, GBR)
Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby (Lafayette University, USA)
Robyn Lewis (Leicester Riders, GBR)
Megan Lewis (New Hampton Academy, USA)
Georgia Elliott-King (Leicester Riders, GBR)
Kirsten Simpson (City of Edinburgh Kool Kats, GBR)
Freya Schmidt (University of Calgary, CAN)
Mollie Campbell (University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, USA)
Bethany Sarson (Oaklands College Wolves, GBR)
Yhana Van Wees (Tayside Musketeers, GBR)
Sadie Russell (Barking Abbey Crusaders, GBR)
Evelyn Adebayo (Barking Abbey Crusaders, GBR)
Anna Forsyth (Leicester Riders, GBR)

Staff
Karen Burton – Head Coach
Chris Bunten – Assistant Coach
Cristina Stanciuca – Performance Analyst/Assistant Coach
Ollie Jerram -Team Manager
Darren Finnegan – Physio

The team will play nine games at the tournament which will take place between 02 and 12 July in Podgorica.

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